Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
Simple, small, and free, Google Desktop indexes your hard drive the way Google's own servers index the Web. Your search results are returned in a Web-page format that looks very similar to the Google Web site. The application's sidebar regularly updates the status of your e-mail, photos, RSS feeds, and weather.
Although the initial indexing period can crawl--especially if you have a lot of e-mail, contacts, chat transcripts, and documents for it to parse through--it's well worth the wait to be able to search any of them from a text entry box that's installed next to the Quick Launch bar. You'll still find the same basic gadget content: a music player, sports and stock tickers, a file shredder, and wackier items like an interactive plant. We like the Desktop sidebar's built-in to-do list, notepad, and the capability to integrate other gadgets with ease.
Version 5 is fully compatible with Windows Vista, emulating the rounded corners and translucent panels and capable of overriding the native Vista sidebar. There's also cross-indexing for multiple machines and sharing panel items directly with friends. The sharpest new feature is the preview window for search results, which saves a lot of time on clicking, opening, and closing.
Other programs with lighter feature sets may offer quicker and easier indexing and searching. Nevertheless, the efficient and feature-rich Google Desktop Search stands as yet another feather in the company's quite decorated cap.
Google Desktop - Search your hard drive for e-mail, files, and your Web and IM histories - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From Google:
Google Desktop will offer full text search over your email, computer files, chats, and the web pages you've viewed. By making your computer searchable, it puts your information easily within your reach and frees you from having to manually organize your files, emails, and bookmarks. It introduces new ways to access relevant and timely information. When you view a web page in Internet Explorer, it caches or stores its content so that you can later look at that same version of the page, even if its live content has changed or you're offline. It organizes email search results into conversations, so that all email messages in the same thread are grouped into a single search result.
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All versions:
3.3 starsout of 431 votes
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Current version:
3.4 starsout of 51 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"good stuff!!!"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Easy to locate almost whatever youre looking for
Cons
cant really see any
Summary
can recommend it
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"No longer supported by Google"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Powerful search engine
Cons
As of September 14, Google Desktop will no longer be available for download, and existing installations will not be updated to include new features or fixes.
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"Nice product, beats the win 7 desktop gadget"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Easy to set up and use
Cons
Some issues in regard to gadgets not being available when advertised and requires periodic re-installation.
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"Ok,This is Good,native windows search better."
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Very Less Memory usage.
Indexing done faster than Windows Indexing.
Option of Deskbar,floating bar and sidebars.
Searches the web too.Cons
Buggy Deskbar option.
No support from google.
Looks like cramped up version of windows search.Summary
OH, Google Desktop Search, a product of google, which is the biggest giant in search engine. so should be the product.!!!
Well, this was my 1st reaction before using this.
Nah, this is just some whacked up version chrome and windows search.
This was my reaction after using this.
To be Simple.
If u are looking for alternate desktop search, this is the best option.
If u are addicted to windows search like me, u wont like it. -
"Clean but outdated"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Unobtrusive, easy install, clean interface
Cons
Outdated widgets, some things don't seem to work anymore. I don't think this is supported by google any longer, but I could be wrong...
Summary
Meh, don't bother.
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"Can't live without Google Desktop"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Google Desktop can find anything you want on your computer. It's far superior to Microsoft's Windows search. I have 17 years worth of work on my computer that I regularly have to search. When Google announced they were discontinuing it, I was unhappy. Thanks, CNET, for making it available. I just got a new computer and don't know what I would have done without being able to reinstall Google Desktop.
Cons
It was discontinued by Google. #Fail
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"extremely unpleasant experience"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
how is it that Cnet demands 10 characters minimum either on the pros or the cons? what if there are either no pros, ... or no cons? like in my case, on this specific product?
and how is it that one is expected to give a minimum of one half star (which gives a positive impression) to get their comment published?
how come there are no negatives possible?
please go on reading, CnetCons
same here (oops, reluctantly needed to add some characters)
just as I reluctantly was forced to add one half star before Cnet would even consider to post my comment, for which by the way Cnet specifically asked in a personal mail
please go on reading, CnetSummary
thank you for continuing to read, Cnet
after my Windows Explorer was somehow suddenly hijacked by Google Chrome (I could no longer perform any searches on my harddisks, as when clicking on the search button, instead of the options for a search, an ad for Google Chrome kept popping up in the search window each and every time). I spent over 15 hrs to try and get rid of this, scanned my computer repeatedly for malware and adware, found nothing, found no help, not even hints on how clicking the search button in Windows Explorer could possibly lead to anything else than the options for a harddisk search, no help at all, even no mention of this problem on the Internet, so I finally had to give up. I was left no other choice but to go look for another desktop search engine. Google Desktop seemed to score best, so... While I am very much inclined to be a Google fan, especially with Google Sketchup (I use it all the time, the Pro version, registered !), I abhor being forced out of choice.
I am in no mood to seriuosly review Google Desktop, sorry, because meanwhile, my windows explorer still allows me no searches and keeps redirecting me to Google Chrome. I hate this.
So Google, please give me a break !!!
I do hope Cnet will post this cry for help
Frank -
"Invaluable tool, but hungry on disk space"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Able to search emails, documents, web searches
Indexing can done in backgroundCons
Very hungry on disk
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"Great Desktop enhancement with many "gadgets" available"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
Provides easy access to time, weather and news items with minimal effort.
Cons
Some of the gadgets that are supposed to be available will not install on my computer (Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3)
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"ok.. great app but it is taking some days.. to indexing"
Version: Google Desktop 5.9.1005.12335
Pros
taking lot of time..
Cons
very good utility
Summary
must have... but accept good updates also...
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