What is Digg?Sponsored by Dragon Age: Origins
Can't get enough Dragon Age: Origins? Play the flash game. view!
DragonAgeJourneys.com - Play the free companion flash game to Dragon Age: Origins.
87 Comments
- karel, on 10/12/2007, -5/+77If I weren't completely paranoid about the latest version of Google Desktop this would be really cool. Instead I just keep track of my files the old fashion way- having my files organized.
- KidVicious, on 10/12/2007, -2/+69Digg just for the fact that something Google made went out of Beta.
- Grimmeh, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20Seumas - that only works client side - ie. if you refresh the page, you will have only given him one digg.
Sorry to ruin your first l33t haXx0r moment =] - ThePhilomath, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11I really like the hitting ctrl 2x to get the searchbox up. Its much nicer and less obtrusive than the sidebar or the ugly searchbar.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -16/+24For that comment, I gave you four diggs. :D
Would have gotten more if I could click faster. :) - traherom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Um... but it's not like the 2 GBs is taken up by all the files on your computer, it's a compressed, encoded version of key things about/in them. I have well over a 100 gigs of stuff and have no problems with an index size limit (didn't even know there was one).
- sahaskatta, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9google desktop is great, but i have had a few problems. the sidebar takes up way too much ram and cpu to use. second other than for the sidebar the user interface, although simple, doesn't look to great. I like the new ctr 2x feature though. i think google desktop would also be much better if they tagged and re-indexed files that were moved around you computer and also gave advance preferences for users to set of when they want their computer to be indexed. (I am currently using MSN desktop only because it lets me chose when i want stuff to be indexed. only problem w/ msn is that it sucks at indexing stuff)
-- http://www.SkatterTech.com - knotty, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5You can restart explorer and IE without rebooting you know.
- FogDogg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5It's a 3rd party plugin though. When browsing the google desktop pages, a message is displayed at the bottom of each page to the effect of "Your browser is not currently supported by Google Desktop." Plus, the plugin doesn't index pages, just the title and url of them.
- Cglass, on 10/12/2007, -10/+14Grimmeh ~ untrue, I just tested, it counts most of them.
- GeniusCube, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3As commented earlier, so long as you dont save EVERYTHING in one folder and you have some organisation system you dont need this.
- Malthaeus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It's also a security risk in a corporate environment: http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3434981
- Rosewood, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Every time I have tried google desktop it has decided to screw up my torrents. I have told it not to index my torrents folder but that didn't work. I didn't really like the fact that I had to ignore the folder I want to search the most. Bah.
Also ... ctrl ctrl ... like when im playing a game? - binaryHalf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4copernic is good. it's simple and the user interface is pretty neat and doesn't show you unnecessary files. also you can set the indexing options..i mean the easy way.the only negative point is the web serch but then..we're talking about desktop search tools.
- monkenstick, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5the search that comes with windows xp is complete crap
- Drahknon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Great. Now they could theoretically catalogue my private data on their servers even FASTER!
No thanks. - retinaburn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I guess you haven't actually played with GoogleDesktop, I have been using it for a year with a few problems but let me try and dispel some of the FUD.
GoogleDesktop and all its components is currently using 16k on my system of ram. That isn't a lot.
You didn't mention it, but several others have, saying it takes up too much real-estate. It does take up an icon spot in the 'Notification Area', but that can be hidden through options in XP. The sidebar doesn't have to be used at all, or you can have it minimized to the left and it will reveal when you mouse over the far right side of the screen for a .5 of a second, or you can have the sidebar set to always show. You can also control what apps are running in the sidebar, and the width of the sidebar.
GoogleDesktop does collect information from your hard-drive, its a search tool, it builds and index. This information is not sent in anyway to Google, unless you choose to use the new 'index all my machines together'. Then it sends your index to their servers, so you can get an index created of all your machines.
The startup indexing process shouldn't slow down your machine, but the length of time it takes is a direct correlation to the size of space used on your hard-drive contained in files that you have chosen to index.
I like to be organized too, properly named folders, properly placed documents with accurate names. However sometimes projects change, documents migrate, etc. I find Windows Search painfully slow and woefully inadequate. I have all my work related IM chats automatically saved to disk. So when I want to find the ip address of a machine, or requirements for a program someone detailed out, or proof of what someone said to me during a meeting I can very very quickly search for it. The longest part of the search process with GoogleDesktop is bringing up the window or scroll-bar to search.
