Farewell To Google Chrome

Today I made a decision, I’ve decided to retire Google Chrome from my toolset. I’ve been using it since release and generally I’ve been impressed. It is a really nice piece of software, but no matter what the Google marketing machine tells me about how it’s process-per-tab trick will make my life better and how quick its Javascript engine is I can’t seem to give up Firefox.

photo credit: law_keven

I’ve found a pattern in my browser usage, particularly since I started blogging. After booting into Windows I always launch Chrome, check my GMail then switch to Google Reader to catchup on some feeds, then the general surfing starts. It’s at this point that Chrome starts to hold me back. I’m a big fan of Firefox extensions and there’s a few that I use all the time and they give me functionality that I can’t currently get in Chrome.

I didn’t realise how much I relied on extensions when I first decided to try experimenting with Chrome so I’m switching back. There are a few things that I would like in Firefox that you don’t get by default, luckily Lifehacker has a couple of post referring to some extensions that will give me those things I need. I’ve cherry picked my favorites:-

• Download Statusbar – This has always been a must for me, even before Chrome.
• Omnibar – I’ve found myself using Firefox but accidentally typing searches in the address bar, I really like this feature.
• Locationbar – Greying out the unimportant parts of the URL in the address bar, I don’t really know why I like this.
• Personal Menu – I’m not really sure about this one, but losing the menubar streamlines the user-interface a bit more, you can always press the ‘alt’ key to get it back.

Of coarse, there’s all the things that Chrome couldn’t give me:-

• Better GMail 2 – A much improved interface for GMail.
• Better GReader – A few nice greasemonkey scripts rolled into a single addon. The addition of the ‘Preview’ button is enough to make this worth installing.
• Web Developer – A toolbar that lets me rip webpages to bits, investigate their structure and edit them in-place. Invaluable for tweaking WordPress themes.
• Fission – Puts the progress bar inside the address bar, another space saver and a hang up from being a Safari user. Saves having to dart my eyes up and down the screen after clicking a link.
• TinyURL Creator – Copy links to the clipboard and make them tiny. Useful for posting links to Tweets.
• GMail Notifier – I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to checking my email, it’s nice to be told when it arrives.

I have a few other extensions installed but those are my must-haves. I know Google are planning on introducing extensions in a future version (Link), and you can currently download a build with Greasemonkey support, so I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on it as things develop. For now though, I’m afraid it’s bye-bye Chrome.

So, are you a Chrome lover and have left Firefox behind like a jilted lover? Or are sticking by the Mozilla browser? Leave your thoughts in the comments.