14 DAY TRIAL // Google is experimenting with a new tab page which places a search box and the search provider's logo front and center. It's an interesting choice for a number of reasons, but it's also a poor one.
Obviously, since it's still very much experimental, any concerns about its current state are, well, about its current state and won't mean much if the feature changes before it's rolled out.
The new search box replaces the OmniBox altogether. Well, actually, it's the same OmniBox, it's just been moved from the top toolbar to the middle of the new tab page. Otherwise, it seems that the functionality is intact.
The advantage of this layout is that, presumably, you'll be able to see the day's Google doodle in the new tab page. A lot of people never visit the Google homepage anymore since they start their searches from the browser, having the doodle in the new tab page makes sense.
That said, it could be confusing to have the new tab page look so similar to the Google search page. That's because the OmniBox is not the same as a Google search, it works for searches too, but it's also where you search through history items, bookmarks, installed apps and so on.
People may treat the new search box differently and may be worried that their bookmarks and other data are somehow on Google Search.
That doesn't seem like much to worry about, but most internet users are confused enough as it is. Many believe Google IS the internet.
Of course, Google does already have all of that data, if you enable sync. And everything you type in the OmniBox is sent back to Google, search or no, so it can retrieve search results for it in the OmniBox.
But most people don't know or think about that, yet they may still be worried about what they perceive as a threat to their privacy. Just look at all the fuss everyone makes every time Facebook reveals posts or data that is already public.
Again, there are a lot of caveats. For one, the feature is still very much experimental. Second, it's only for Chrome OS users who, presumably, are a bit more tech savvy than the average. Still, it's something to consider.