It’s been just days since Microsoft released the second preview version of its flagship web browser that shocked me in disbelief, turning my negative expectations on Internet Explorer down. Now, we heard that Google just released its own browser dubbed as Chrome. For Google and its followers, it sounds like an exciting, business tool; for other browser developers, it’s less than a threat; for web developers like me, while it performs good, it’s also another piece of crap.

Why Release A New Browser?

Google’s engineers have succeeded to deliver their own web browser developed for two years, but why did Google choose to develop its own browser, considering that the current browsers are already excellent in many ways? Trust me if you set aside your beliefs, you would find that today’s current browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera) are already more than enough.

So why develop Chrome? Well, Google could say they mind us for this — but actually, it’s for their business. Google wants more so it needs ways to expand…and to have its own web browser is the best way. With it, Google can effortlessly tap more audience and infuse its web services to expand its market.

Google Chrome Is A “Virgin”

What are Microsoft and Mozilla have to say about Google Chrome? Well, neither of them find Chrome as a great threat for the time being. Both have expressed that Google is new to the browser market and it can’t shook their user base (yet) just like that. While Google Chrome in perception is aimed to flirt users using Internet Explorer, I definitely feel that Mozilla Firefox will suffer the greatest consequence should Google decide to halt support to Mozilla’s browser. Google Search has been the default search engine on Mozilla Firefox browser and because of that it makes Google one of their biggest source of funds. But that is not about to happen yet, Google Chrome is still like a virgin — people may find its speed hot, still it is undeniably tight-featured and inexperienced. By features alone, Google Chrome cannot stand against Firefox’s rich extensions library.

Google Wants Dominance, Empire Expansion

Like any other business, Google wants market dominance and with this goal in mind it already facing tough and tested industry giants such as Microsoft, Yahoo, among others. I particularly noticed Google battling Microsoft products even more in all possible, ethical ways. It seems to me that Google is becoming more and more like Microsoft except that it has the advantage of having the Web, which all technologies are shifting to, as its domain. Last year, we saw Google booming and acquiring heaps of other IT companies for its growing power. I have made a prediction that Google will fall this year, but with the advent of Google’s new browser that could change depending on how the people would be compelled to use it. Google could use its popular search engine as its weapon. However, it is good to note that Google Talk, Google’s own Internet messaging client, have failed to snatch the user base of Yahoo Messenger and other IMs. Google can’t have it all.

Should You Use Chrome?

Chrome by functionality and usability is pretty excellent, despite its freshness to the browser market and the fact that it’s just a preview version. Although I was awed by a faster Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 just released few weeks ago, I was even more enthralled to know that Chrome surpassed any available browsers on this planet in terms of JavaScript execution speed — and that means Chrome got muscles with it, considering that the trends of today’s web applications are shifting towards Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). Chrome has been built above several opensource code engines that have blessed Firefox and Safari’s superb browsing performance. 

Personally, I liked the simplicity and minimalistic of Chrome’s interface. Its tabs look intuitive and futuristic. However, since it’s just beta (note: it’s version 0.2) and even if Google could still boost it a lot, the current one is still half-baked. It doesn’t have most features of today’s popular browsers have — and that sucks.

Another thing is that as a web developer, Google Chrome is again another browser platform. It’s another piece of crap where all my web pages will have to be tested to ensure compatibility. If Google plans to create its own web standards in web development and other browsers will not support it, that would definitely a pain in the butt for me and all other web developers.’

Try Google Chrome now then come back and let me know how you find it.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 deserves the spotlight.

One day after Microsoft released IE 8 Beta 2, and after scratching the features, stability and reliability of the new Internet Explorer for 24 hours, it is clear that the Microsoft IE8 Beta 2 is an eye-opener for Microsoft and Internet Explorer pessimists like me. I’m pretty sure hardcore Firefox fans would not (or just hesitant) to believe this, but give Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 a try and you would believe how great this browser would be when its full version will be released — especially to web developers and Internet-savvy persons like me.

Considering the rapid and continuous shift of computing, social and business paradigms toward the Internet, Microsoft’s flagship web browser is surprisingly abreast and aware with this. Mozilla Firefox have been long hailed for its speed, openness, adherence to web standards and increased functionality — but now, Microsoft proves us it can do the same — at least finally. For sure, there are features that they somewhat copied from other web browsers, but they are worth copying to make our Web life easier, faster and exciting.

