Google's Chrome: 7 reasons for and 7 reasons against

The first beta of Chrome, Google's long-in-development Internet browser, became available Tuesday afternoon for Windows Vista and XP users, with Mac and Linux editions soon to follow. There's ample reason to be excited about the release, and just as much reason to be wary. Check out these screen shots, weigh the pros and cons, and then decide for yourself.

For further PCWorld.com coverage of Chrome, see assistant editor Nick Mediati's product review ("Google Chrome Web Browser") and contributing editor Harry McCracken's analysis of how Google's entry into the browser market affects the other major players ("Chrome vs. the World").

[ Also check out Tom Yager's Ahead of the Curve blog: Developers should skip Google's Chrome, and jump straight to WebKit. ]

Seven Reasons Chrome Could Be Cool

1. It won't crash.
Perhaps Chrome's biggest draw is its multiprocess architecture, which, in a nutshell, protects you from having a bad Web page or application take your browser down. Every tab, window, and plug-in runs in its own environment -- so one faulty site won't affect anything else that you have open. This approach also adds another layer of security by isolating each site and application within a limited environment.

2. It's really fast.
Again because of the multiprocess foundation, one slow site won't drag down the rest of your browsing. Instead, you can effortlessly click to another tab or window. With plug-ins, the arrangement works similarly: If you open a site that has a slow-loading Java ad, for example, the Java itself will be isolated and the rest of the page won't be affected. The program itself opens within seconds of when you click the icon, too -- a distinct advantage over some slower-loading alternatives.

3. You barely notice it's there.
Calling the design of Chrome's interface streamlined is an understatement. The program barely looks like a program, and the vast majority of your screen space is devoted to the site you're visiting -- with no buttons or logos hogging space. Chrome's designers say that they wanted people to forget they were even using a browser, and it comes pretty close to achieving that goal.

4. It makes searching simpler.
One of Chrome's signature features is its Omnibox, an integrated all-purpose bar at the top of the browser. You can type in a URL or a search term -- or both -- and Chrome takes you to the right place without asking any questions. Omnibox can learn what you like, too -- a talent that goes beyond the obvious automatic completion function. Say that you want to use the PCWorld.com search function, for example. Once you've visited the site once, Chrome will remember that PCWorld.com has its own search box and will give you the option of using it right from Omnibox. The function thus automates keyword searches.