Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer - A Showdown

At work we're always staying abreast of tech developments, especially disruptive technologies. Google's release of Chrome might prove disruptive, as its rapid initial wave of browser market share consumption suggests.

In advising our clients and planning for future development, we consider:

Chrome, a Newcomer: Pacman™  style

• Quick to Launch
• Quick to Load Sites
• Sends URL information to Google
• No Private Browsing Mode
• Open Source....Eventually, but not yet
• Glitchily new
• More resilient to crashes
• Child of Google: deep reach, deep pockets
• Not supported by many operating Systems

Mozilla Firefox: Rebel with a cause

• Launched the first significant blow to IE's browser dominance since that dominance was established
• Many diehard fans of the browser and Mozilla
• Many more "flexible" and "early adopter" users, may be more susceptible to Google Chrome's "wares" and more likely to give Chrome a try soon.
• No Private Browsing Mode
  
• Widely supported across many operating systems

Microsoft Internet Explorer: "Everything that has a beginning...."

• Default Browser for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems
• Most popular browser, apparently
• Tends to mimmick other browsers' successes, rather than innovate
• Many users hesitant to try other browsers or give up what's familiar
• Previously had biggest reach by default through the Microsoft Connection. Now with Chrome through Google...well, we'll see.
• No Private Browsing Mode
  
• Supported on roughly ..2.. Operating Systems

Others...

• Opera was an early innovator with tabbed browsing and a lighter-weight, more flexible browser -- but lacked exposure/reach to take off. That, and for a time they tried to charge for their browser. Ooops!
• Safari supports a private browsing mode that its more popular counterparts have been slow to take on. However, Safari also lacks reach and uniqueness to make a dent in the browser market.

For now, even though entire communities long-ago left Internet Explorer for Firefox, IE is still king and queen of web browsing. However, as each generation becomes more engaged in tech, long-lived dynasties on browsers that innovate as an afterthought...won't be feasible. 

Business-wise, it makes sense to be IE compatible OR ELSE;

Community-wise,  we'd do well to encourage adoption of Firefox and maybe even Chrome. In the Web these days, usage (and even simply viewing) == voting.