Google Chrome: First Impressions

Sometime near the beginning of this week I heard something in passing about Google releasing a web browser. At first, I thought that was a cute idea. After a couple seconds of letting it soak in, however, I began to wonder what Google would try to bring to the table that they felt was not already present. I also wondered if Google's banning, then re-instatement of the Mozilla Public License had anything to do with their new browser -- but they're not evil, so that can't be it!

I wasn't really worried about trying it out at all, but a few things conspired to change my mind. First, seeing the CEO of Google being interviewed about Chrome during prime-time. Second, all the blog coverage of Chrome; and, third, glancing over the shoulder of someone trying it out and thinking to myself, "Huh -- looks interesting."

So I downloaded Chrome and set about evaluating it: