CNET Editors' review
X1 Professional Client is an enterprise-class desktop search application that indexes and searches more than 500 file types, including all major e-mail clients, as well as local and networked drives, folders, and files. It can find e-mail messages and attachments, system files and documents, appointments and calendar entries, contacts, and even pictures, music, and Web sites. It's suitable for corporate networks in both small and large companies, including excellent support, but it's not out of the range of individuals looking for a comprehensive desktop search option.
X1's interface looks like it means business, with the familiar Windows layout of toolbars and tree-view navigation panel anchoring a main view with tabs for Email, Inbox, Attachments, Tasks, Contacts, and other categories. X1 began indexing our system's files as soon as we opened it, populating each tab's view with individually searchable file lists. X1 displays results while you type, a speedy method that often jogs the memory or suggests a potentially better answer. We jumped right in, entering several searches on various tabs, and X1 instantaneously returned hits with our search term and the specified file type highlighted in the list of results. X1 made quick work of our most annoying searches, those items we should be able to find easily but never do. We clicked "See all X1 search rules" and received an HTML page of search functions that included not only basic Boolean operators but also column, range, and negative searches as well as advanced search options that can, for example, distinguish an exact phrase from an abbreviated one. From the X1 interface, we could copy, save, zip, and move results; reply to, forward, and archive messages and files; and even schedule meetings. The program can also place a handy search box on the Windows taskbar.
Do you use more than one e-mail client or browser? Have you changed clients or accounts? Do you use SharePoint, remotely hosted files, or a company network? Have you ever tried to find an attachment to an old e-mail message, or a contact's phone number, or an appointment from last year? X1 Professional Client can handle it all. It's not only the fastest and most powerful desktop search tool we've tested, it's one of the easiest to use, too.
Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of X1 Professional Client 6.7.2. The trial version is limited to 14 days.
Publisher's Description
From X1 Technologies:
X1 searches e-mail, attachments and 500+ file types on local or networked drives. With support for popular e-mail clients including Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Notes, and Thunderbird, X1 is the secure & robust desktop search tool of choice for companies of all sizes, across all industries. For IT, X1 also enhances corporate information security & integrates with existing critical business systems seamlessly. Unlike other desktop search tools, X1 displays results immediately with each keystroke as search terms are highlighted in a real-time preview within the originating file type. Business users can act on the content found by using post-search actions such as: Reply, Forward, Open, Delete & Export.
What's new in this version: Version 6.7.3 improved indexing calls to prevent some cases of index corruption during build, merge, and backup operations and enabled Lotus Notes auto-signature capability, when using the New email PSA.
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 47 votes
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Current version:
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"Terrific for its combining of context in search results"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.7.2
Pros
I have never seen a better in-context search engine. Google like returns are fine when finding needle in haystack. X1 is superb for giving you results in their NATIVE context with dig down search.
Cons
Didn't work with content within MindManager, another superb product (for brainstorming, etc.) Also need power on your system to run it, though not instrusive in those circumstances. Otherwise, nothing like it.
Summary
Try it!
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"crashes all the time"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.7.2
Pros
very fast indexing
Cons
a disaster with outlook and full of bugs. I have been using X1 paid version or many years, but lately X1 (with the latest downloaded version) has been crashing all the time, and I suspect has been corrupting my outlook .pst file. walk away for now
Summary
full of bugs. very unstable, and crashes my XP system
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"Fantastic Life-Changing X1 Used Snce Sep2004"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
Instantly retrieve any document, email or file containing or not containing specified strings or dates. Runs on XP, Vista and Win 7. Also Mac OSX with VMware Fusion and XP with Network shared drives. Not expensive at $100 for 6 years (2 copies).
Cons
None whatsoever. I just hope they stay in business forever!
Summary
I have 195,000 emails (20 GB of Outlook pst files) and 600,000 other files all indexed and accessible at the click of mouse. Indexing is fast on a desktop and a bit slower (overnight) on my MacBook Pro likely due to use of Network shared drives. I would not be able to function without this program.
PS: I am in no way connected with X1. I am a Professor of Computation Structural Biology at Stanford University. -
"Terrible product, Terrible service!!!!!! x"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
There is no pros I can say.
Cons
so many errors and the fixes producing other severe errors!!! never ending errors you can see
Summary
First, you will see errors right after installation of the product. Then, Lotus Notes emails cannot be collected properly, which produce never ending errors and fixes. You cannot get MS Exchange emails properly -- also so many errors!!! Terrible!
