Which version of Internet Explorer? Version 7, or the new version 8 that is in beta right now? You might have guessed that Microsoft would not ignore a new browser from an Internet giant like Google. Seems the only way you can get the folks in Redmond to upgrade their browser these days is to threaten them with competition.

And make no mistake, the new Google browser, named Chrome, is a threat, and the newest player in a growing list of competitors for the browser market.

Right now, there are several excellent browsers that you can download for free. Mozilla’s Firefox, the most popular browser after IE, is currently offering version 3 (www.firefox.com). Opera, a distant third on the Windows platform, is in version 9.5 (www.opera.com). Apple’s Safari browser, version 3.1, is now available for Windows as well as the Mac (www.apple.com/safari).

So why did Google introduce Chrome into this crowded field? Because the Internet is where it’s at, baby! Whoever controls the portal to the world-wide web wields enormous power. That’s why Microsoft has rushed to provide their updated browser to the public.

The “world wide web” is evolving, and may soon be where you go to run popular applications like word processors and spreadsheets, or even store your digital photos. Everyone is trying to guess the direction that the Internet is heading, and all that frenzied speculation makes for some very swift innovation.

So, how does Chrome stack up to Internet Explorer? Pretty well, actually. Google has incorporated a lot of the neatest features of the other browsers into Chrome. You can download your own copy at www.google.com/chrome. The first thing you will notice when you start Chrome is that the interface is simple and elegant, just like the Google home page. The browser loads web pages very fast, and contains several nice features, such as “incognito mode”, which allows you to crawl the web without storing history and cookies on your computer.

I like the way you can save your favorite web sites as small buttons across the top of the browser, and the crash control that prevents an errant web page from completely closing your browser. It also imports you favorites and saved passwords from IE (as well as other browsers), which saves a lot of time. If you want to search the web, you just type your search terms in the internet address box. Chrome can distinguish between a URL and a search.

To test this feature, I decided to conduct a search for “creepy Microsoft ad”. Sure enough, the first listing in the results s a link to a video of Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld in a shoe store.

If you would like to compare Chrome with the Internet Explorer 8 Beta, you can download it at http://tinyurl.com/3242ra. You might not notice any differences between IE7 and IE8  until you open a new tab. Then you’ll see a typical Microsoft design annoyance: the overly helpful feature. “What do you want to do next?” the helpful banner asks, helpfully. Unfortunately, there is no “Leave me alone!” option.

But IE8 does include some useful features, such as a list of recently visited sites or closed tabs, and Microsoft’s version of stealth mode (called “InPrivate Browsing”). An “Accelerator” function allows you to select text on a web page and use it as input to mapping software, or a reference site such as a dictionary.

So, will Chrome challenge Internet Explorer’s dominance in the browser market? It will probably develop a small but loyal following, like Firefox. I predict that most people will stick with the browser that comes with their operating system, which will likely be Windows, so that means IE. But if the only impact Chrome has is to frighten Microsoft into improving their browser, then we’ll all benefit.