Google desktop search
The future of Google has recently arrived with Google Desktop Search, software that searches your computer for emails, web pages, text files, most Office documents and America Online instant messenger conversations. I’ve installed it on my work computer and have been using it the past week and a half. I have to say, it’s pretty sweet. Here are some of the best Google Desktop features:
- Seamless integration with the Google website. I didn’t expect this, but after my first search, web integration seemed so blatantly obvious.
- Email threading. Not only does Google Desktop find emails, it finds related emails.
- Cached web pages and files. Have you ever not been able to remember the name of that great web site you visited a few days ago? Just type in the words you can remember, and Google not only shows web page results from your cache, but screenshots as well. The best part is that it stores multiple versions of your web pages and files. That means that you can view a web page, Office or text file exactly as you saw it several days ago - even if you didn’t save it.
Google got a lot of things right with Desktop Search, but I think they missed some key features, most of which are related to integration with their own software.
- Google Deskbar integration. To activate Desktop Search, one must double click on the Desktop Search icon in the system tray. Clicking on this icon launches the default web browser and loads Desktop Search. This is one click too many. The Google Deskbar already exists. Why not optionally include it with the Desktop Search download and then make it an option during the install? Most users would use Desktop Search twice, maybe three times as much if it could be accessed with a single click or keyboard shortcut.
- GMail Notifier integration. Like Google Deskbar integration, it would be great option to include the Gmail Notifier with the download and as an option during the install. Even better would be including the Gmail Notifier code with Desktop Search and making its functionalitiy optional.
- Internet Explorer caching only. While Internet Explorer is still the most popular browser, the excitement around Firefox continues to grow. Leaving out supporters of the open source browser will leave a lot of users with a sour taste in their mouths. Google Desktop Search can cache web pages viewed in Firefox, but an extension is currently required. An extension should not be necessary, and Google should understand that their future does not revolve around Microsoft.
Google Desktop Search is still in beta, but I expect them to include all of the items on my miss list in future releases.
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Comments
I have to agree with you on the deskbar issue. I have deskbar on my taskbar. It’d be great if I could search my files just by using the Google Deskbar.
Yani on 19 Nov 04