When it comes to downloading files, not all browsers are created equal. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, for example, clicking a download link produces a pop-up bar along the bottom of the screen, asking if you want to run or save the file. In Mozilla Firefox, the browser I used prior to Chrome, you get a pop-up requester front and center, followed by a big ol' status window. For anyone accustomed to this, Chrome can be a head-scratcher. It's easy to overlook the arrival and status of a file download, especially if you're accustomed to looking near the top of the screen or seeing a pop-up window.

Chrome's download-status indicator appears quietly and unobtrusively in the lower-left corner of the screen. If you blink, you'll miss the little arrow that flashes at the start of the download. (Google no doubt added this because so many people had trouble finding any evidence of download activity.)

Of course, now that you know where to look, you're all set. When the download is done, you can click it to run or open the file, or click the little arrow alongside it for a handful of options (including the always-handy Show in folder, which opens the folder containing the download).

Want to view all your downloads? Press Ctrl-J to open Chrome's download manager in a new tab. You can also click the little wrench icon in the top-right corner of the screen, then select Downloads. This may seem like an obvious thing, but it took me a while to get accustomed to Chrome's tucked-away-in-a-corner download indicator.