- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP
- Date added: August 28, 2007
- Total Downloads: 89,409
- Downloads last week: 721
- See full specifications
A newer version of Google Pack beta is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 28 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff on December 05, 2008
Google Pack is another useful idea from those nearly ubiquitous, ever-industrious Google folks. The Pack takes a bunch of disparate but essential programs, tosses in the entirety of the Google desktop suite, then loads and automatically updates all of them as future changes are made. A pre-installation checklist lets users opt in or out, and the program is flexible enough to allow users to change their choices easily after installation.
The latest version adds options to download Google's browser, Chrome, in addition to or instead of Mozilla's Firefox with Google Toolbar. From Google's repertoire come Earth, Desktop, Talk, Picasa, Photo Screensavers, and the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer. There's also Skype, RealPlayer, Adobe Reader, Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, and a six-month subscription to Norton's Security Scan. StarOffice, a suite of word processing and spreadsheet tools, and Ad-Aware have been nixed from previous versions.
It's encouraging to see a range of programs being offered, though it would be nice to see Google Pack, which is a not-so-subtle Googlification of the Microsoft Windows Updater, cover a wider range of applications. Shockwave and Flash would be good places to start, as would QuickTime or a good, freeware FTP program.
Publisher's description
From Google :Google Pack is a free collection of software from Google and other companies. The software in the Google Pack helps you browse the Web faster, remove spyware and viruses, or organize your photos.
Google Pack also takes the hassle out of downloading, installing, and updating software. You can download and install the entire Google Pack in just a few clicks. And the included Google Updater helps you discover new programs and keep your current software up to date. The latest of version of Google Pack adds Sun Microsystems' office suite StarOffice.
Note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual download.
What's new in this version:
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User reviews of Google Pack beta 2.2.940.34809
- Average user rating: 3.2 stars out of 28 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 12 user reviewsSee all 12 user reviews
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7 out of 27 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Pack beta 2.2.940.34809
"Installed it for one reason only."
Pros: To beef up the Security on my new PC. (It's a dell XPS with good hardware running two drives, one with Vista Ultimate, the other with XP Pro SP2). Even though I ordered it with no security software, they slipped and it came with 15 months of McAfee. I added Google Pack to get Norton Security Scan. Now, don't get me wrong, McAfee has improved in every way over what it was in 2006, (the last time I used it). Some of Google Packs apps were already installed but i didn't want to kill McAfee because I use Norton Ghost in and with the other suites I like, Ghost can't recover the Firewall driver where it can, McAfees.
To beef up McAfee, I added Spy Sweeper (Vista Version), Spy Emergency 2007, Norton Anti-Bot and Norton Security Scan thru Google Pack. Don't believe Joyce's whining. It is a paltry 6.22 MB, scanned every file on every drive attached to the PC, including the Ghost Clones and the Maxtor backups and it's rated 5 percentage points higher then McAfee at AV comparatives. It also detected and hammered 11 threats McAfee overlooked, all legit, all traced each to the location clearly spelled out by Norton. Now, I'm comfortable with McAfee and think my somewhat questionable web habits are safe.
Cons: Here, at Download, the description states Windows XP. So, I checked Softpedia and their version clearly says XP / Vista. Thats where I downloaded the Google updater for Google Pack and it's all good.
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18 out of 20 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Pack beta 2.2.940.34809
"Didn't choose the best software."
Pros: I really love Google and the material they provide me for free (gmail, search engine, etc)
Cons: I don't really like the products they chose in this pack. Although Google chose necessary security and popular programs that are needed, I don't think they chose the proper ones (instead chose the "name branded" ones. For many reasons. First, Norton Security Scan; for my life, I've had Norton preinstalled with every computer I bought, and the programs Norton have made are very large, heavy on resources and disk space, and constantly nags you about everything (even the interface is slow!) Scans are slow also. Adobe Reader is also not my favorite. This PDF reader is also pretty big and constantly asks for updates that are mostly not necessary. Adobe Reader is also very heavy on resources and doesn't open PDFs as fast as FoxIt Reader.
I also never found Spyware Doctor efficient with its spyware scanning. Bad enough the actual version is buggy, slow, inaccurate, and also heavy on resources, I doubt the Starter Edition will do any better. Hate to say this but Ad-Aware 2007 would have been a better choice although it's also very slow, and bloated. However, I am glad Google created this package software for people to use.
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11 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Pack beta 2.2.940.34809
"with out norton it would be better"
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2 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Pack beta 2.2.940.34809
Cons: GET ID from the google pack (not sure if it was beta or regular version) hosts a NASTY TROJAN and Avast & A-Squared confirmed it. I don't download anything from google now.
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4 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Pack beta 2.2.940.34809
"Great thats all I have to say!"
Pros: I like the way it updates my programs,well thats one less thing I have to do. The programs they give you are very good ones also. But like ankur_gupta555 said,it would be nice to have wallpaper for microsoft windows and their own skins and themes. But other then that it is a great program. An all in one download program,which updates itself...cool
- See all 12 user reviews Write review
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