If you are using Google Chrome browser in your Windows 8/8.1 PC, then it has two different modes to offer to you. The first mode called desktop mode is something that everyone is familiar with. The second mode is called Windows 8 mode in which Chrome acts like a Windows 8 app, takes up the whole screen and gives you a glimpse into the Chrome OS (if you have never used it before). You can use Google Chrome in the Windows 8 mode to have an experience similar to using the Chrome OS and if you want to use Chrome without getting distracted by other programs or applications in Windows.
It is obvious that you need to be running Chrome on a Windows 8 or 8.1 PC before you can enjoy Chrome in the Windows 8 mode. In order to switch to the Windows 8 mode, you can start Chrome as usual. When the Chrome window shows up, you can click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) near the top-right corner and select Relaunch Chrome in Windows 8 mode from the drop-down menu.
Chrome will be restarted – this time like a Windows 8 app. It will take up the entire screen and work like a reduced version of the Chrome OS. You can open many Chrome windows inside it. Control the volume and view the time near the bottom-left corner. It also has a shelf (similar to taskbar of Windows) where you can pin Chrome apps and an app launcher (similar to start menu) where you can see all the apps linked to your Google account.
If you do not see any apps in the app launcher (that you can open by clicking on the grid-like icon near the bottom-right corner), then you have to install some of the apps from the Chrome web store. Installed extensions are not shown in this app launcher for the apparent reason. You can right-click on any of these apps and choose Pin to shelf to pin it to the shelf, just like you pin programs to the taskbar in Windows 8.
If you click on the small blue digital clock near the bottom-right corner, then you would see a volume control that can be used to control the volume for the Chrome app. It does not alter the volume of the whole system. You can click on the question mark to view the Google support webpages that explain the Windows 8 mode further.
Conclusion: The Windows 8 mode of the Google Chrome browser presents you with the same sleek interface that is available in the Chrome OS. You can use the Windows 8 mode of Chrome to have an idea about Chrome OS if you are planning on buying a Chromebook.