[Sigia-l] RE: Google desktop search now available

[Boniface Lau]

> From: Karl Fast
>  
> There is "index server" and the indexing service in XP. The indexing
> service comes with XP, though I don't think it is enabled by
> default.

You are right. It is not enabled by default unless Windows is
installed as an upgrade from a system with Index Server already
enabled.


[...]
> 
> I don't use this and I haven't tried the Google Desktop. I suspect
> that indexing services are not as good and harder to configure.

I too thought Google Desktop would be better. But was disappointed.

Google Desktop has very nice integration with its web search. When you
search on the web, the result will include matches from the desktop.

However, if a directory name happens to match the search string, _all_
files from that directory are listed as matches. That is misleading.

Also, you cannot restrict searches to a particular drive or folder.
Even Windows Explorer can do that. 

A strange thing is that Google Desktop does not search HTML files
unless they are in the browser cache (web history). So, if you save a
local copy of an HTML page, Google Desktop can't look into that page.

Another peculiar thing is that you have to open and close email
attachments in order for them to be indexed. Thus, when you have
thousands of attachments, you have to open and close thousands of
time. No thanks...

Anyway, Google Desktop is still in early beta.


Boniface