How has Chrome had such a meteoric rise?

[inf1nity]

Chrome comes bundled with a lot of software(avast for example) and it installs by default unless you uncheck the box.

That can be a reason. That and the Google brand name.

 

[mikeymikec]

Chrome comes bundled with a lot of software(avast for example) and it installs by default unless you uncheck the box.

That can be a reason. That and the Google brand name.

Argh, you just reminded me of something that really pisses me off - I ask a customer which browser they're using:

".... Google?"

 

[John Connor]

Yeah, I hear that BS a lot too. I said, Google is a search engine, not a browser.

 

[shimpster]

I've spent a little while looking at w3school's browser stats this morning.

IMO:

In 2005, Firefox had the support of the early adopters who looked for a change from IE6. More non-tech-inclined people would have been attracted by the recommendation because IE6 on their machine was probably loaded up with unnecessary toolbars and other junk slowing it down and/or making it unstable. Firefox enjoyed a steady rise in usage for years.

Chrome appears on the scene in 2008 with apparently an immediate 3% market share (which I find a bit surprising). It looks like a good portion of that percentage was nabbed from IE, so my guess is that Google put that link to Google Chrome on the google home page immediately after release.

Firefox hit its peak usage in 2009, and its usage faltered consistently from that point onwards. Chrome's usage steadily went up to the present date, but significantly faster than Firefox's usage ever did in previous years.

My initial thought was perhaps a major reason for this rise was Google recommending Chrome on its home page, but then it occurred to me that Firefox Start was a Google search page hosted on the Google site but did not have a link to Chrome on it. At some later date, Firefox had the firefox start page that was hosted locally.

My next thought was perhaps approximately 5 years is enough for a browser profile to start really going to pot and for the average person to look elsewhere, that and earlier adopters of Google Chrome are probably singing its praises (perhaps for the same reason, they switched from a borked FF/IE profile, just sooner than other people, or some people just like to try something new once in a while), but Chrome has been around for 8 years now. I've seen enough Chrome profiles with crap in them, or the fact that Chrome ate memory for breakfast, which must have put some people off it (or perhaps they upgraded in one way or another?).

I checked when Australis was introduced, it was some time after Firefox began its decline (2013).

I didn't realize that Chrome had a meteoric rise....however, another forum member says other browzerz are following Chrome, so I reckon it's the leader of browzerz.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2469992

 

[lakedude]

Used Firefox, switched to Chrome. Cites tabbed browsing as a reason for switching.

Yes, along with ease of printing and spellcheck. IE lacked all these things back in the day.

 

[Dulanic]

I originally changed when Firefox kept "stalling" on me and freezing up for 30+ seconds at a time.

Since then, I have kept Chrome due to the following reasons:

• Synced bookmarks, history etc... Firefox used to have a horrible sync system and I hated it. It's gotten better, but why change back now?
• Chrome has a large support for addons similar to Firefox, why go back?
• Firefox swapped to Yahoo default search engine. I know some people are privacy crazy, but I honestly MUCH prefer google's search results.
• Firefox's autocomplete when typing URL's sucks. Maybe I have a setting wrong, but it never works right.
• I use hangouts and I need chrome to use it on my PC. I work from home so I prefer to not have to always use my phone for a txt etc...

 

[sm625]

Why would any red blooded american want to use the web browser from a small independent outfit when they can use the web browser from a giant black hole personal information sucking beast that turns all your searches and browsing history into big fat $$?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Firefox swapped to Yahoo default search engine. I know some people are privacy crazy, but I honestly MUCH prefer google's search results.

You know that you can choose your search engine in Firefox, right?

 

[TheRyuu]

You know that you can choose your search engine in Firefox, right?

s/Firefox/all browsers/

 

[TeknoBug]

• Firefox swapped to Yahoo default search engine. I know some people are privacy crazy, but I honestly MUCH prefer google's search results.

Search engine in FF can be changed, and yeah Google's search is LESS private than Yahoo's.

 

[coffeemonster]

It amazes me how few UI options Chrome offers still.

tabs on top only
close tab button locked
UI buttons locked
insert related after current/close tab switch to next "related" tab(personal annoyance)
typing a few letters in the url bar does not always bring up previously visited websites(a shortcut I use extensively in FF)
Right click menu severely lacking
no decent alternative to several favorite firefox addons
It's never felt particularly faster than firefox or it's offshoots.

And no I don't think installing several extentions just to bring it's UI customization on par with FF acceptable.