When word of Google's new Chrome browser hit earlier today, everyone's first thought's went to what it means for the browser wars. But attention is already to turning to what the new browser actually delivers to Web surfers.Here's what people are saying and what I noticed in the first few minutes after downloading (I'll have more to say after I get a chance to work with Chrome a bit more):

Once you get started, installation is fast and easy, but it took me 3 times to get the download started. It automatically imported my IE 7 bookmarks, and while it seemed to offer me a chance to control that process, it happened before I could tell it to use my Firefox 3 bookmarks instead.

The first thing you'll notice is that the look is very clean and simple. In fact, it takes a moment to locate typical browser functions. For example, the main address bar is also the search bar. Enter a URL and Chrome takes you there. Enter something else and it automatically returns results from whichever search engine you specify. Google is the default, natch.

Like the upcoming IE 8 (also now in beta), Chrome offers a private browsing mode called Incognito. Wags have already dubbed this kind of feature: Porn Mode.

To easily reach online apps, Chrome lets you add Desktop, Start Menu, and Quick Launch Bar shortcuts to your favorite Web applications--which open in a special, simplified Application Window. That's a big improvement over standard bookmarks in the browser itself. Here's a picture of a shortcut to bMighty looks like...

More importantly, though, Google says that each application's processes run in its own software "sandbox." That way, if one crashes, only that tab crashes, any other open tabs or windows soldier on. Similarly, different applications can't conflict with each other, or cause security issues.

Another unique trick is that instead of being limited to a single start page, you can specify a whole list of URLs to open in separate tabs -- or in thumbnails on the default home page -- whenever you launch the browser.

All the pages I tried rendered perfectly. I saw no immediate compatibility issues. That's a big concern for anyone who maintains a Web page, of course, so let's hope there aren't any subtle or hidden compatibility issues.

Right now, there's no equivalent of the library of essential add-ons and extenstions that make Firefox so powerful -- not even the Google Toolbar! (That's a deal breaker for my primary browser, but Chrome could still find a place for certain applications.)

Of course, if you want to find out about Google's newest baby for yourself, you can download Chrome here.

To learn more, check out these sites:

Chrome Help CenterInformationWeekTechnologizer CNET

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