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In just 16 months Google Chrome overtakes Safari
It doesn't look like a lot when you're talking about a fraction of a percent, but when you consider that last month Chrome only had 3.93% you can see just how quickly it's being adopted. Last month was actually Chrome's biggest leap since its launch, which probably has something to do with Google's current large-scale advertising campaign. PC World speculates that the large surge could also be due to the Mac and Linux Chrome Beta releases last month.
Despite Chrome's progress in December, it was not at the expense of Opera or Safari's market share -- both actually made slight gains. Firefox lost 0.1% and Internet Explorer lost almost an entire percentage point, but thankfully not from IE8! Down with IE6 and 7, down I say!
Comments
35
Subscribe to commentsKevinJan 2nd 2010 10:23PM
I'm a complete Chrome convert from Firefox. I was a major devotee to Firefox but got sick of the sludginess and got tired of making excuses. It's just become a very bloated browser, even if you only have 3 or 4 extensions.
Chrome is lightning fast while browsing and lightning fast when first opening... and I currently have LastPass and AdThwart installed without any noticeable slowdown.
der_tuxmanJan 2nd 2010 10:39PM
So you don't care about your privacy?
StrideryJan 2nd 2010 10:52PM
If you are that worried about your privacy then stop going online.
Kris120890Jan 2nd 2010 10:58PM
Not as lightning fast as Firefox though.
der_tuxmanJan 2nd 2010 11:07PM
Stridery: Ah yes, a good reason to use Google's spyware. Hey, why don't you disable your virus scanner, too?
Sebastian AnthonyJan 2nd 2010 11:07PM
Try to not scare everyone off, Tuxman :P
der_tuxmanJan 2nd 2010 11:35PM
This was not my actual intention. You know that.
EGOvoruhkJan 3rd 2010 12:57AM
Chrome can be plenty bloated as well. I only have two extensions, and they can balloon up real quick. Right now, "Google Mail Checker" is eating up well over 100MB. Luckily I can kill it without closing the browser, and bring it down it to under 10MB
topoJan 3rd 2010 5:02AM
I'am agreeing 100% with you !
der_tuxmanJan 2nd 2010 10:39PM
Viruses spread like hell, too. So this is a reason to use them?
Saint SeminoleJan 2nd 2010 11:25PM
I doubt Chrome's recent growth is due to their advertising "campaign", which was pretty irritating and actually made me not want to use it at all.
But I wouldn't be surprised if the recent support for extensions in the Beta version didn't have something to do with it. All of a sudden, it went from a little baby browser to something that actually worked.
Of course, the extension list is still pretty small and filled with a lot of useless stuff, but it's growing quickly. Chrome even accepts *some* Greasemonkey scripts now. It's moved up from my #3 browser to the #2 spot.
(And it'll likely be my primary browser if it ever becomes as customizable and functional as Firefox.)
VolomanJan 3rd 2010 12:21AM
If you let me know how to even attempt to install some of my scripts, then i'll uninstall Firefox this second. The ONLY reason i'm keeping it is for greasemonkey, the second there is a good port for chrome, i'm out of here.
Saint SeminoleJan 3rd 2010 1:00AM
Install the latest Chrome beta. Install scripts as extensions (not all of them work, but *some* of my favorites do).
Saint SeminoleJan 3rd 2010 1:00AM
Get Chrome beta here:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/landing/chrome/beta/
Sebastian AnthonyJan 3rd 2010 9:24AM
Wow, I didn't know that was enabled... nice. Thanks for the tip!
BrianJan 3rd 2010 12:42PM
Don't download the Beta unless you want a buggy browser.
The stable version is very good:
http://www.google.com/chrome/
I'm glad to hear my favorite browser is gaining users. The only thing I can't get to work in Chrome are the photo galleries on Engadget. I believe Firefox has been having issues with them, too, but that information is second hand.
Saint SeminoleJan 3rd 2010 2:05PM
"Buggy"? Don't get me wrong; I haven't switched to Chrome, but I've tested the Beta browser and found no bugs (other than its lack of fully-functional extensions). Just because photo galleries on one site don't work properly doesn't mean the browser is "buggy."
jkroederJan 3rd 2010 12:11AM
I'm surprised Chrome users are so desperate for adblockers that they actually use extensions like adthwart. There is not a single chrome adblocking extension that is worth using.
Other than that, Chrome is a great no-frills browser that's light and fast. It's popularity isn't really that surprising. What's surprising is how no one ever really considers Opera.
Firefox is still my backup browser but I probably won't give it another look as my main browser again until Electrolysis is completed and that's another year away.
der_tuxmanJan 3rd 2010 12:14AM
I am not surprised that no one ever considers Opera. I played a bit with it and was more than disappointed.
BernieJan 3rd 2010 1:11AM
I'm gonna stick with Firefox, Adblock, and ubiquity.
Chrome just didn't seem that special to me.