Google Desktop Search places your local hard disks' content at your fingertips.
Google Desktop Search (GDS) is straightforward to install and set up. Simply get the 400KB download from desktop.google.com, let it quit any open applications such as Outlook and Internet Explorer that will be indexed, set a few preferences and let the program get on with its initial indexing task. Google Desktop Search handles the full text in Outlook and Outlook Express email, text, HTML, Excel and PowerPoint files, as well as AOL and AIM chat, and Web pages viewed in Internet Explorer. The initial indexing process only works when the computer has been idle for thirty seconds, so it never slows down other work you’re doing. In our experience, GDS had no detrimental impact on other applications at all, during the index phase or subsequently. Once complete -- and Google recommends you let it run overnight if you’re constantly using your computer during the day -- the index is updated automatically when new files appear. Local hard drives (C:, D: and so on) are indexed, but not removable storage or networked drives. You access the program, which runs as a Web service on port 4664, via a system tray applet with a swirly icon in Google colours. When you right-click on this, or double-click it, and select 'Search', it launches the familiar Google search page, with the addition of a Desktop item alongside Web, Images, Groups, News and Froogle. Enter your search term as normal, and you get the results, ten to a page, with icons denoting the file type to the left and a thumbnail to the right if it's a cached Web page. You can click on the thumbnail, or the 'cached' link for other file types, to see a copy of the file as it was indexed by Google -- a great way of looking at old versions of Web pages or files you've been working on. The initial impressions of Google Desktop Search in the ZDNet UK office – which contains a healthy mixture of the enthusiastic and the cynical -- are almost universally positive. Suddenly, the contents of your hard disk(s) -- many of them, anyway -- are available pretty much at the drop of a hat. Yes, we'd like to see more non-Microsoft applications supported, and more control over the display of results in the browser. But for a beta it works remarkably well, and can only get better. And if you're worried about privacy, Google only collects non-personal information relating to the performance of the applet -- the number of searches, time to get results and so on: for now, there are no adverts tied to the desktop search results, although that could change in the future.
Google Desktop Search (GDS) is straightforward to install and set up. Simply get the 400KB download from desktop.google.com, let it quit any open applications such as Outlook and Internet Explorer that will be indexed, set a few preferences and let the program get on with its initial indexing task. Google Desktop Search handles the full text in Outlook and Outlook Express email, text, HTML, Excel and PowerPoint files, as well as AOL and AIM chat, and Web pages viewed in Internet Explorer. The initial indexing process only works when the computer has been idle for thirty seconds, so it never slows down other work you’re doing. In our experience, GDS had no detrimental impact on other applications at all, during the index phase or subsequently. Once complete -- and Google recommends you let it run overnight if you’re constantly using your computer during the day -- the index is updated automatically when new files appear. Local hard drives (C:, D: and so on) are indexed, but not removable storage or networked drives. You access the program, which runs as a Web service on port 4664, via a system tray applet with a swirly icon in Google colours. When you right-click on this, or double-click it, and select 'Search', it launches the familiar Google search page, with the addition of a Desktop item alongside Web, Images, Groups, News and Froogle. Enter your search term as normal, and you get the results, ten to a page, with icons denoting the file type to the left and a thumbnail to the right if it's a cached Web page. You can click on the thumbnail, or the 'cached' link for other file types, to see a copy of the file as it was indexed by Google -- a great way of looking at old versions of Web pages or files you've been working on. The initial impressions of Google Desktop Search in the ZDNet UK office – which contains a healthy mixture of the enthusiastic and the cynical -- are almost universally positive. Suddenly, the contents of your hard disk(s) -- many of them, anyway -- are available pretty much at the drop of a hat. Yes, we'd like to see more non-Microsoft applications supported, and more control over the display of results in the browser. But for a beta it works remarkably well, and can only get better. And if you're worried about privacy, Google only collects non-personal information relating to the performance of the applet -- the number of searches, time to get results and so on: for now, there are no adverts tied to the desktop search results, although that could change in the future.
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Talkback
I just tried to download the program, and after waiting while it was downloading, at the end of the 400k+ bytes, it said requires win XP, or 2000 service pack3 or above.
Why doesnt yourarticle tell us that to avoid wasting our time. I am a computer tech having owned 3 computer stores, and have built and troubleshot thousands of computers, and on my p4/2.4 gig computer i have win98se as well on my second computer a p3/733. Win98se is extremely easy for avg customer to use, and there are millions of customers who have it..remember microsoft was going to stop any tech help for 98, then had to change their mind due to demand...if u have the program for 98se in the future, please advise me. i use google every day, and promote it all the time..oh yes also zdnet tnx bill
I downloaded this programme and it rocks. Without doubt there are things I would love to see it do in the future, but for a "beta" it is well on it's way to being world class.
In most family homes PCs are shared by parents and children alike. This tool allows your children to search your private documents and emails, and for this reason, means I cannot install it. Why don't Google simply fix this so it searches only each users documents?
A computer tech hanging on to an operating system that is reaching it's end of life, sounds rather daft to me. Win98SE was maybe the best option in the late ninetees, but running it on a modern 2 GHz P4 system is like driving with the handbrake on.
There won't be a GDS for 98, I'm willing to bet. Why? Because 98 it's becoming obsolete. Google clearly states which OS's are required ON THE DOWNLOAD page. You just have to read.
And a measly 400 kilobyte download is a waste of time? Next to your ancient OS I guess your still on dialup...
After installing Google desktop search. Every time i went to log off or shut down I got an error saying "rundll32.exe not responding" even after uninstalling this fault persisted. Only after running spyware and removing Flingstone Bridge did i get rid of this very annoying fault. The Google search did work great but not worth the hassle.
This program works great. Google is the best thing since the optical mouse.
And to the guy running windows 98, dude, if you're such a badass technician then why the hell do you still have windows 98??
Come on man, the ice age is over. At least load 2K. That P4 can run XP with ease.
William - are you real? You downloaded a full 400K (that's a big deal Will) and then found that it didn't work on your PIIII running Win98. Will - this is 2004 - are you aware of that? When you were a techie was it abacus or core memory you came across. Today IT moves fast Will - check it out!
Final and conclusive proof that Google can search anything. Problem is that it's a very limited set of file types that it can search. No OpenOffice.org, no Firefox and Thunderbird, no MSN Messenger, ICQ or Yahoo and very few media files. As a program it works brilliantly but as a beta it's severely compromised.
PS: Anyone notice how Google software never gets out of beta? News, Groups, Gmail and now Desktop are still betas.
PPS: Will, stop complaining and dish out some of that money you've made from your innumerable computer shops. A P4 deserves a decent OS.
I have a tutorial up on my website for those who wnat to learn how to change the icons that display next to the search results. Please visit www.aslon777.com/googleDSmod.html
After loading Google Desktop, my machine will not resume a from hibernation. I have to resort to complete restart.
I am also worried about the security issues reported elsewhere.
TO BILL BRASKY!!!!!!!
Google Desktop Search quickly exhausted my attention span. There was not one feature I need, want or like.
I don't care about your weather.
We already drown in meaningless stock listings.
A scratch pad? Rotating archive photos? Gedouddahere!
Software generating sites based on my searching patterns? You are kidding! I'll search when, where and how I want!
I think the world of Google, but this was a bridge too far.