Hard-core Firefox Fans And Microsoft Haters: Listen

Avid Firefox fans like me for years can admit that the terms “Internet Explorer” and “Microsoft” are annoyances. And Microsoft cannot blame us with that: many people were disappointed with the release of Windows Vista, and the home browser that it comes with, the Internet Explorer 7, is slow and problematic. I agree that there were problems that came with the original Vista release, but I already have forgiven Microsoft with that after they released Windows Vista Service Pack 1, which encouraged me to love Vista even more and recommend to my friends that it’s now worth upgrading from Windows XP.

I was truly doubtful that IE 8 Beta 2 would satisfy my browsing needs. But after I installed it for fun, it seemed to be beyond my expectations. For a product that comes from Microsoft, that’s “record-breaking” (LOL) and great. If you are a long-time Microsoft products hater, try playing with the new web browser and you’ll see what serious market research can do.

Less Headaches To Web Developers

Web developers completely agree with me that coding compatibility is a pain in the butt especially when dealing with Internet Explorer browsers. I’ve been patronizing Firefox for its adherence to web standards and I used it as my main browser. Why? Because the sites I developed there looked and worked the same with most of other web browsers in the market such as Safari and Opera — and Internet Explorer is not always like that. I would add so many “trys and catches” in our code just for IE, especially with JavaScript or Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). However, that assumption is about to change with Internet Explorer 8 as they finally emphasized support on web standards and interoperability. So, it means less headaches for me and that is great.

I highly encourage that you discover and try Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 by downloading and trying it. It rocked a Microsoft hard-core pessimist like me. It will rock you too. Set aside your hatred and you’ll see that Microsoft’s efforts in giving us an excellent browser to experience and work with the Web is worthy of recognition for the time being.

Learn more by visiting Microsoft’s blog post related with Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 release.

…it came with new features, new speed, new look — and it made me forget Firefox for the moment.

“Wow!” With Emphasis 

The last time I patronized Internet Explorer was when I was still using its version 5 and 6 web browser — and it was because I haven’t heard of Firefox yet. When Firefox came into the scene after that, bringing better security, faster speed and tabbed browsing, that made my Internet Explorer 7 unused (except for web development purposes where I make sure that my web pages would work well with both browsers). Internet Explorer 7 was the worst IE I’ve ever encountered and it came pre-installed with my Windows Vista. It’s slow and annoying — far behind the performance of recently released Mozilla Firefox 3, and even its version 2.

Out of curiosity amplified by the rumors I read from web development and web hosting forums, and due to the nature of my work as a web developer, I downloaded and installed Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 two months ago. I wasn’t quite impressed to it actually as it performs similarly like Internet Explorer 7 — and it was meant to be that way. Microsoft purposively released IE8 Beta 1 for web developers who want to work on their coding and make them compatible with the full version release of IE8. As one of the developers who took advantage of IE8 Beta 1, I was happy to learn that the forthcoming Internet Explorer 8 is more compliant with web standards.

When I read from Yahoo’s tech news that Internet Explorer Beta 2 is already out, I didn’t hesitate to download and install it from its homepage. It took me two reboots on my Windows Vista: first after I uninstalled Internet Explorer Beta 1 and the second one is after I installed Internet Explorer Beta 2. It took quite a portion of my time but I was patient enough for it. When I return to my desktop, I immediately ran Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 and surprise: it was able to awe me with emphasis (as in, “WOW!!!”) with its new look, its amazingly newfound rendering speed, and intelligent, whopping features. Looks like Microsoft has finally able to please me once again after all my complaints with its previous web browser versions.

IE8 Beta 2 Got The Muscles To Punch Firefox 3 Out Of The Ring

I love IE8 Beta 2′s new, clean looking tabs and completely revamped Autocomplete and Search features. Now, tab switching and web browsing is fast (even faster at times compared to Firefox 3, in fact). I was asking myself “Where did this browser got this speed? And why it wasn’t like this before?” Looks like this time, Microsoft really seriously developed this web browser to prevent any competitor from dethroning IE. And since they finally listened to people’s complaints (especially web developers), they made a very good move.

