May 24, 2005
Desktop Search Developments
There are a couple of things happening this week in the area of desktop search tools. First, Google has introduced a free enterprise desktop search tool. According to Google, it "includes key standards-based administrator features that provide enhanced security, centralized configuration and easy company-wide deployment." A premium support option is offered.
MSN Desktop Search has been renamed Windows Desktop Search. No change in functionality from what I've heard, and you still need to install the MSN Search Bar as part of the package.
[Spotted on Office-Watch. Editor's Note: The site is ugly, but the information is good.]
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 08:53 PM | Comments (0)May 03, 2005
Getting to Know You - Choosing a Desktop Search Product
My work computer's hard drive crashed the other day. I know that sounds like a bad thing, but, as the saying goes, there's always a silver lining. And my silver lining was a handsome new desktop replacement, flat screen monitor and upgraded Blackberry. It's taken a little time to get familiar with all this shiny new equipment, but I soon forgot all about my old computer with its cluttered hard drive and boring exterior.
Of course, now I have to re-install any "non-standard" software, which would include Google Desktop Search. (GDS) On the other hand, perhaps this is just another opportunity to play the field. GDS is a wonderful product, but since it's release, several other desktop search engines have surfaced.
But which one should I download? Choosing a desktop search engine is a commitment; you really can't install and run more than one. It would simply take up too much in terms of system resources. Apparently even one can sometimes takes its toll as some desktop search products are, how shall I say it, high maintenance. So background checks on prospective candidates seemed like a prudent idea.
I've read the recent reviews in PC Magazine and PC World, but the detail provided is necessarily limited. That's why I decided to buy an online PDF book, The Desktop Search Handbook, by Peter Deegan. There's a lot of information there for $9.95, though you have to provide your own paper and ink.
For example, right up front (p. 17) they address one of my concerns, the lack of support for Microsoft OneNote. It's not my imagination...according to Deegan none of the desktop searching programs support the .one format, not even Microsoft's product. The solution? Treat .one files like text files in those programs that allow you to define your own file types. Though GDS doesn't accommodate this, there's a plug-in for GDS that will do the job. (p. 40)
I had just about decided to go to the dark side, and install the Microsoft product. But I got cold feet when I realized I couldn't JUST get desktop search, I had to take the whole family, the complete MSN Toolbar Suite. Nuh-huh, not me, I'm not ready for that.
After all this research, I'm leaning towards PC Magazine's Editor's Choice, Yahoo Desktop Search. Though I'm a little nervous about installing anything on my pristine hard drive. On the other hand, I really miss the ability to actually FIND emails and files, so I"ll have to take the plunge soon. I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, I'm still open to suggestions...
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)March 07, 2005
Google Desktop Search Out of Beta
I'm hooked on Google Desktop. I use it several times a day, and often don't bother even trying the pathetic Outlook find feature to search my rather large, email archives. As long as my search terms are specific enough, I can quickly find my emails, files and previously viewed web pages. I've recently realized that it also keeps several versions of files I've been editing, so even if I've lost a file, it's not really lost.
Just when I thought there wasn't any reason for Google to rush to get their Desktop Search out of beta, they went and did it! The best part is that the new, non-beta version 1 indexes PDFs, a file type that was at the top of my wish list. The only thing missing for me now is Microsoft OneNote files. There's hope, though, since they've also released an API for Desktop Search which means that some other Onenote fanatic with better programming skills than I, can add that capability in a "plug-in". Support has also been added for Thunderbird and Firefox, so nobody needs to feel left out. Other file types added with this new release include music and video files.
There are also security improvements, for example, Office files that are password protected will no longer be indexed.
For my recent review of the beta version of Google Desktop, see "Instant Recall Thanks to Google Desktop" (Online, March-April 2005, p. 15. Articles in this issue of ONLINE will be available later this month on a pay-per-view basis.)
For more information on the Google Desktop release, see:
Google Desktop Search Moves Out of Beta on SearchEngineWatch.com.
For a review of the variety of desktop search tools that are available, see Total Recall, PC Magazine, March 22, 2005. (Psst, their highest ranking goes to....Yahoo! Desktop Search, followed by MSN Desktop Search and Copernic Desktop Search 1.2. Google's not the only game in town by a long shot.)
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)January 10, 2005
Desktop Searching - Selecting the Right Tool for You
There have been so many desktop search products released in the last few months, it's hard to keep track of which one does what. So the Goebel Group has put together a Desktop Search Matrix that compares the features of the free, and the not-so-free, options.
By the way, Copernic recently announced support for Firefox files and Ask Jeeves has released their desktop search utility.
For more information on several of the free offerings, see PC Magazine's recent reviews. You can also find some excellent and fairly detailed reviews in the WOW (Woody's Office Watch) Archives. The site isn't pretty, but the content is good.
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 06:57 PM | Comments (0)December 13, 2004
Microsoft Announces Beta of Desktop Search Tool
If the introduction of Google's Desktop Search (Beta) was a challenge to Microsoft's dominance of the desktop, as many reported, Microsoft isn't taking it lying down. They've announced a beta version of their very own desktop search tool as part of the MSN Toolbar Suite.
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)December 10, 2004
Yahoo Licenses X1 Desktop Search Technology
Let the games begin! Desktop search tools have been the hot trend this year, and with the introduction of the free Google Desktop Search, the gauntlet has been thrown, tossed, dropped, whatever it is that's done with gauntlets. Yahoo has accepted the challenge and today announced that they are licensing X1 technology for desktop search and plans to start testing in January on their own desktop search tool. X1 is considered one of the top products on the market, but at $74.95, it's also a little pricey, especially when compared with the free products, such as Google Desktop Search and Copernic. But with Yahoo bringing the X1 technology to the masses, presumably free, the desktop search arena is going to be a competitive one!
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)November 09, 2004
Find Files Fast
If the new Google Desktop search isn't right for you, that's okay, there are several other tools out there to help you locate your data in a hurry, including emails, Word files, text documents and more. Though unlike the Google product, most of them will cost you. PC World reviews the major contenders in desktop search, giving editors picks to DtSearch Desktop With Spider and Lookout Software.
Note what they have to say about DtSearch: "I could easily see this program serving a reference librarian." So there you go...
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)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. )
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)September 06, 2004
More On Desktop Search
Another desktop search tool joins the fray. Gary Price reviews Copernic Desktop Search this week in Search Engine Watch.
[Spotted on the Virtual Chase]
August 15, 2004
Mission Organization
If I can search the vast resources of the web in seconds, why can't I find an email or file on my own computer? Microsoft is promising more advanced searching capability in the new version of Windows code-named Longhorn, but it isn't expected to ship until 2006. There are rumors that Google is planning a desktop search utility, but mum's the word until after the IPO. So what to do until then? In his most recent column, Steve Bass discusses the IdeaLab's X1, which "indexes the data on your hard drive and searches in four categories: files, e-mail, e-mail attachments, and Outlook contacts." In Econtent, Onfolio, a utility for downloading, organizing and publishing web content is reviewed, as is the Lycos HotBot Desktop, a search bar that allows searching of the web AND your hard drive. I guess there's just no excuse for disorganization anymore.
Posted by Cindy L. Chick at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)
