Google Chrome Browser Set to Overtake Firefox

37 Replies AlexS

A recent study of online browsing habits in the UK revealed that Google Chrome is now the browser of choice for more than 23% of British internet users. More surprising still was the fact that it is now more popular than Mozilla’s Firefox and is even gaining ground on the current and ever-present browser bruiser, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

Currently Internet Explorer has a whopping 45% of the market share in the UK but that figure is down from the year before and the use of IE seems to be constantly declining.

This loss of popularity for the ubiquitous Internet Explorer is even more depressing for Microsoft when you weigh up the fact that the browser comes pre-installed on nearly all UK computers at the moment. Google Chrome’s figures and market share are all the more impressive when you consider that it was only released three years ago.

Commenting on the UK figures Google put Chrome’s increasing popularity down to two things – firstly that they had promoted it with a blitz of advertising across the billboards and televisions of the United Kingdom (Chrome was the only time they have ever put an advert on British television); and secondly that they believed it was the best browser in terms of security and speed.

The Googles Chrome LogoLars Bak, Google’s chief designer on the Chrome browser commented recently that their aim when designing and building Chrome had been to make it the fastest browser possible whilst maintaining maximum security within a minimal design. Bak argued that once people have started using Chrome they will never want to go back to any of the other browsers:

“If a user tries a webpage using Chrome and suddenly it feels really fast and snappy, it’s naturally going to be really hard to go back wards (to a previously used browser).”

Certainly the numbers for the uptake of Google Chrome are astonishing. At the current rate Google Chrome’s success in the UK will be replicated worldwide very shortly. It is already in third place with a market share of 21% across the globe and is expected to overtake Firefox in the next year or so. Similarly it is predicted that it will be challenging IE within two or three years.

Google are banking on Chrome becoming so popular that it will offer a similar kind of ‘Halo Effect’ as the iPod did with Mac computers, and lead them to purchase the new Google Chromebook laptops. The Chromebook will be cloud based, with the Chrome browser being central to a different kind of operating system. Instead of taking up memory storage, data will be cloud based so as to make the Chromebooks as fast and clutter free as possible.

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37 thoughts on “Google Chrome Browser Set to Overtake Firefox”

    • Christopher (admin team)

      “Plus, Chrome is so much more customisable.” – Than IE yeah, but Firefox is much, much more customisable than Chrome.

      Reply
  3. Christopher (admin team)

    I see what you are predicting Alex, Firefox will fall into Chrome’s shadow very soon, but I have to disagree. I think that Firefox is better. Yes it’s heavier, yes it can take a long time to load up sometimes, but it is just as fast as Chrome, it can save your session for you, and it is the most customisable browser there is.

    Also, I think Google are moving to fast. Chrome is what, 2/3 years old and on version 13.something, whilst Firefox is around 5/6 years old and it’s only on 5.0.1. That leads me to believe that Firefox is more careful than Chrome, and more patient. It will make improvements and check them over and over before release, and I am not sure that Chrome does the same.

    Okay I am a Googlite, no denying it, but I prefer Firefox, although I do use both. For example right now I have Chrome open doing one short project, and all my long-term stuff is done in Firefox. Go Firefox!

    At lease Chrome isn’t as bad as IE, it’s good to see it loosing it’s unfair share of the market 😉

    A good article Alex, thanks for the contribution 🙂
    Christopher – Admin Team

    Reply
      • Christopher (admin team)

        1, If my understanding is correct, Firefox has tens of thousands of extensions, which have been built over 5/6 years. Chrome has only a few thousand.

        2, Instant Pages looks pretty cool, I grant you that. The thing is though, if Chrome can do it, no doubt a few months later, Firefox will catch up and will also be able to. It’s swings and roundabouts, a new idea comes out and all the browsers jump on it!

        Reply
  4. Reply
  5. Alan Tay@IT Security

    I don’t see any browser that can start up faster than Google Chrome so far. Not even IE with all plugins disabled. Chrome’s start up is amazingly fast even with whatever toolbar installed. Probably Google’s direction always go for simplicity. However, I really agree with Christopher that Firefox is much more customisable. I used all three because I’m a web developer even though I really hate using IE. But can’t put in personal agenda when there are 40 over percent of the user. If you ask me which browser to choose, I will go for Chrome because I really need speed 🙂

    Reply
    • Christopher (admin team)

      Have you tried the Fasterfox add-on? It helps increase Firefox’s speed, although it is pretty quick compared with IE already.