That being said, you are not a search guy, I am. I want to be able to find my information fast. It is faster for me to hit CTRL-CTRL type a search term of three and hit enter and get my file shown to me, rather than open up Explorer and drill down or type out the complete path. On of the biggest advantages of GDS for me is the enterprise version. With Enterprise it can index Lotus Notes email, and give me a superb search experience, versus the embarrassingly bad Lotus Notes search system.
The one problem I have had with GDS was actually caused by a third-party plugin. The plugin index compressed files, so when I started dropping test data onto my system (150 meg text files, zipped), GDS Crawler would gobble up 80% of my CPU. I uninstalled the third-party tool, and all was well in the world. - synmoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It is necessary. It hooks Explorer and IE (among other things) and they need to be restarted for GD to be able to index them.
- NineTailedFox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I was freaked out when I heard about the Search Across Computers feature, but it's so prominently mentioned during setup, and so easily switched off, that I find it hard to get worked up about now.
That's on MY machine, anyway. My kid stepsister's installation method is pretty much to check all the boxes and click OK - and I don't think she's alone in this - so it's probably fortunate that none of her files will be of interest to Big Brother unless he's into sk8r punk. I think most people with sensitive data will be sufficiently savvy to configure things appropriately, but there are probably some who aren't, which could be cause for concern.
I can't remember - is the default setting to have SAC activated or deactivated? - Erroneus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Either you hate or you love it :) I find it quite usefull, specially because i often need a document of some sort real quick when at work. Eg. ctrl-ctrl + X documentation = done
- samKreuzer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6I use Copernic desktop search too. It's fast, simple and works well.
More information:
http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/index.html - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4yeah it does http://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/operahistory.html
- runner91786, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2One reason I love a mac for the simple reason I restart for Security updates only
- javaboy1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2who cares. Copernic is better
- fletchowns, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Is there anything else I can use to index and search my files if I don't want Google Desktop?
- mattatron, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Windows Desktop Search (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/desktopsearch/enterprise/default.mspx) is much better integrated with the Windows UI and feels less clunky. Plugins available for ZIP, PDF and Thunderbird too.
- kanl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3sweet! ctrl-ctrl to search the web, desktop files, and launch apps
- Roger, on 10/12/2007, -6/+8Damnit, why the f**k does it need me to reboot? Completely unnecessary and annoying.
- tapo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Pretty much anything has a desktop search these days, WDS integrates with Windows nicely, but from reviews, it seems Yahoo!'s is the best. Personally though, I use GDS for the Gmail and Gtalk support. Plus I use Google as my main search engine.
I managed to get WDS stuck on my machine, with no way to uninstall, as it's treated like a service pack. It also tries to get you to use MSN Search, which is one of the worse engines available, IMHO. - tidejwe, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4What is wrong with simply using the normal standard Windows explorer search feature? It uses less RAM, doesn't clutter up your desktop or toolbar or anything. I couldn't stand the Google, or MSN desktop programs when I tried them all out (I remember there being a Yahoo one too, that also sucked). They all really annoyed me and had lots of vulnerabilities (finding passwords and such that I didn't want anyone to find). So far anything I've EVER needed to search for has been found with the explorer "SEARCH" feature that automatically comes with Windows, which is also useless if you are actually organised and don't NEED to "search" for things. These "Desktop Search" programs have been entirely useless to me, and when Vista comes out, I'm sure they will all be completely useless as MS is coming out with a more advanced one already integrated into Windows.
Point: What is all this fuss for something so useless?
Point #2: Worth digging simply because something Google finally graduated from BETA! *GASP* - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Wow, the sidebar is a complete pos. Ctrl-ctrl is great though. Ah well, downloaded, installed, and now off to the recycle bin with it.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+14Last time I tried Google Desktop, it had a limit of a 2gb index. Hardly useful. Besides, I'm sure Vista will have a builtin Spotlight style feature. And in the meantime, I'll be satisfied with spotlight on my Powerbook.
- PercyKittenz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The indexing model doesn't work for me. It's slow, continually out of date whenever you edit or move a file, and ineffective when it takes me less time to open the folder and find what I'm looking for than to browse through search results. What I'm excited about is what Vista was proposing, having searchable metadata that's crosslinked by relevance instead of a single index of information on the same level. Of course, for that to work, you've got to fill in all that metadata and that takes a lot of time. Still, it's an improvement.
