Google Chrome: Initial Impressions

Google just released Chrome, their WebKit-based browser. My initial impressions are pretty good. I like the new interface – especially the expanded vertical room. It seems very fast, especially on existing JavaScript-heavy sites like Gmail, Reader, and Maps. It almost seems that Chrome is caching emails and feeds in the backgrounds so everything loads quickly.

What else is cool? I love the process manager (Shift+Esc). From there, you can click the “Stats for nerds” to link to about:memory. The interface in very slick, offering subtle hints where needed. I love the combination search/history/address bar. “incognito” mode is great, even if the obvious implications are a bit dubious.

What stinks? I loved Firefox‘s “/” inline search functionality; seems like Ctrl+F is my only option in Chrome. Proxy settings are controlled by the OS, making quick switches like FoxyProxy unlikely. Furthermore, custom plugins/addons seem to be absent – not totally unexpected in an initial beta release. Interestingly, I can see which plugins are already loaded through about:plugins. No built-in spell check. This is a real shame, since I’ve come to rely on it even in my IM clients.

All-in-all, I do like it, but until at least some of my gripes are ironed out, I can’t say I’m ready to switch. That said, I’ll be glad to keep testing it.