I Like Shiny… Chrome Things…

So late last week brought the release of Google Chrome, the newest player in the browser game. Here are some observations, particularly as they relate to the digital magazine crowd:

1.) I would’ve loved to try it at work. Alas, Google Chrome doesn’t run on a Mac. Yet.

2.) So, I downloaded it at home during the five minutes my daughter wasn’t on MySpace and Facebook. After she elbowed her way back on to the computer, though, I made her fire up Chrome and serve as my unofficial market research subject.

3.) She much liked it, saying it was faster than either IE or Firefox (her preferred browser).

4.) Using what little parental authority I have, I muscled her off the computer (likely to go text message her friends) so that I could see how well a Nxtbook would play in the browser. Keep in mind that at Nxtbook, we have the "Linux bar." In most reports, the Linux market is 1.5 percent of the computer using population. At Nxtbook, we make sure that our product plays nicely on everything from Linux on up. Any less than that (we’re talking X-boxes and Wii’s here), we make no promises.

5.) Still, the Nxtbook seems to run flawlessly on Chrome, with no major upgrades required. I’m sure in the next week, our Development team might find ways the product would perform even better in Chrome and once we believe Chrome will eclipse 1.5 percent market share (prediction: It will, and quickly), we’ll make certain that the experience is every bit as optimal on Chrome, as on IE, Firefox, Safari and—yes—even Linux.