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October 17, 2004
Google Desktop Search
The rumor floating around for the past several months is true. Google has introduced a search engine for your hard drive.
This is like, SO cool. (Thanks for letting me get that out of my system.) I've been considering trying one of the many alternatives out there for searching email and other files that hide on my hard drive, but procrastination is sometimes the best policy. I didn't procrastinate in installing Google Desktop Search.
As to be expected, it takes time for Google Desktop Search to index all your stuff. My only complaint is that there was no indication as to the status of the indexing process. I thought something had gone awry when I couldn't pull up any of my emails in a search. But when I tried again later, up they came! Yippee!
Google DS searches Outlook email, AOL Messenger, viewed web pages (IE only, not Firefox), Word, Excel, PowerPoint and text files. PDF files are definitely on my wish list for future development.
But the BEST thing about Google Desktop Search is that when I run a regular Google web search from the desktop search page, I get search results from my own hard drive right there at the top. I'd like to turn that on for my Google toolbar as well.
For those concerned about privacy, you'll be happy to know that no data is stored on the Google servers. Google doesn't monitor any personal data, or peep into your hard drive. This tool would not be suitable for public computers, however, as it could allow users to view emails received by previous users.
Darn. Why didn't I buy Google stock. (I guess I'm still traumatized by my homegrocer.com stock debacle. )
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