Who Uses Google Chrome?
September 30th, 2008 · by David Bradley
It’s almost a month since Google released its new tabbed browser, Chrome, complete with privacy tab and lack of addons and plugins and for which a password cracker has recently been published.
So, how many people are actually using it? I took a look at the GetClicky stats for the Sciencebase.com site, for September just to get some idea of who is using Google Chrome. Sciencebase gets more traffic than Sciencetext, but more to the point, I wrote follow-up posts about Chrome on Sciencetext, which may have attracted Chrome users and so biased the stats.
So, for Sciencebase.com, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer still tops the browser charts at 65.9% of Sciencebase visitors. Firefox pops up at 25.9%, Safari (usually Mac users) at 4.5%, and non-Firefox Mozilla 1.6%. Mobile users account for a mere 0.4% of visitors. There is a trickle of users visiting the site with their Sony PSP or Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii. The first pocket browser, Opera, has just 0.7% share. Cue fanfare:
Google Chrome has 0.9%
So during September Chrome beat Opera for visitors to a science niche website, but only just. I’ll report back at the end of October and let you know if those percentages have shifted.
If you want to download Google Chrome, here’s the link. Let me know if you’re using Chrome and whether you prefer it over your old browser. Have you binned your old browser in preference for Chrome?
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7 responses so far ↓
Actually, just for comparison on Sciencetext.com:
MSIE - 39.7%
Firefox - 48.4%
Safari - 4.7%
Chrome - 3.9%
Opera - 1.9%
Mozilla - 1%
Mobile - 0.3%
PSP/Wii/PS3 - trace
I like Chrome, but without the flexibility of Firefox’s addons it can’t swing me. In time I can see myself switching, if I can eventually do everything I can in Firefox in Chrome.
50% Firefox says a lot about the readership of sciencetext. I’d guess it’s the same for most tech-oriented sites.
I think Google is essentially heading the way of Microsoft. Having started out with a revolutionary idea they’re beginning to try and take over the world. However, where the Windows operating system is ubiquitous (on PCs anyway) MS failed to take over the web. Google took over the web and is now creating the niche for a cloud-based OS for thin clients.
I like Chrome for javascript heavy sites and webapps like GMail and Google Reader. So if I follow a site through RSS feeds I normally follow links or connect to the site via Chrome. However Firefox is still my day to day browser as I depend on its Add-ons for security (NoScript) and function (ScrapBook, GreaseMonkey, Zotero, Google Toolbar).
The ‘password cracker’ actually just reverses the seed used to encrypt the password which is a combination of the windows username and SID
the program has no effect on the security of chrome itself because locally you can just as easy go to the chrome settings and view the stored passwords in plaintext anyhow
@Will Well, that’s actually a relief, I guess, although I’m not storing passwords in any browser personally. What does whatmypass.com do?
Opera is my full-time browser because of its customization capabilities (which contrary to popular belief - I find more useful than Firefox) - however when I’m doing heavy SEO work I have to go to Firefox which is way too slow for me. I have been using Google Chrome a lot with Opera - like now, I’m doing research on Opera (ya, right) and putting data into my Google Notebook on Chrome. It’s hard to judge speed because I’m on satellite - but Chrome does seem to run faster than Opera at times. (And at other times, it doesn’t.) Chrome is very lightweight for me because I’ve overloaded Opera customizations. The kids however now choose Chrome for their “Myspace/Facebook/fifty billion IM messages/music and videos/surfing open all at once while texting and talking on the cell phone at the same time” after school activities, and my 8 year old has been using Chrome for her games and school work. So our household is 50/50. I love my Opera though.
The blue “e” is buried somewhere…only opening when it’s absolutely necessary..usually due to an installation of something or viewing webpage setupsin different browsers.
I don’t store any passwords I wouldn’t want anyone to know. But it’s nice to know I can access them in case the kids forget theirs…(I respect their privacy so I wouldn’t do it without them knowing.)
Chrome is nice though. It’s growing on me. (But Opera is my baby.)
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