Any benefits adding Google Chrome Frame and Chrome to a PC with IE 8

[FI0L]

I am currently running Windows XP Pro with IE 8 and am being advised to replace it or at least install Chrome on another drive “so I have the choice”, but as I’m not having any issues with IE 8 am reticent in changing for the sake of it. I’ve always believed the idiom “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” however I understand that adding Frame speeds up IE 8 considerably.

I’m a patient sort of guy generally and have never had issues with the speed of IE 8, perhaps I have low expectations, but I’d like this knowledgeable forum’s thoughts on adding/changing.

I’m not sure if this is relevant, but I have Office 2002 (the version whose Outlook’s ANSI PST format is not compatible with newer versions), will this cause problems if I use Chrome with my 2002 Outlook?

I realise to get every techie user to agree on any one item is nigh-on impossible, but I suppose in short, I’m asking whether there is a significant advantage to having IE 8 and Chrome on my computer?

I only use my computer at home for browsing, e-mails, photo-editing, streaming music via shoutcast and the odd online game, so you can see I’m hardly taxing it. Any issues outside of the above that any of you could shed light on that would occur by changing the status quo, would also be appreciated.


Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.

 

[stduc]

I've not tried Frame - but Chrome is handy to have - I still have IE8 as my default browser but Chrome has its uses. It is faster. It is also the only browser that really gets on with my router. But I don't use it on a daily basis. There is certainly no reason you shouldn't give it a try that I can think of - it doesn't appear to upset anything if you DO NOT make it the default browser.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[vacunita]

You can install Chrome without any worries. It won't interfere with IE8 in any way, ands you get the chance to test it out. If you don't like it you can always uninstall it.

It should also not interfere with Outlook as they are separate entities. Unless you set it up as default browser, Outlook will continue to open any links or pages in your emails through IE.

Personally I use Chrome as my main browser now, i only keep IE8 around to text when I'm developing web sites that it looks and functions correctly there. I have nothing but good things to say about chrome, it loads almost instantly, and maximizes screen space by having no title or menu bar, so you see more of the page. Also no menu bar means no pesky toolbars that want to install themselves. And no risky ActiveX access that could endanger your computer through IE.

As for Chrome Frame, unless you believe the sites you are visiting can take advantage of it I don't see the need.



----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[edfair]

It is handy to have available. I use it and Firefox as alternatives to IE7 on everything I run.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Glenn9999]

I'll just say that IE8 is probably best described as pretty backwards compared to the other options out there now for XP. This is especially true since IE9 was locked out of using XP and development time that MS is putting into IE8 is very likely extremely limited. Firefox 4 and the newest Chrome are both (IMO) much beyond IE8 in quality.

It is not possible for anyone to acknowledge truth when their salary depends on them not doing it.

 

[flyboytim]

Apart from being slow as treacle, IE8 does not render standard HTML4.0 properly.

http://acid3.acidtests.org/

Description of the tests:

http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid3/

IE8 on Windows 7 failed on my machine with 20/100.

With HTML5 now appearing, newer tests also give IE9 a less glowing report than the other 4 popular browsers:

http://www.foxcns.com/blog/2011/03/new-browsers-new-acid-test/

The new test is here:

http://html5test.com/

On IE8, I achieved a score of 32/400

What could you be missing?

On the first test, chrome scores 100/100, and on the second, 288/400 on the same PC.

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[FI0L]

Many thanks to all of you for your input.

I've now d/l'd Chrome and it is indeed whizzier and I can also see more of the page due to lack of menu/toolbars.

flyboytim, I tried the acid3 test for which I got a miserable 13/100 from IE 8 and 100/100 from Chrome. The html5 test I scored 32/400 with IE 8 and 286/400 with Chrome.

I'll try using Chrome for a while to see what other benefits it gives me.

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.