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Microsoft Finalizes Its Desktop Search Software

Posted by Zonk on from the nope-no-influences-here-none-at-all dept.

Smelly Toejam writes "After a five month testing phase, Microsoft has released a final version of its much hyped desktop-search software. Major updates cited include the ability to pick and choose which files to index, and how often." From the article: "Microsoft is vying for new credibility in the multibillion-dollar Web search market dominated by Google and Yahoo--and central to its campaign is the desktop. With its Longhorn launch slated for next year, Microsoft is developing enhanced search software that combines navigation for Web and desktop files straight from the operating system. The toolbar is a step toward that goal."

13 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. Make sure it can exclude items... by rob_squared · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...so that parents can't find your porn.

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    I don't get it.
    1. Re:Make sure it can exclude items... by DrEldarion · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, I think the far worse scenario is if you found your parents' porn.

      (Especially if it's more hardcore than anything you have.)

  2. Interesting by oKtosiTe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe this will finally put an end to the market domination of the evil Google?
    ;-)

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    It will happen.
  3. Whoopee! by JadeNB · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Microsoft is developing enhanced search software that combines navigation for Web and desktop files straight from the operating system.
    Great. Because, my biggest complaint about Microsoft is that the Web browsing isn't tightly integrated enough with the operating system yet. Now the innards of my computer can be thrown open to exploits like never before!

    P.S. Sorry. I forgot that Microsoft is now committed to security.

    1. Re:Whoopee! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      The answer is yes... http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050 504012104186&query=spotlight

  4. Competition is GOOD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Even if it's from Microsoft, competition is _always_ good. I use linux so I don't really care who releases desktop searches for windows, but I support Microsoft's and Google's efforts to make the windows desktop easier to use.

  5. Privacy Issue by bhadreshl · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have tried the Google Desktop Search and I was not impressed with the lack of options. I know google tries to simplify things, but this was way too simple. The main problem is the lack of Access Control Options. I don't trust anything indexing all my files. It just a privacy issue I have.

  6. It's about time. by unk1911 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Although this is clearly a direct response to Google's Desktop Search, I feel that Microsoft should have had this built-into the OS a long long time ago! It's their own OS for crying out loud.. The default Windows OS file search function was ridiculously slow and had severe limitations.

  7. Re:How does it compare to Google's desktop search? by Stibidor · · Score: 5, Informative
    It's been a while since I tried Google's tool, so my memory of it is surely a bit foggy. The two differences I've noticed so far are:
    1. Google runs in the web browser on a special port, MS runs in Explorer, Outlook as toolbars.
    2. Maybe I haven't played around with it enough yet, but unfortunately, the MS tool doesn't seem to be capable of showing me where in the file it found my search term! It shows me a list of files it thinks are relevant, with lovely little stars indicating the level of relevance, but it doesn't show me where in the (potentially large) file, the term I searched for appears. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
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    http://nerdfortress.com/
  8. Doesn't work by The+13th+Duke · · Score: 5, Funny

    This software was unable to find the biro on my desktop. I had to search for it manually and eventually found it on the floor behind a piece of pizza crust.

  9. Ars review by enjahova · · Score: 5, Informative

    Arstechnica has a nice review of all the windows desktop search tools:

    http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/desktop-search .ars

    Of course it has the beta of the MS search, but a pretty good guide I think.

    --
    "how can they call it a MINE if everything here is THEIRS?!?!" -Straight Jacket
  10. Just one question... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is the puppy still there?! It's gots to have a puppy! EVERYONE knows that puppies are great at finding stuff. I hope Microsoft doesn't screw this up and use a kitten instead!

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    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  11. WARNING Sticky Software by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I installed it, let it index overnight, tried it, and not satisfied I then tried to uninstall it. Add/Remove said it couldn't uninstall because the installer was still running. Restart stalled and the Task Manager could not be invoked, so a forced powerdown was necessary. After rebooting, Add/Remove would let me uninstall, but the uninstall progress stuck at 100% for 30 minutes with no disk activity. Task Manager could be accessed this time, though, and the "running" MSN Toolbar was killed. What a pain!

    I'm sticking with Copernic Desktop, which indexes at least as well, doesn't require IE (I use Firefox), and has a fast, integrated document viewer.