Chrome market share drops

Peter G. 11 Sep, 2008 at 3:25pm ET Article published in Tech

When Google launched its new Chrome browser last week, the company set out to challenge the browser market. The Internet hype machine was buzzing over the new browser as thousands downloaded the app to give it a test run.

One week later, the numbers suggest many users are putting Chrome out to pasture. On launch day, Chrome accounted for 1 – 1.7 percent of the total browser market according to data from Net Applications. Today, it’s showing a downward trend riding the line around .7 percent. Tech savvy sites have suggested use among enthusiasts has fallen by up to 30 percent since the browser’s introduction.

Google never set out to be an also-ran in the browser race. They’ll have to do better to get the word out to normal mom and pop users if they want to be in the winner’s circle. Third-place Safari owns over six percent of the market currently, following Firefox at just a hair under 20. Internet Explorer leads the way with 72 percent of the field.

Comments

1. 
   11 Sep 2008 ~ 4:14pm kryyst Can't say that I'm surprised. I know personally I checked it out, I like the things that it does. But not well enough to go without the features I'm currently getting from firefox. Once chrome matures I'll definitely check it out again, but firefox will be maturing to. Ultimately it's Speed of Chrome vs Pluggins of Firefox. I'll take the technically slower speeds of Firefox with the much more enhanced toys, because while chrome is faster, it's not a case of firefox being slow.
2. 
   11 Sep 2008 ~ 4:17pm Linc If it HAD taken off immediately, it would've been to Firefox's detriment.
   
   The places that make up most of IE's marketshare take forever to change: big corporate work environments and the non-geek home user.
3. 
   11 Sep 2008 ~ 5:05pm mas0n Chrome is my primary browser on all of my PCs. The only thing I am missing currently is a Delicious plugin, but it's not too much hassle to go to delicious.com
   
   
4. 
   11 Sep 2008 ~ 5:13pm Leonardo

   If it HAD taken off immediately, it would've been to Firefox's detriment.
   
   The places that make up most of IE's marketshare take forever to change: big corporate work environments and the non-geek home user.

   Good assessment. The people most likely to run Chrome are already running Firefox. (Yes, I also acknowledge the 20 to 30 people using Opera or Safari.) Most of us are very pleased with Firefox and aren't eager to switch. Most of the non-corporate IE users have already heard of Firefox from people like us. If they haven't switched to Firefox, they probably aren't likely to install any 'alternative' browser. Google will have to flog Chrome with massive advertising dollars if they want to take any significant market share.
5. 
   11 Sep 2008 ~ 11:33pm CB

   kryyst wrote:

   Can't say that I'm surprised. I know personally I checked it out, I like the things that it does. But not well enough to go without the features I'm currently getting from firefox. Once chrome matures I'll definitely check it out again, but firefox will be maturing to. Ultimately it's Speed of Chrome vs Pluggins of Firefox. I'll take the technically slower speeds of Firefox with the much more enhanced toys, because while chrome is faster, it's not a case of firefox being slow.

   
   My sentiments precisely.
6. 
   12 Sep 2008 ~ 12:56am Tim IE6 works fine for me!
7. 
   12 Sep 2008 ~ 1:41am Thrax This is where about 100% of the enthusiast internet collectively facepalms at you.
8. 
   12 Sep 2008 ~ 2:25am BLuKnight It all comes down to what you're most familiar with. I'm used to Firefox. When Chrome has the same functionality that Firefox's plug-ins provide, then I'll consider switching. Chrome's speed is impressive, but it just doesn't tip the scales.
9. 
   12 Sep 2008 ~ 12:18pm steadyflux I used it a bit ... and put it back on the shelf. Its got some nice features and V8 is sweet with respect to speed, but ... it's not Firefox.
   
   I have a theory that Google just really wants push certain features and isn't really seeking to corner the browser market. I think its just a proof of concept kick the rear to FF devs about what direction Google *wants* them to be going. Otherwise, it just seems like the big G is trying to spread itself too thin.
10. 
    12 Sep 2008 ~ 12:52pm Your-Amish-Daddy I'm a writer, I post on a few creative sites, My own blog, and I often send emails to people I work with or for. I don't want google stealing my dammed creative rights.
    "11. Content licence from you
    
    11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights that you already hold in Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content, you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services. This licence is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services."
    
    If they steal any of my work for any reason, they will put me out of business. I ain't got time for that.
11. 
    12 Sep 2008 ~ 12:54pm BuddyJ Don't worry YAD, they won't take your work. It's not something they could disseminate easily without offending people.
12. 
    12 Sep 2008 ~ 1:45pm Thrax

    Your Amish Daddy wrote:

    (snip) I ain't got time for that.

    
    They fixed this a week ago.
13. 
    12 Sep 2008 ~ 1:46pm TvManPwns I had a test run on the Chrome browser and was not thrilled with the proformance "boosts" that I got. It at at my precious system like a maggot (which isn't good considering my machine is a peice of crap).... I think i'll stick with firefox. Besides, it just looks prettier!!
14. 
    12 Sep 2008 ~ 1:53pm Your-Amish-Daddy Well, even if they took that out, I hate ads. I hate seeing them. The first plugin I get on a fresh install is Adblock plus. Sure I can modify my hosts file, but I run vista. I don't care to screw around with it.
15. 
    12 Sep 2008 ~ 8:02pm PurplezArctic

    kryyst wrote:

    ... speed of Chrome

    
    That's why I'm using it. I've never gravitated to Firefox plug-ins only because I don't have much use for them (or from what I HAVE seen). The simplicity and speed of Chrome turn me on.
    
    Of course, Google is not that arrogant to think that they'll steal 1st place in the market with Chrome in a couple of weeks. They are a big company, and they can afford to take the time to expand, improve, and advertise Chrome to eventually make it the big daddy.
    
    I'm excited to see Chrome expand, so I can get my hand on some skinz.