IE8 Beta 2 presents a couple of new features. A new feature called “InPrivate” lets you browse the Web without leaving any trace (no history, cookies, etc) — which is good for security and anonymous browsing (you might want to call this “porn mode” — lol ). Well, I will not try to convince you to trust Microsoft, but I think I finally do trust them because their new features just work.

IE 8 Beta 2 also features “Accelerator” which lets us discover new services; “Web Slices” which lets us slice a portion of a website so we can have up-to-date information even though we are not actually visiting that website; “SmartScreen Filter” for additional protection against deceptive and malicious websites and the Compatibility View which displays an image on the web browser’s address bar if the web page is meant for older browsers. This feature, and IE 8 Beta 2′s integrated Developer Tools really made my heart rejoice as a web developer. I’ve been looking such features before and I only found them in Firefox add-on feature. Now, Microsoft is dragging me back to their base.

…it was already able to please a long-time Microsoft Internet Explorer pessimist like me

Despite the fact that Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is still beta, and it could still offer a lot more on its full release, it was already able to please a long-time Microsoft Internet Explorer pessimist like me. Firefox had already snatched my heart for a long time, but now with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2, I’m reassessing myself because I believe it now deserves love too, even from you.

Experience for yourself the latest preview version of Internet Explorer 8, and believe me it is one of the most satisfying Microsoft products I have ever known. Two thumbs up with pride. (Wow! I can’t believe I said that!)

Well, to tell you, I’m a Vista user too. I have Home Premium version in my laptop and been running for almost six months. For sure, I found some annoying things on Vista that make the previous Windows versions (like Windows XP) a little worthwhile. But hey, I found some great things people missed or under-appreciated.

First, the good thing about Vista is that Microsoft took a major revamp on its Graphical User Interface (GUI) that modernizes its look. By revamp, I’m not only talking about the windows transparency feature of Aero, but I’m pertaining to the overall aesthetic efficiency or the improvement of accessibility and folder navigation.

The folder navigation in Windows Vista is exceptional. As you refer to the image below, folder to folder navigation in the system is faster and easier. You can virtually jump to any folder you want in just few clicks. On the left side of Windows Explorer, the traditional explorer view or pane is enabled by default. This speeds up the navigation as it automatically scrolls horizontally whenever it is needed. This is an intelligent Microsoft work in removing the daunting horizontal scroll bar of the previous Windows versions.

The sidebar on Windows Vista is very useful to me. You can add little gadgets (this is similar to widgets) to it and applets like calendars, photo slideshow, among others. Microsoft provided a gadget library at Windows Live Gallery where people can upload and download gadgets.

The other things that I liked in Vista are the system utilities which let you assess or do comprehensive reports for better performance and reliability analysis. Security is robust in Vista, although its persistent User Account Control feature can be annoying to some. This can be disabled, however.
Here is a screen capture of the Windows Experience Index, an inbuilt system-wide benchmarking tool included in Windows Vista’s Performance Information and Tools. Mainly it is used to determine what software (especially graphics, resource-intensive applications) can run in your system – the greater the number, the better. In my case, I scored 3.1 and it’s pathetic.

Despite Vista’s glory, it is still quite detrimental to know that this operating system’s elegance requires higher hardware specifications compared to its predecessors. In my personal standpoint, this is just a normal characteristic of software technology evolution as it tries to parallel the extended capabilities brought about by modern hardware. The Windows Vista I have runs over a 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 256 MB video memory (in-built graphics chip). You can see the details below.

If these hardware specifications are used for a Windows XP system, it would surely bounce to the roof.

To let you know these are the few major things I wish Microsoft would resolve or improve in the forthcoming Service Pack 1 (SP1) release for Windows Vista in first quarter of 2008 (they say in February):

• Speed of copying and moving of files in the Windows Explorer
• Random freezes, lost of responsiveness in some programs
• Performance of ailing Internet Explorer 7
• Overall system performance, reliability and stability

It seems however, after reading Paul Thurrott’s article for Windows Vista SP1, most of the issues I stated above will be addressed on SP1’s release along with new features. This is good news to me and to other prayerful Vista users. We truly need it.

In light of the issues, I can still proudly say that I love Windows Vista. It still keeps my work done, and its new environment inspires me and removes boredom. However, if you’re not too patient before the release of any service packs, you might be inclined to go for XP instead of Vista, or wait until 2010 when Windows 7, the next version of Windows, will be released.