Google Launches Desktop Search Tool
Here at the Digital Life trade show in New York City Internet search behemoth Google has created quite a buzz on the show floor with the launch of its much-anticipated Google Desktop Search utility. The free program, available here, lets you search the Web as well as scour your hard disk for assorted files. The program will compete with Microsoft's upcoming search technology, as well as desktop search tools from companies like Yahoo.
According to Google reps here Google Desktop Search can search e-mail messages in Outlook and Outlook Express, as well as documents created using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (it also handles text documents). The utility can also search your website Internet Explorer history file and any saved in AOL Instant Messenger message chats.
Once you download the 446K application it integrates with the Google.com search page. Included on top tabs along with Web, Images, and News is the Desktop tab. Before Google can find anything it has to index your hard drive, which it does during times that the computer is on but idle.
In a very informal test of Google Desktop Search conducted here at the show I was able to find a Word document in a snap. Unfortunately Google does not index text associated with multimedia files, nor does it index PDFs or e-mail contained in third-party e-mail clients like Eudora or Mozilla Thunderbird. Oh, and Apple computer users are going to have to wait for a Mac version as well.
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i wouldn't mind giving it a try but i have windows ME.
I wouldnt mind trying it, does anyone know if it say it worked on Mac OS 9?
They'll probably never make a mac version.
Mac OS X.4 has its own search technology called "Spotlight" except that Spotlight DOES search multimedia files and pdfs.
If one were to tidy their hard disk properly with clearly labelled directories and use the search function which comes along with the OS, there should be no need for such an additional software. It is not doing anything new.
I have way too many privacy concerns for me to use this seriously, e.g. 1) anyone could walk up to my computer and within seconds find documents that were meant to remain private. They could do it anyway, but it would take significantly more digging. I typically don't lock my computer when getting a cup of coffee in the kitchen. With this, on the other hand, you couldn't leave your computer unattended for a minute. 2) in Google's published privacy policy for the tool, they mention several times that data won't be sent to Google or any 3rd Party "without your permission." That tells me that the tool is designed to be able to do just that. Do you really want Google and 3rd parties organizations knowing the contents of files on your PC and detailed browser history?
Mac Users can use Sherlock or Command F
I just tried this. Very fast. Caffe', as far as "organizing", have you ever tried to organize, then find, over 2000 bookmarks? I have a decade old list of bookmarks I've built up over my career. I use Powermarks software to manage and share them across all my computers (best $ I ever spent). No directories or folders, it uses just keywords. The concept works AMAZINGLY and SURPRISINGLY well. Much better than I would have thought. I see Google Desktop Search in the same way. Time & experience will tell...
I installed the program this morning and spent the remainder of the day deleting and cleaning my computer. This program showed me those files and the web sites that I do not want my new wife discovering. The good news is the program allows me to delete the history to those files and websites. The bad news is some of those embarrassing email messages cannot be found and deleted - though I know they once existed. The program can be easily turned off; thus allowing confidencial web browsing or emailing. All in all, the most powerful new software tool I've seen in years.
Cannot search my external hard disk drive. I have more than 100 Gb on it and my C: drive contains only the programs. So I will keep Copernic Desktop Search. This free program is also free and faster than google. The only reason I will use google is because it is integrated into the web search page.
I would be verymuch concerned abt this new software. Probably it would be verymuch beneficial if they can tell ppl how to defend from it (incase the same is being used in a browsing center).
As we could read this software has also a very dangerous aspect - if someone else can access the index file... Big brother is watching our PC more and more...
Will it also index a second hard drive?
If I'm reading this correctly, it won't seach for WordPerfect files. Is that correct?
I think this tool is fantastic!
However, I have the second-IDE drive issues mentioned, above so will be investigating:
'Copernic Desktop Search.'
It worked well on my drives mapped to terrabytes of SAN data though