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Chrome is wildly popular because it's a GOOD BROWSER. Google's search and ad monopoly do not matter; people loved the browser because it was fast, minimalist,

by SR2Z 2y ago

Chrome is wildly popular because it's a GOOD BROWSER. Google's search and ad monopoly do not matter; people loved the browser because it was fast, minimalist, bundled flash and PDF readers, and had great support for adblockers. More than for any other Google product, Chrome won because it was good in its own right. Now that Google has gotten rid of adblockers we will see exactly how much ability they have to compel people to use the browser :) This third-party cookie thing has been in the news for half a decade at this point. It's not a new idea at all.

dleary 2y ago
Yes, Chrome was great. Google search was also great. That’s the nature of enshittification, and a core tactic of monopolists: give your customers something for free (or below cost) until you have killed the competition, and then exploit your “customers” (victims). > Google's search and ad monopoly do not matter Some questions: When Google used its search monopoly to promote Chrome in a way that no other company is capable of (a link on the Google search main page), did that have some impact, or zero impact? When Google used its ad monopoly to give Chrome free ad placement… That is, when the Chrome team was able to ‘buy’ keywords for free that Firefox, IE, and Opera had to pay 5 cents per click for… Did that have some impact, or zero impact?
- SR2Z 2y ago
  > When Google used its search monopoly to promote Chrome in a way that no other company is capable of (a link on the Google search main page), did that have some impact, or zero impact? No more impact than bundling a default web browser which can then be used to download another one. That's pretty uncontroversial these days, seeing as how iOS bundles a default browser BUT STILL forces you into using WebKit regardless of if you wanted to switch or not :) > When Google used its ad monopoly to give Chrome free ad placement… Except it's not free. There is an opportunity cost to flogging your own product in space that you otherwise could sell more ads in. You said it yourself: if other browsers were willing to pay 5c/click, how is it possible for that space to be free to Google?

by SR2Z 2y ago

dleary 2y ago

Yes, Chrome was great. Google search was also great. That’s the nature of enshittification, and a core tactic of monopolists: give your customers something for free (or below cost) until you have killed the competition, and then exploit your “customers” (victims). > Google's search and ad monopoly do not matter Some questions: When Google used its search monopoly to promote Chrome in a way that no other company is capable of (a link on the Google search main page), did that have some impact, or zero impact? When Google used its ad monopoly to give Chrome free ad placement… That is, when the Chrome team was able to ‘buy’ keywords for free that Firefox, IE, and Opera had to pay 5 cents per click for… Did that have some impact, or zero impact?

SR2Z 2y ago
> When Google used its search monopoly to promote Chrome in a way that no other company is capable of (a link on the Google search main page), did that have some impact, or zero impact? No more impact than bundling a default web browser which can then be used to download another one. That's pretty uncontroversial these days, seeing as how iOS bundles a default browser BUT STILL forces you into using WebKit regardless of if you wanted to switch or not :) > When Google used its ad monopoly to give Chrome free ad placement… Except it's not free. There is an opportunity cost to flogging your own product in space that you otherwise could sell more ads in. You said it yourself: if other browsers were willing to pay 5c/click, how is it possible for that space to be free to Google?