Did Edge make Google improve Chrome?

I was thinking with Paul talking about how the battery life advantages of Edge over Chrome where getting smaller overtime, was this do to Google improving Chrome in response? Would they have done it if it was not for Microsoft pointing out the difference? Or was it a case of Edge getting less efficient as they added functionality? Or does the efficiency of both browsers have little to do with the engine it uses and more to do with everything else?

Conversation 14 comments

  • F4IL

    07 December, 2018 - 1:22 pm

    <p>It depends on the use case. For video playback, chromium has traditionally been conservative with HW acceleration, favoring stability over performance. The reasoning behind this choice has very little to do with the rendering engine and everything to do with GPU driver quality and stability. Eventually it is up to the software vendor. If Microsoft can enable HW acceleration on Windows for all GPUs without problems, chromium (and chrome) will improve.</p>

    • Bill Strong

      08 December, 2018 - 5:57 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#379516">In reply to F4IL:</a></em></blockquote><p>You mean if Microsoft doesn't create a DX12 backend for their specific version?</p>

      • F4IL

        09 December, 2018 - 4:04 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#379911">In reply to Bill_Strong:</a></em></blockquote><p>What good is a DX12 backend if the GPU drivers are unstable? Can you play DX12 games with buggy GPU drivers?</p>

  • rob_segal

    Premium Member
    07 December, 2018 - 3:44 pm

    <p>Edge doesn't have nearly a large enough user base to concern Google. Improving battery life and memory usage may have more to do with the general reputation of Chrome as being a battery hog than a response to Edge or Microsoft's browser campaigns.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      08 December, 2018 - 9:29 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#379584">In reply to rob_segal:</a></em></blockquote><p>I agree that in isolation, Edge never "threatened" Google or Chrome. But… Microsoft is still Microsoft, and its reach is wide. Those battery life video put-downs surely did have an effect. Whatever. Chrome did get better too. So great.</p>

  • lordbaal1

    07 December, 2018 - 3:47 pm

    <p>Chrome needs to improve their RAM usage. There is no way it should be using 8GB of RAM.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      08 December, 2018 - 9:28 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#379586">In reply to lordbaal1:</a></em></blockquote><p>A web browser is most user's most important and most-used app, so it should use whatever resources it can. There's no reason to save any in reserve. Windows will handle which apps get what.</p>

      • lordbaal1

        08 December, 2018 - 2:34 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#379795">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Excuses, Excuses, it should not be using half my RAM.</p><p>There's no reason it should be using that much.</p>

      • Bill Strong

        08 December, 2018 - 5:55 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#379795">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Chrome itself could be more efficient. Vivaldi keeps most processes under 400 MB, and can keep the whole browser under 500 MB when hibernating tabs. Chrome on a regular basis will have chrome processes exceeding 900 MB, with some going as high as 2 GB. </p><p><br></p><p>I know computers have lots of RAM, but there no reason not to be somewhat efficient.</p>

      • locust infested orchard inc

        08 December, 2018 - 7:58 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#379795">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>No. With a handful of tabs open, it would be a Chrime for any browser to utilise half of the system memory.</p>

    • locust infested orchard inc

      08 December, 2018 - 7:56 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#379586">In reply to lordbaal1:</a></em></blockquote><p>If you had 64 GB RAM, the data-guzzling browser would still hog half of it, yeah all 32 GB for itself. </p>

  • waethorn

    07 December, 2018 - 4:44 pm

    <p>Chrome is fine on Chromebooks, which is Linux-based. Most Chromebooks get 8-10hrs of battery life, and the majority of Chromebooks are under $500.</p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    08 December, 2018 - 7:48 pm

    <p>The only foreseeable improvements I can possibly envisage in Adoogle's Chrime browser is more covert invasion of one's privacy and more data siphoning.</p><p><br></p><p>Chrominality has never been more fruitful and profitable.</p>

  • jules_wombat

    09 December, 2018 - 4:41 am

    <p>No</p><p>Chrome only real competitor is Firefox. Edge is and was akways irrelevant.</p>

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