Hi owbist good question. I did a search. "The main advantage of Google Earth is the huge amount of resources that it can use since it is running locally on your machine. This allows the Google Earth application to perform much faster and with better features. Browsers were designed to have limited access to resources to prevent malicious people from gaining control of a computer that visits their site. For this reason, Google Maps are restricted to the browser. Users of Google Maps also need to have a speedy internet connection in order to talk to the Google Maps server. It the connection is very poor, the images make take a long time to load or even fail to in certain instances." http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/internet/difference-between-google-maps-and-google-earth/ And "They differ primarily in Google Maps being based on a 2D model and Google Earth using a 3D model. The other significant difference is that Google Maps is a Web application, while Google Earth is a stand-alone program that connects to the Internet." https://sites.google.com/a/kimbridges.net/google-earth-workshop/Home/background-information "Google Earth provides a more powerful, interactive user experience and offers more tools for learning about a location. The Google Earth experience is one of fast, fluid flight -- zooming and rotating and tilting imagery to view the geographic data you're interested in. You can wind along hairpin turns, view buildings in 3D, and fly to businesses near your favorite location," the Mountain View company explains." "Also, Google Earth allows you to easily measure distances and areas, draw lines and shapes, and even import your own data." http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Earth-vs-Google-Maps-65440.shtml

RC, thank you. I guess I asked the wrong question. What I was trying to do was see if I needed to update Google search engine, and all I could find was how to update google chrome. Could you clue me in on where to find out if I need to update Google search engine? I'm using FF on my pc xp-pro, and also on my Macbook, Leopard 10.5.8 thanks Jann

Perhaps this concern did not allow the use of Google. On your behalf I completed a basic Google search using the keywords "Google profile open correctly" (sans quotes). It provided the link below along with a lot of other information. DA Here is a link that might be useful: Google

just another browser option just like firefox or opera but created by google. Not sure what you mean by redo everything??? all you have to do is tell it yes or no when it ask if you want to transfer your bookmarks and settings I would say yes so it sets it up as your other browsers are and if it ask should it be default you can say no and change that at any time just like any of the other browsers. If you like it keep it if not delete it or just leave it on there and don't use it.