Chrome For Linux Slowly Wriggles From Primordial Ooze

If you're a Linux user waiting to try out the Chrome browser, CNet offers some bad news, tempered by a tiny ray of good news.

It seems the Google developed browser, released approximately two months ago, is showing the first signs of growing Linux legs, and is making its way towards the operating system. It takes time, a few dead ends, and maybe even requires losing a link or two before it really works -- Google suggests it might be quite some time.

Okay, fine, it's the cynic in me. Google not offering a version of Chrome for Linux right away (and more recently, overlooking the porting of Gmail voice and video chat to the platform) just isn't surprising -- and really, I almost can't get worked up about it.

Linux users waited a long time for Picasa for Linux, and it still doesn't run natively (it uses WINE). The Google Desktop application also took a long while before a Linux version was offered (and oddly, I discovered most of the similar desktop environment integrated tools worked as well, and were less intrusive when trying to get things done that really didn't require its services).

No doubt, it's understandable to feel a bit slighted (especially when Google feels like it ought to be one of the most forthcoming non-open source companies out there when it comes to actively supporting open source projects), but it isn't unprecedented. Do I want to see, and will I try out, the first native Linux Chrome release? Without question. But I have a perfectly serviceable browser in the meantime, and I'm finding it difficult to be overly anxious about the wait.