Google Desktop (HD Search Utility) - FREE

[DaCurryman]

I know that people here tend to scorn items listed as free, when they are normally free, but I still thought this was worthy of posting....

Google yesterday released a search utility that helps people search through all types of information on their hard drive (files, text, AIM conversations, E-Mail, etc.). I havent given it a try just yet, but am about to install it in a bit. Anyways, thought I'd let the rest of my fellow ATers know about it.

Link to Google Desktop

Link to Screenshots of Google Desktop

Link to Article about Google Desktop in today's New York Times

 

[Jenova314]

has anybody used this yet? is it faster/better than the native windows search feature?

 

[imported_digitalelegance]

I'll give it a shot...

 

[phlashphire]

Interesting... first time I'm hearing about this.

 

[Sigity]

i'm downloading it now...

it looks like it would be a great tool...

windows native search sucks.

sig.

 

[imported_digitalelegance]

It seems to work pretty well, and is nice and fast after you get past the initial indexing...

 

[Seizure]

anyone know if this thing indexes Mapped Drives as well?

 

[mzkhadir]

it has compatability issues with some programs.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Working fine for me. been using it all day. Can't stop playing with it

 

[PicPop]

how fast the program can search a file for you in 80GB harddrive?

 

[dc]

wow, seems like lots of people are jumping on the indexed file searching bandwagon lately. there was a mention of dtsearch and approcket in maximum pc and a review of several searching programs in pcworld. guess i'll have to try this google one too now. lol.

edit: ... and takes some five or six hours to index a computer's hard drive.
oh crap, that's way slower than some of the other programs out there. hm, should i see how long it takes for it to index 15+ hard drives? lol.

 

[Seizure]

I have a 40 gig. I did some quick searches, It feels as fast as a google websearch. You know the "results found in 0.1512312 seconds" and such.

 

[5ayle]

Interesting... google's moving on up

 

[magomago]

if windows indexing is bad, why is google's good/

 

[MrPaulAR]

Some of you are confused here. When you search it doesn't search the drive like the built in search. It indexes the entire drive after first installed. When something changes it updates the index.

That is why the searches are fast.

 

[sheltem]

It works better in searching through my emails than outlook's built-in search does.

 

[saltedeggman]

thx

 

[tkc204]

Google is amazing.. Im gonna download it when i get home.

 

[icyxwindz]

sounds intresting enough to try out. thanks

 

[aphex]

Just a heads up for those who care:

Consent to Collect Non-Personal Information
Google Desktop Search may collect certain non-personally identifiable information that resides on your computer, including, without limitation, the number of searches you do and the time it takes to see your results. Unless you choose to opt out, either during installation or at any time after installation, non-personal information collected will be sent to Google. This information will be used by Google only for purposes of operating and improving future versions of Google Desktop Search and will not be disclosed to any third party or used for any purpose other than as described in this agreement. To learn more, please read the Privacy Policy located at

 

[CarLBanks]

This means if you wish to help contribute to Google's improvement of search then you can send in information, but it's completely optional.

 

[chickchick]

would install it before going to bed tonight

 

[KenSr]

Thanks OP, I downloaded and saved it, I am going to wait a bit before I install it.
:roll: Just being careful.

 

[dman]

I installed it earlier today. It works really well. I installed it on my laptop, 40GB drive, and it seemed to have indexed it fairly quickly. The searches are mighty fast and impressive. It takes about 3MB of ram up when idle.

The opt-out thing was asked during install and you can also access it from the preferences page after installing.

 

[integramodder]

It doesnt work with Net Limiter. And I like my Net Limiter, so no Google for me.