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October 14, 2004
Google Desktop: First Review
Posted by Dana Blankenhorn
After all the rumors about Google bringing out its own browser (Google FUD, who knew?) we finally found out what software the gnomes were creating over at Google Labs (where the future is being made today).
It's Google Desktop.
Google Desktop is an application (currently only for high-end Windows machines with 128 Mbytes of memory) that turns Google's search algorithms loose on your home PC.
It takes just a minute or two (on a broadband connection) to download it, and the installation takes care of itself. Then you need to wait several hours (you get to use your PC during this time) while Google Desktop indexes everythong you have.
But how does it work?
It works pretty well. You get a cute little icon on the left of every search result, showing what type of file you've found.
It's a great incentive not to dump your Web logs or other temporary files, because now, for the first time, they're accessible and could actually become useful. Just type a search term into the Google search box, click the button Search Desktop, and voila! (Or search the Web from the same prompt.)
You have the option of letting Google know everything it's doing for and to you. I suppose this means they might start advertising on my home searches. If you've got a problem with that, say no at your preferences. Or don't download it at all.
It will take me time to come up with a more complete review (I apologize in advance for that.) How does it stack up against Windows Explorer? I don't know. What's it like to search your own PC with Google search terms? I don't know. Can it get addictive? I don't know. Am I worried that John Ashcroft might find out what is on my PC and name me an enemy combatant as a result? Not yet.
As they say, stay tuned. But so far, it's all good.
Comments (3)
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Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for over 25 years and has covered the online world professionally since 1985. He founded the "Interactive Age Daily" for CMP Media, and has written for the Chicago Tribune, Advertising Age, and dozens of other publications over the years.
1. Russell Shaw on October 14, 2004 08:11 PM writes...
There's absolutely no comparison between Google Desktop and the clunky Search tool in Windows XP. Admittedly Google Desktop indexing function is time consuming, but the end justifies the means.
Once the material is indexed, additional file information is added just a few minutes after it appears in your cache.
When everything is indexed and you are ready to use this great tool, you will find that a considerable number of the citations are just a search click away. Plus, the search results summarize the first sentence or two of each cited document.
Windows XP's Search facility is anything but facile. After a search that takes up to an hour (when it comes to search, hard drive size matters), all you get is a list of folders and files that contain the document where your search term appears.
So I guess my verdict would be, why trudge through a long search with inconclusive indicators when you can get all your relevant search results by thru Google's new search tool?
Permalink to Comment2. Tariq Mustafa on October 16, 2004 12:48 AM writes...
Now only if Google Desktop could add support for MSN Chat logs and 'alternate Email clients' such as Thunderbird and Eudora!
As of now, for quite a paradox, Google Desktop assumes that Outlook (M$) and AOHell Chat must be popular among its fans!
- Tariq
Permalink to Comment3. Shashank on October 18, 2004 01:03 PM writes...
Outlook is certainly the most popular email client on Windows, and as much as I admire the Mozilla team, Thunderbird is just not up there yet. Eudora too, the interface is nowhere near as usable as Outlook.
Anyway, point of this article is Google Desktop. I simply adore the feature of seeing Outlook results "by thread" or "View in Outlook". That's some serious integration there.
When Google comes out with an integrated IM tool, as is rumored, and something that crawls through my audio and video stash, I'll be a happy camper!
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