Google’s debut of its open-source Chrome browser today is a hot topic on the Web.

In its announcement Google says the browser, released as a beta version, “is streamlined and simple. . . . Like the classic Google homepage, Google Chrome is clean and fast. It gets out of your way and gets you where you want to go.”

But ZDNet’s “Between the Lines” blog points out Google is motivated beyond just making a better browser. The headline on its item pretty well sums it up “Google’s Chrome browser: It’s all about the ads and cookie files stupid!“

The blog quotes Merrill Lynch analyst Justin Post who says Google’s new browser could “limit Microsoft’s ability to use its IE browser position to promote Microsoft search, or harm Google’s search effectiveness through new user controls.

Chrome is now available to download.