The Chrome Web Store makes a HUGE difference in the discovery and installation of web applications.

Some users complain that it's just a repository of links. But is that such a bad thing? Without the web store, it would be a nightmare trying to find meaningful apps using a search engine. With the web store, I can not only find apps, but view comments and ratings that let me know if something is worth trying or discarding.

There is also another benefit. It seems that the web store champions the use of OpenID and oAuth for sharing data between providers in a way that gives the user control. Why this is significant is that certain apps don't require you to create a yet-another-account to use. You can rely on your google account, click a quick confirmation with full disclosure about what will be shared (generally email account), and you're done!

This makes finding and using a web app as easy as launching an app using your OS.

I love it. Really great stuff.

I can't wait until NaCl arrives and web apps compete ever stronger with desktop apps.