Which browser is the best? It depends on what you use it for. Some will opt for Google’s simple, pared-down design, while others will prefer IE8’s Web development tools. Both IE8 and Firefox are quick, but Chrome is quicker, according to independent tests. Chrome and IE8 both have address bars that try to anticipate what you want to search for next.

The battle for control of your desktop has switched to the browser, with the launch of Google’s brand new Internet Explorer rival, Chrome.

What is Chrome? It’s a simple, fast Web browser, stripped down to its bare essentials, much like Google’s search homepage: straightforward and effective. Google cofounder Sergey Brin describes it as “basic”.

Why is the browser market so crucial? First of all, because our choice of browser affects our choice of search engine, but more crucially, because our online behavior is evolving. Most of us now use the Web for far more than just reading static pages — we use it for richer applications, such as email, or playing games. A faster, more secure, more stable browser is therefore more in demand.

So another benevolent act by Google? Microsoft Relevant Products/Services doesn’t see it that way. Google is betting on the fact that over the next few years, most users will move from using applications stored on their personal computers to applications hosted by remote data centers, allowing them to access their data wherever and whenever they like — a switch to so-called cloud computing that would make Microsoft’s PC-based Windows less relevant. Chrome gives Google a leg-up into this new market.

How has Microsoft responded? It has been fine-tuning Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) for a while now, attempting to make it more secure and beef up the number of features in response to the increasing popularity of newcomers such as Firefox, and now Chrome.

Which browser is the best? It depends on what you use it for. Some will opt for Google’s simple, pared-down design, while others will prefer IE8’s Web development tools. Both IE8 and Firefox are quick, but Chrome is quicker, according to independent tests.

What else can they do? Chrome and IE8 both have address bars that try to anticipate what you want to search for next. Chrome has a useful thumbnail view of all your favorite sites. One final consideration: early tests show that IE8 uses more memory than both Chrome or Firefox.