The Desktop Search Topic

by Erik Lane 16. December 2004 02:56

Ok, maybe I don't get the cool-ness of the desktop search.  I mean I see the cool idea of being able to search everything on your machine like you do the internet...that I get.  But I try and organize my folder structure so I know where things are in the first place and use the Windows Explorer search or Textpad's "find in files" to search for specific text within files.

The reason I'm saying this is that I installed the MSN toolbar suite to give the desktop search a run.  Needless to say I was totally turned off by the barrage of MSN junk.  It's all the stuff that pushes me away from using MSN.com and My MSN in the first place.  All I wanted was the desktop search!  Yeah, it was cool but the trade off wasn't worth it to me personally.

I haven't tried Google's yet and few guys in the office reall like it so maybe I will.  I know it won't have the MSN junk all over the place so maybe theirs is the ticket.

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Roger
Roger on 12/16/2004 3:08:00 AM

Agree! I also noticed a considerable change in how long it takes XP Pro  to load (after login) after installing the toolbar suite. After I type my pw and hit enter, it takes Pro nearly 2 minutes to show my desktop. Coincidence, or has anyone else experienced this?

Dave Burke
Dave Burke on 12/16/2004 4:24:00 PM

I agree with all points 100%, too!  Windows search and Textpad "Find in Files" with an occasional Outlook "Find" action and my search needs are satisfied.  I never installed the MSN search for exactly the reasons you and others described.  I installed Google, but didn't want a WEB app searching my private workspace.  It wasn't the security concerns so much but a philosophical problem with a web app for clearly a desktop application.

Josh
Josh on 12/17/2004 4:57:00 AM

The 'concept' of instant desktop searching seems really cool to me. However, I think it's rather telling that Google was able to provide quick desktop search functionality earlier than Microsoft did. I personally have not tried either because, like you said, I organize my desktop in a way where I know where most things are. Furthermore, the search functionality in Outlook 2003 is better (not great, but better) than in previous versions of Outlook. Frankly, I was underwhelmed with the 'big announcement' by Microsoft. As much as they tried to hype it as this great new thing, I couldn't help but think that this would be unnecessary if they'd just done it right to begin with.

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