Google Chrome First Look

Google released it's own browser yesterday. It's called Google Chrome. It is very easy to download and install. It imports your bookmarks, passwords, and all other settings from either Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer. You can opt to let it do all of this or you can customize the settings.

This is the first beta version of Chrome and the browser looks somewhat sparse if you are used to IE or Firefox. Google will be adding more functionality, bells and whistles to the browser. I kind of like this sparse look. Browsers have become so complicated with so many toolbars, etc. that sometimes I feel like the available space to view websites is minute. One thing I love right off is the placement of the tabs at the top. This makes it so much easier. The tabs look like folder tabs you have in your file cabinet. Just like your folder tabs in your file cabinet you can't see what is in them until you open it and the title is on the tab. The other browsers have the tabs underneath the toolbars which make it harder to focus on in my opinion.

The coolest thing is it uses one box for both the address bar and search. If you type your search query in the address box it will suggest popular sites, searches and pages you have already visited with your search term. I typed in my favorite team: Red Sox. It shows the Red Sox homepage, a couple url's from boston.com - the site I visit most frequently for Red Sox news, a search google for red sox link, 51 recent pages in history containing Red Sox (Ucho! Yes I am a fanatic) and links to articles about the Red Sox. I like this as I use the search box much more than I would actually type in an address.

The last thing I really like on this first cursory review is the ability to see your most visited sites on any new tab. You see thumbnails of your favorite sites and can quickly click on them. If you are like me you have your favorite news sites you visit every day, your favorite sports sites, etc. This allows you to see them and quickly decide if you want to visit them.

I will be writing more on Google Chrome but for now I have to give it a heads up. I like it. Am I ready to switch from my favorite browser right now? No.............but I will keep checking it out and it is definitely worth checking out.

Lynn Jebbia is a Senior Project Manager at ArteWorks SEO. Her focus is
SEO Strategy, Keyword Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Web Site Audits, Pay Per Click Management and Client Account Management.