[patrickaljord]

The first time you start ChromeOS it asks which search engine you would like to use. You are then free to use any web app you want. The OS is open source so you can check for any tracking code. If you don't trust the build that comes with your chromebook, you can install your own chromiumos build on top. You can't do the same with Windows or OSX, you have to trust in Apple and Microsoft that they won't spy on you.

It's hard to get any more transparent than that.

[awaz]

You missed the point. You can of course choose the Search Engine but not the browser. Chrome calls home frequently. As Matt Cutts outlined in one of his posts(http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/google-chrome-communication/)

"If you are typing a search or url in the address bar, Google Chrome will talk to the current search service to try to offer useful query/url suggestions."

And since its "only cloud" device, most of the applications you will end-up using are Google products. Mostly because other players aren't yet convinced that all applications should exist in the cloud.

As far as trusting Apple and Microsoft is concerned, I think it is about the business model. Apple and Microsoft make money by selling Products and Software. Google on the other hand makes money by collecting your data. I do not understand why people fail to understand the difference.