After 15 years of working on the web, I have become a bit of a
techno-sceptic. My day-to-day life may well be interwoven with a
myriad of devices, websites and online services, but this hardly
excites me anymore. To me, IT is just a tool to do something more
interesting, and if it does not work or sounds too complicated,
then I am simply not interested. Because of this, most of my
colleagues would probably describe me as curmudgeonly (well, they
might use other words, but they are not for publication).
However, this week I have been attracted by something shiny and
new for the first time in ages; Google Chrome Beta
(opens new window). Now a few of you will be saying “Old news,
#fail, move on”, but I did try Chrome when it first came out and it
was OK, but I simply did not need another browser in my life at the
time. This is particularly after the great Apple Safari for Windows
debacle, which “broke” my iTunes when I installed the first
version. That was a black day, having to download and re-install
more software and more importantly being separated from my
tunes.
Anyway, back to the new Chrome Beta. This for me has the
following highlights:
- It loads fast; Firefox and Internet Explorer need a kick in the
pants and dynamite to get going in comparison
- It is quick to use; page load, working with tabs, configuring,
just feels more fluid than its compatriots
- But the best thing of all are the Extensions (opens new
window); so I can now get to my Gmail, Google Calendar and
Google Wave from one click on the toolbar, and I can tweet from
there too
- If you are a Developer there is a Developer tools feature and a
Firebug Lite Extension (opens new window) if you hanker
for this Extension from Firefox
- Oh, and you can make it look pretty with themes
The more I used Chrome, the more I was impressed. When I
considered the volume of tasks I have to complete everyday in the
browser window, its simple approach to providing a browser that
just works, fast, really counts. I have not had to make time in my
life for an extra browser; I have in fact saved time by switching
to Chrome Beta and only using the others when I absolutely need to.
Try it, I hope you like it too.
There is one “but”, if you do switch to Chrome. Don’t be
surprised if you wake up the next day with the realisation of how
much time you have wasted using [insert browser of choice] up until
now. Then you too may feel a little curmudgeonly.