Google Chrome Needs More Desktop Testing
Tags: browsers | Chrome | Google | Software
Google Chrome is barely a day into beta, so I don’t expect it to be perfect. I do, however, expect it to run.
I’m sure Chrome runs Web apps like lightning, with its process isolation and V8 JavaScript engine. Google seems to have forgotten, however, that while Chrome runs Web apps, it still runs on the desktop. They may have used their index to test Chrome on thousands upon thousands of the world’s most popular sites, but they apparently didn’t test it on as many desktop configurations.
First off is the lack of a full offline installer. Enterprises won’t enjoy downloading the same installer again and again and again for each and every workstation.
Second off is lack of compatibility in certain desktop environments — one of which is my own. No matter how many resident programs I unload, no matter how many possible conflicts I eliminate, no matter how many times I uninstall and reinstall, I cannot get Google Chrome to run on my machine. Heck, I can’t even get the uninstaller to run; I need to use an uninstallation utility.
I’ve wasted a whole morning just trying to get the thing to work. I know Windows is a mishmash environment, and I know programs sometimes conflict with each other, but I’m not running anything crazy here.
I was really pumped to try this, but now I guess I’ll have to wait for the next version. If you manage to get this thing working, let me know how it goes for you. Google Chrome may mark a milestone in the race to cloud computing, but it needs to plant its feet firmly on the desktop before reaching for the cloud.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Dude.
When you see blue text that is underlined, it’s a hyperlink.
Time to get a MAC if that POS you’re working on can’t handle a standard installer. (Better to blame your PC than admit to pilot error, right?)
When you see an alternative to Microsoft’s Internet Destroyer, take it.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Hi,
I’m using windows xp sp2. I installed google chrome this morning. It worked great. Then I decided to upgrade to sp3 and chrome stopped working. It simply wouldn’t run. I rolled back to sp2 and it started working again. Not sure what the issue is, but I’m guessing there’s a conflict with sp3.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I’ve been following Chrome discussions and there are a lot of installation problems that comes with it. Mike here is not alone, so I do not think it is right to say:
Kev, who replied just above me, also reported the same thing. Although I do not know how to revert back to SP2 that fast
(How did you do that Kev?)
Anyway, I am using SP3 but never had problems. My anti-virus is NOD32. I’ve read in other discussions that Chrome is having issues with certain Anti-Virus and related applications, and yes conflicts.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I tried Chrome. It conflicts with my Shop Safe virtual credit card number generating software. If ShopSafe.exe is running, Chrome doesn’t. I’ve read that Citi Bank has a similar program that also conflicts with Chrome. I’ve also found that ShopSafe.exe disrupts the Chrome install and uninstall.
One thing that I don’t see mentioned is that Chrome doesn’t install into the Program Files folder. It installs into the user’s Documents and Settings folder. Of course, this means no out of the box global install for all PC users. I’m not sure if this will fly in a business setting.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Kev’s right. The Chrome download page now says “For Windows Vista/XP SP2“. Now we know Chrome officially does not support SP3.
There’s a hack, but consumer software shouldn’t require a hack.