A quick look at Google Chrome OS

When you launch a laptop running Google's Chrome OS for the first time, it will walk you through a simple and short registration process that begins with connecting to the Internet.

Like Chrome-the-browser, Chrome-the-OS will also require users to sign off on an End User License Agreement before they can use the computer.

You can sign in to Chrome OS using your existing Google account. If you purchase apps from the Chrome Web Store now and then get a Chrome OS computer next year, your apps will sync to the new laptop instantly.

Chrome OS laptops will all come with Web cams, and users will be asked to take a photo of themselves to use as their avatar. It's not clear if the Chrome OS avatar will override your current Google one.

If you're familiar with Chrome as a browser, and you're familiar with smartphone-style apps, you ought to have a fairly gentle learning curve for Chrome OS. The apps are front and center, while tabs and controls are up at the top and in the corner.