(Image Caption: Chrome, sweet Chrome: As its name implies, Chrome OS is mostly focused around the Web browsing experience.)

The computer essentially uses the Chrome browser as its operating system—and because the browser is the only program in use, the computer boots very quickly, from power-off to ready-to-browse in just a few seconds. After years of waiting around interminably for operating systems to rouse themselves from slumber, this feature is a pleasant surprise. Another goody: the laptop comes with two years of free 3G service from Verizon Wireless (limited to 100MB per month), with download speeds that didn’t seem to lag much behind my home’s Wi-Fi. Also, THERE’S NO CAPS LOCK BUTTON, and that’s OK.

If you’re already a fan of the fast and intuitive , you’ll enjoy surfing the Web on this computer. (Users can also sync their bookmarks from the computer to Chrome browsers they use on other machines, including Mac and Windows.) If you like to rotate browsers for different purposes—between Safari and Firefox, say—then you’re out of luck.

(Image Caption: Apps for sale: Most Google apps are just bookmarks, whisking users directly to Web sites in the Chrome browser.)