- tapo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2RAM or CPU usage isn't the problem.
GDS's problem, and the problem of any other indexing program, is that it behaves somewhat like a realtime antivirus scanner. Every time there is filesystem activity, say if explorer.exe reads all the files in a directory, GDS will step in and check if anything in there needs to have its index entry updated, while your AV scanner sweeps for viruses or worms at the same time.
As a result, your HD reads and writes about three times more than it has to, resulting in slowdown. This isn't all that bad when you're, say, browsing the web. But viewing a large directory tree, or playing a game of Counter-Strike (where GDS and your AV scanner will sweep every texture, sound, map, model, and cache file), you can really see a performance hit. - jesusfresh, on 10/12/2007, -7/+9agreed except for one thing: full text web history search.
ahhhh - cathode, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Just hit CTRL three times, and the feds will be granted instant access to your files. How convenient! ;)
- Roger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I know you can, but It only installs the files following a reboot.
- krelian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1My only problem with GDS is that is doesn't allow you to specify where on your drive you want the index created. After using GDS since launce my index file have become quite big and there is no way to move it to a drive with more space.
- krewemaynard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1excellent point. mine uses 2x Scroll Lock (cheap little IOGEAR i got at wally world for about $30), and i don't know if it can be changed. but, there's always the deskbar, which i prefer over the sidebar or that little floater thing.
- jesusfresh, on 10/12/2007, -8/+9sooo...an old beta version wasn't perfect, windows will eventually get it, and in the meantime you're on a mac anyway? good comment!!
- pacificdave, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3wow.... you really don't "get" it do ya?
you must have a really small hard drive or don't do much work on your computer. i have reports, chats, emails, reference documents from years back. they're stored subfolder, under subfolder, under subfolder..... under subfolder. being organized is really out of the question by now. GDS has been useful in every aspect of my work and personal life. hell, even finding songs buried in my 40 gigs of subfolders is done by GDS. it's one of the most useful tools on my computer. the built in basic windows search is CRAP! only old people still use it.... basicly. my 65 year old parents actually find use in GDS by finding archived emails and photos. - MoeB, on 10/12/2007, -11/+12leaves beta and goes straight right into my recycle bin
- incognegro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Bad link, should be this:
http://googledesktop.blogspot.com/2006/03/take-ctrl-of-your-desktop_14.html - spacebar14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1kind of like star trek eh? :P
instead of "computer show me the schematics for the antimatter injectors" its *ctrl ctrl* "schem"
"Schematics for the Antimatter Injectors?" - tidejwe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I understand that. I have over 40 GB of music too, stored in folder after subfolder, etc. I still find everything with the normal windows search...all my documents, chats, emails etc. I have all that too...quite a bit actually. Again, I have found everything with the Windows search tool. Either that, or just simply find the song using Winamp/WMP etc by searching with those and then look up the file location through the program. They even search using all the ID3 tags etc too instead of just file name. I fully understand what people use it for, but it is still fairly pointless since Windows comes with a search that already does all of that, and will become more pointless with the next version of windows where it's already integrated and even more advanced. The only benefit this has is that it's Google. :)
- kwreid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I hated Google Desktop Search because of the limited usability of the UI. Why make it a browser app?
I very much liked the UI of the Yahoo Desktop Search (made by X1?) which gave you lots of advanced search options and presented a very usable UI to further filter your results by adding filters to columns. The problem with YDS is it's too agressive with indexing. Even when set to the least aggressive setting it still slows down the system.
For the MSN Desktop Search product, I liked how it ran in the background almost unnoticed. It is an effective detector of idle time, and quickly goes quiet if you start using your computer. Unfortunately the UI is minimalist web. Not a lot of functionality there.
I'd like the functionality of Yahoo Desktop Search, with the indexing priority of MSN Desktop Search. - synmoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was thinking the same thing. Can you change the hotkey?
- ericush, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The strange thing about this is that they are introducing new functionality on the day it comes OUT of beta. Isn't the point of a beta release to test new functionality before it makes it into a full release?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If i can't manipulate the files it finds with the same full control that i could through my OS's slower search.. then what's the point.
People need some organization skills.
Like i said, there's nothing this software can do, that software already on every OS can already do and more. Not to mention it's a huge privacy and security risk. - krelian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Have you restarted your machine?
-
Show 51 - 87 of 87 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is