Google Your Desktop

Google has become the de facto Internet search engine of choice. It is so ubiquitous that the word “google” has become a verb, as in, “I’ll google that and get back to you.” I don’t even remember the last time I used another search engine.

But what about those thousands of e-mail messages, documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, and photos lurking on computer’s hard disk? Wouldn’t it be cool if you could also search for those with the familiar, simple-to-use Google search engine? Well, now you can.

Google has just released a beta version of Google Desktop Search. It carries the familiar Google logo:

If you know how to use Google-and who doesn’t?-you already know how to use Google Desktop. It couldn’t be simpler to use. You download the program, let it index your hard drive, and then search as you normally would. (Warning: the first time you index your hard drive, it will take several hours. I recommend starting this process at night before you go to bed.) There’s virtually nothing new to learn.

As the President of a 600-or-so employee company, simplicity is a major selling point. Every new software introduction carries with it at least three costs: (1) the initial cost of the software, including deployment, (2) the cost of user training, and (3) the ongoing cost of upgrades. Right now, Google Desktop Search is free and easy to download. Virtually any user can do it on their own. In addition, since people already know how to use Google, there are no training costs. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether or not Google will eventually charge for this or introduce a “professional version” with more bells and whistles that you have to pay for.

Yes, there are probably better desktop search alternatives. One that looks particularly interesting is Copernic Desktop Search. However, it would have to be substantially better than Google to entice me to invest the training time to learn a new tool. For now, Google Desktop Search is all I need.