If you’re still using Internet Explorer, you should quit. Not only because hipsters in coffee shops will scoff at it but because it’s so far behind the times and you’re being limited with what you can do. Although tech and web designers begrudgingly test their products on IE, they do so begrudgingly as it has less flexibility and modernity than Google Chrome as a browser.
Yes, I’m leaving Firefox out of this equation because I ran Firefox for a year and though my computer was junk because it crashed frequently. So let’s pretend that the only options are IE or Chrome.
The use of Google Chrome has grown exponentially as IE has fallen over the past few years and not only is Chrome more stable (less crashes), faster and offers extensions and themes that don’t tamper with that speed or stability, the final case for dumping IE can be made with this week’s announcement of the Google Chrome Web Store opening.
The web store offers themes (skins), extensions and applications (like TweetDeck which we wrote about yesterday), many of which are free. Think of the web store as the iTunes for your browser. There are numerous ways you can increase your productivity, learn new things (like a new language), blog better with screenshots, take notes and more.
Within days of the store opening, there are hundreds of options offered, not just because many already existed but because Google is an open community unlike iTunes which has extreme restrictions and approval processes. Not all apps are amazing and sometimes I install an extension and immediately uninstall (like Cortex because it interfered with my dragging and dropping of objects which I do frequently and other times didn’t work at all). It’s a vibrant, growing community of web developers that are flocking to bring their projects they are passionate about to market, simply because of passion.
Google Chrome is better, faster, more stable and more users are flocking as is the creative talent that helps you customize your experience to make life more productive, informed and even fun. Are you already using Chrome or do you plan on switching?
Sidenote: it took me forever to switch to Chrome because my bookmarks were all on Firefox, but when I downloaded Chrome, it asked me if I wanted to take them with me. How awesome is that!!?
Mike Salway
December 9, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Chrome also allows you to sync your bookmarks with your Google Account – so you can go to any computer anywhere in the world, login with your Google Account, and get access to your bookmarks.
Chrome is just super fast – IE feels sluggish and so 90’s when compared with Chrome.
Wayne Harriman
December 9, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I would have dumped IE a looooong time ago if it wasn’t the only browser our illustrious MLS supports! Maybe someday they’ll come into the 21st Century with the rest of us. One thing I noticed about the apps in the Google Chrome store is that you can’t install a lot of them if you’re running the new Chromium-based browser, RockMelt. It tells you that you have a version too old to install the app and you should upgrade to the most recent version of Chrome. Oh well. There are plenty of them that will install just fine, though.
FlatFeeRealty.com
December 9, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Lani, great idea, but for Agents needs, NO. Most MLS systems still only work on Internet Explorer. In my opinion, Firefox is the best browser. I use Chrome and Safari too but only during website development to check my work.
Lani Rosales
December 9, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Several MLS systems currently only exist in IE, that is true, but most are conforming to cross browser compatibility or have plans to, but using a crappy horrible craptastically horrible tool that is limiting to your entire web existence because you need it for one exclusive function is insane- most people where I live use IE exclusively for MLS and Chrome for everything else because it makes sense. The MLS companies will catch up.
Charlie Pitkin
December 10, 2010 at 8:42 am
IE is a crappy craptastically horrible crappy tool! Lol
Artur
December 9, 2010 at 9:30 pm
I love chrome and all of its extensions. The only time I use Firefox is with some sites which don’t play nice yet with Chrome and IE is a very distant not so nice memory.
Charlie Pitkin
December 10, 2010 at 8:39 am
GOOD post Lani – couldn’t agree more. Too bad ABoR has us pigeon holed into a MLS system that only runs in IE!
Lani Rosales
December 10, 2010 at 9:41 am
Oh come on, of all people YOU know that’s not a fair statement…. 🙂 But that’s discussion for another time and place. You’re such a misbehaver, we can’t take you anywhere!! We WILL turn this car around, Charlie!! 😉
SedonaKathy
December 10, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Lani, GREAT article. I’ve been using Chrome since early Beta…only reason I cannot use it all the time is that our MLS does not support it. A really backward system…which is limited in what it can do as well.
I’ve passed your article on to the powers that be here in Sedona… maybe… if you keep writing about Chrome. Chrome rocks!!
Mark A.
December 10, 2010 at 7:01 pm
I don’t use Chrome. I use Firefox. I also use Windows. Which needs to be patched monthly, on a regular basis, via Windows Update. Windows Update does not play nice with Firefox. How about with Chrome?
Lani Rosales
December 10, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Mark, I’m on Windows also and since switching away from Firefox I don’t have any of those problems at all. The only technical issue I’ve ever had (and I consider it minor) is that if I have 10+ tabs open with multimedia, the Shockwave Plugin fails temporarily. But other than that it’s perfect whereas my Firefox experience was bad and IE was worse.
Mark Carlisle
December 15, 2010 at 9:49 am
I’ve been using Chrome as my “backup browser” for a while now, and I do think it’s a great product. I would switch totally from IE, but as others have noted, some products develop specifically for IE. Our MLS has glitches when used in Chrome. The biggest obstacle for me is that I refuse to switch from TopProducer 7i until they can make TP 8i comparable to 7i in ease-of-use for day-to-day activites!
Christa Borellini
December 22, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I just started using Google Chrome and I like it , but our mls here (San Diego) only allows us to log on using IE. I hope that will change soon!
Dominic Morrocco
January 22, 2011 at 11:52 am
Top producer agent websites are terrible. Be aware: your website is not compatible in chrome, safari, opera or new versions of Mozilla or IE.
Only IE 8 seems to load TP sites without issue. Their code is about 6 years behind. Depending on the tech savviness of your market, you could be losing up to, if not more than 50% of your website visitors, because they can’t use your site.
Food for thought, do your homework!
-D