      Stick to Firefox for your main browsing, it is the best at heart, maybe because it’s open source, or maybe because of the customisability: Firefox rules!

      Reply
        • Christopher (admin team)

          I say I use Firefox and I do – mainly… I am a little bit of a hypocrite though, as I am typing this in Chrome 😉

          I mainly use FF though, as ultimately, it is the best!

          Reply
  6. Chadrack@SEO Tips

    Alex,

    This is really interesting. I’ve never used Chrome. I use Firefox and IE but if chrome is that good as you want me to believe then there is nothing stopping me trying it out. But from what Christopher has pointed out I think he has used both and is in a better position to give a recommendation.

    So Christopher what do you say? Chrome or Firefox?

    Reply
    • Christopher (admin team)

      Chadrack, install both. I would recommend Firefox. More add-ons, more original, you can save your session, arguably safer and generally better for web-designers, coders, bloggers ect. – like me and you.

      If you need to find something out FAST, open Chrome, find your answer, close Chrome. If you are updating your blog, browsing the web etc. use Firefox.

      If you ‘Chrome Lovers’ (sorry to call you that) really want speed, why not choose Opera? After all it used to brand itself as ‘the world’s fastest browser for Windows’. FYI its current slogan is ‘Why wait for the Web?’

      In answer to your question Chadrack, if you could only use 1, use Firefox.

      Reply
  7. Este@Medical Assistants

    I would like to use Firefox again but I’m having problems re-installing it. Don’t have the time to troubleshoot it.

    So, I installed Chrome, because IE is no good IMO. The only problem I have with Chrome is Shockwave frequently crashing. It’s the only thing irritating about it. So, in the meantime I’m using Opera. I really don’t want to use IE.

    Reply
  8. Anna

    May be for UK it is true, but for my area I know that many people still prefer Firefox and Chrome is not popular.May be it is better to work with it, but they need more advertsing in order to make it popular

    Reply
  11. Maria@Certified Nursing Assistant

    I’m using Google Chrome for about a year now because my Firefox used to crash several times. Now, I’m experiencing the same with Google Chrome. I haven’t really check the real reason of this but hopefully I can find it immediately because I’m getting pissed off killing all my pages while working with my activities. But even I’m no longer using FF now, I would still recommend it to others because of its features.

    Reply
  12. Rob @Mac Burning

    I use Chrome on occasion. Firefox is still my main choice simply because of the toolbars and addons that I use. If these addons are added to Chrome soon then I may switch. I simply like the speed of this browser.

    Reply
    • Christopher (admin team)

      Chrome or Firefox, depends on your PC spec. Safari is a no go for me TBH, Opera is okay, but not to my taste, and I wouldn’t go near IE with a barge pole!

      Thanks for the comment Jarrod 🙂
      Christopher – Admin Team

      Reply
  14. Christina@Apidexin Reviews

    Got to say I find Firefox very frustrating–yes it’s customizable but the load-up time is quite ridiculous sometimes! Don’t like the look and set-up of Google Chrome either, though–so I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place!
    While we’re on the subject of browsers, would any technologically inclined person be willing to share on why search results can be slightly or wildly different based on what browser is being used to search for them? I’m curious and have no idea why this is…

    Reply
    • Christopher (admin team)

      Regarding Firefox Christina, have you tried using the latest version – 7.0.1?
      Current versions are much better, and it really depends on the OS and PC spec you are running, as to how different browsers perform.

      Out of interest, what do you use?

      Regarding the search results, often different browsers store different information about you, hence the search results change. Also, if you are searching Google in Firefox it may be Google UK whereas in Safari, it may be set to default Google US, therefore changes in the search results appear – you can usually change the default search engine.
      That aside, search results are always changing, as new data is indexed, and old data is reassessed.

      Thanks for your comment, welcome to the community 🙂
      Christopher – Admin Team

      Reply
  15. Christina@Breville Juicer Reviews

    Hi Christopher,

    Thanks for your response. I’m aware of the differences in search results based on country, but I was not aware (foolishly, no doubt) that what search engines store based on prior use would effect the results as well.
    I’ve just downloaded the most recent update of Firefox, and it’s still slow, but I’ve been thinking…
    As a marketer, there are certain programs I use that are designed to collect particular information about webpages and search results–(and I can’t compare results between browsers as the programs are not compatible with Explorer, for example) and lately I’ve noticed that even when I’m not using the programs and they’re turned off, loading pages and getting started on the net seems to be taking a while, so perhaps that’s what’s causing my net to be extra slow, rather than Firefox.

    Reply

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