Google's Chrome Fast: And I Won't be Using it Soon

My son thought Chrome was pretty cool when he first tried it. I think he still does.

I've read about it, and am impressed with Google's new browser, but I won't be using it any time soon.

It isn't the automatic download and installation of updates. That makes some sense: although I generally set things up so that the updates download in the background, but let me know when it's time to install them.

CNet and FOXNews noted some "creepy language" in Chrome's TOS.

If you use Google's Chrome, you keep the copyright to any of your content that you use in the browser, "By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license...." That's the start of two long sentences that keep me away from Chrome for now.

I understand that Google wants to - and needs to - market its services and products, but as professional writer, I have to be cautious about what intellectual property rights I give away.

As FOXNews put it, "...Google claims the right to use anything you create using its Web-based applications, such as the Google Docs office suite, the Picasa photo organizer or the Blogger blog creator to promote its own services, without permission or compensation...." I suspect - and hope - that Google will step back from the rather sweeping language quoted in both articles.

Aside from the TOS, and some 'verson 0' issues, Chrome seems to be a fine browser: and very fast.

More:

• "Review: Google's Chrome Is a Pretty Fast Start"
  FOXNews (September 4, 2008)
• "Be sure to read Chrome's fine print"
  CNet (September 2, 2008)
• "Google Chrome"
  Google's (long) comic about Chrome