Categories: Need to know

Google gets desperate

Search engine company turns to TV ads to boost Chrome

by macleans.ca on Thursday, May 14, 2009 1:04pm - 5 Comments

It may be faster and more dynamic than its competitors, but Chrome isn’t getting any love. Since Google launched its web browser last fall, it’s captured just 1.42 per cent of the market. So, in an attempt to spread the word about the benefits of Chrome, Google is launching its first ever TV advertising campaign. But as Slate writer Farhad Manjoo points out, the commercials are more cutesy than they are informative; if Google really wants to make a dent in the browser industry, it should look to Mozilla Firefox—and then steal its customers.

Slate

Andrew (not Potter or Coyne)

I gave it a shot for a few minutes. It didn’t have any improvements over Firefox that would justify switching.
Craig O.

Everyone I’ve talked to who’s tried Chrome loves it. However, it took me a long time just to get into Firefox, so I can’t imagine switching to Chrome without a very compelling reason to do so. I think Google just needs to be patient.
Bernito

i find it lame how google is trying to save everything you have ever done on the net in order to stick you with targeted ads, therefore i wont use chrome plus i use safari which apparently foils the new google targeted ads thing ….with google tageted ads on a regular browser you actually have to opt out
Colin

If you don’t want to see ads just use Firefox and the add-on Adblock Plus. It gets rid of google ads, yahoo ads almost all popular ads . That is the main reason I use firefox.
RagingRanter

I find Chrome still freezes and crashes too much. It is quicker, but it’s not yet stable enough for me to use it full time. Plus, I like my Firefox add-ons.