Going by a post on Dell's community blog, the company has released an experimental, yet apparently functional, USB key image file of Google's Chrome OS for its Mini Inspiron 10v netbook.

According to Doug Anson, a technology strategist with Dell, the experimental version of the Chrome OS for the Dell netbook is largely a result of the employees' fidgeting of the last-week- released Chrome OS code by Google.

Anson said the experimental build "contains a functioning image of my USB key loaded with ChromiumOS. In addition, I have made a best effort attempt to get the Broadcom Wi-Fi adapter working in this image."

Saying that the USB key image file has been released to http://linux.dell.com/files/cto is "definitely not perfect - untested, unstable, and minimally tested," Anson added that "it does appear to function."

Anson further elaborated that Dell's first operational Chrome build for the Mini 10v is imperfect in several key "caveats."

Anson specified that in the case of wireless network connection, the experimental build presently takes over 5-10 minutes for the Chrome connection manager to "see" and connect to access points; though wired connections seemingly "work fine" by facilitating quick access.

In addition, the connection manager and its underlying components (wpa_supplicant) can easily break or get hung. Moreover, the experimental version lacks a reboot and shutdown menu option, and users have to press the power key for the same.