Note that the X1 company employees write all the good comments here!
Updated on Jul 3, 2010 -
"Best desktop search engine, beats Microsoft and Google."
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
Excellent interface, superior response times, easy to tailor to your needs. Excellent in handling large volumes (I have more than 200,000 docs on my laptop and more than 100,000 emails, no problem for X1).
Cons
Stability issues seem to have be solved recently. You may encounter some issues in connecting to an email server. X1 is aware of some problems, but not how to solve them. They will simply ask you to try again.
Summary
If you depend on the information that you have stored somewhere in documents like email, powerpoint, word, or whatever, and you have hundreds of thousands of these on your PC, X1 will become your friend in need. I have tried all other solutions including Google Desktop Search, but nothing beats X1, particularly in terms of the user interface and the preview capabilities.
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"pays for itself in 30 days"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
I discovered this program a few years ago, and i figure its saved me months of time searching through Outlook folders and directories/trees.
Cons
Indexing takes a lot of CPU cycles, but X1 seems to be 'nice' allowing higher priority threads to take precedence over itself.
Its not free, but you get what you pay for.Summary
I've tried Windows Indexing Service, Google Desktop, and X1 is the best product I've seen. There are good support forums, and when you need to talk to support the staff is responsive and knowledgeable.
X1 has the ability to preview emails, highlights the search terms and has an ez GUI that uses boolean operators. It can also peek inside Office documents looking for text within the file.
If you are drowning in data, email, files, ppts, .pdfs X1 is a must have. As a line manager, I approved my whole development team to expense this software. Its already paid for itself a dozen fold.
Windows 7 has made some progress, but X1 is still clear winner. -
"The best desktop search software on the market"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
Searches all types of files and Outlook data. Indexes very quickly. Displays results almost instantly.
Cons
Sometimes the auto-preview of the selected results crashes. Particularly with large PDF files.
Summary
I've used desktop search software from various vendors for many years, from OnLocation to Windows Search. X1 outperforms the others with fast indexing that doesn't bog down your system, and with lightning fast search results. X1 also gives users more control over indexing by allowing them to select which file types and folders to index. I find this helpful when I want to index source code files that other desktop search products ignore.
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"You cannot find a better indexing and search program!"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
I started using this product over ten years ago . It uses very little CPU power and after the first indexing has completed it is absolutely precise in findings.
Cons
Rare, but occasionally I lose the X1 desktop and have to select its toolbar again. Not really a "con" but rather an occasional nuisance.
Summary
Whatever shows up in your search has the search word highlighted in yellow to make it very easy to identify your "looked for" search based upon context. Very intuitive so you don't have to worry about having to constantly go to the help section to review how to do something. I cannot recommend it any more than to say it is a must in any computer I own and I suggest its use to anyone who asks about a good search program. Very easy to setup to check specific areas, drives, or computers.
Read my "pros" above, along with this summary... read the other opinions... buy the product and enjoy its ease of use with confidence.. -
"The best desktop search software"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.4
Pros
I have tried all of the desktop search software and for my needs X1 is the best. It indexes all of my files (I have a paperless office), photos and Outlook files easily and quickly. I especially like the preview images, which are better than others.
Cons
Cost is $50 for the professional version.
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"Simply The BEST"
Version: X1 Professional Client 6.2.2
Pros
x1 is a great program on so many levels. Its easy to set up & use, I use it often & it has helped me find whatever I need each time. It's fast & displays results immediately as you type each letter in the search box and provides a preview of the file
Cons
There aren't any cons, I've used x1 for many years and find it better than all other search programs. From time to time I have tested other search programs and none are as good as x1.
Summary
I highly recommend x1
It can be customised easily to index any or all folders you want and ignore other folders that contain irrelevant files such as "Program Files" or "Windows"
x1 can search for email, attachments, files, documents, pictures, music etc. and is very fast displaying results immediately as you type into the search field.
It has a small icon near the system clock and does not take up space on the task bar like other search tools do. Just one left click on the x1 icon launches the application and you can start searching straight away.
In terms of system resources, x1 is NOT demanding on the computer. It uses very little CPU and memory. That point alone makes it a great program.
x1 is one of those must have applications I can't do without, it is simply the best search program.
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