"Search Engines: Desktops Wanted"

by Merle

Published on this site: May 18th, 2005 - See more articles from this month...

Search engines are no longer content with being contained to the web. They want your desktop, too. If you've always wanted the power of a search engine inside your computer, desktop search applications were made just for you.

Many of the major search engines have created desktop search applications that can help you to find anything on your computer faster then you can say "uncle." And I do mean anything. From text files to email and images, it can find it all. Imagine no longer saying "now where did I put that file?" You can search thousands of files with a click.

The best part is they won't cost you a dime and if you've ever spent hours searching through old emails for a specific message, these apps will now do that for you too. That is, as long as you use Outlook or Outlook Express.

The major players in this arena are:

1. Google Desktop: http://desktop.google.com/
   Search your computer's files, audio, video, images and emails, and even the Web. You can preview the search results in a mini-viewer before deciding to open it.
   
   When you first download this program it needs to scan your hard drive for all files. It can take quite a bit of time for this initial index, but rest assured it's just the first time. Afterwards it updates itself periodically in the background as needed.
   
   
2. MSN Toolbar: http://toolbar.msn.com
   Find messages, email, photos, music and data files on your system quickly. You decide what is and isn't indexed, with capability to index over 200 file types. Like Google's application, it will need to index your system when first installed (which can take several hours), but it does give you the option to pause it if needed.
   
   One drawback to this one is you'll have to download Microsoft's Toolbar to get it; it's a package deal. It also gives you the ability to preview files. Includes a pop up blocker for your surfing pleasure and other cool gadgets.
   
   
3. Ask Jeeves: http://sp.ask.com/docs/desktop/
   Enter a phrase or keyword and it quickly finds all files or email housed on your system matching the search term. Free to download but must be run on Win 2000 or WinXP.
   
   
4. Yahoo Desktop Search: http://desktop.yahoo.com
   Requires WinXP or Win 2000. Search for more then 200 file types. Also has a built in previewer so you can peek without opening the documents that it finds. Search for email and attachments, search Yahoo, even Messenger archives, PDF files and Web pages and word processing docs. It even has the ability to save your favorite searches and allows you to customize and set indexing options.
   
   If you've been wanting an easy way to find files on your computer, you've got to download one of these powerful software applications. Why spend hours and get frustrated searching manually when you can have a powerful search engine do the work for you?

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