Google has branched out into even more new territory as of the beginning of this week. Chrome, which launched Tuesday, has given Google a share of the internet browser market, already capturing over 2.5% of the market in just days. Firefox 3 was launched in July, and with it, an attempt by Mozilla to break a Guiness World Record of most software downloads in 24 hours. Chrome may give the current record a run for its money.

Pros and Cons

The speed of the browser has not been the only feature attracting a wide audience of critics and Internet searchers everywhere. Have you ever had your browser crash and close all your active windows, resulting in loss of information and peace of mind? Well with Chrome, tabs isolate any problems, resulting in individual tab problems not spreading to the rest of your open windows.

But Chrome has experienced its fair share of blemishes as well. Due to the streamlining of the system, most toolbars and plug-ins are not capable of running successfully with the browser, resulting in some grumbling amongst the Internet community. The New York Times wrote, “…toolbars contribute 12 percent of search queries at Google, 18 percent at Yahoo and 42% at IAC’s Ask.”

Among other issues is the privacy and security factor. There were a couple holes found in the security of the browser and still in question is the matter of how much information is shared with Google advertisers. How much control will Google have over your online experience?

Google’s Internet Takeover

I guess we’ll see in the coming weeks what will become of Chrome. It could be the next Zunezilla or we could all find ourselves witnessing Google’s complete and utter coup d’état of the World Wide Web.