Google's 64-bit Chrome browser for Windows is available in beta

If you've wanted to try the 64-bit version of Chrome for Windows 7 and 8 but have been skittish about the flakiness of very early builds, your moment has come -- Google has released a beta of its beefed-up browser. As with the Canary and developer editions, this more reliable software makes full use of modern computing power to both speed up web page rendering and tighten security. The code still isn't complete, so don't be surprised if there are a few hiccups. However, a beta means that a truly stable 64-bit browser is likely just weeks away. Even if you're not willing to throw caution to the wind, it won't be long before you can give Chrome's big upgrade a spin.