Google Desktop 2.0 Beta Available

Aside from the occasional misstep, Google seems to always impress me. I have been a strong proponent of desktop search tools for quite some time, recommending at various times X1, Copernic Desktop Search, and later Yahoo Desktop Search (a free variant of X1). I've also tried every desktop search tool I can find, including the MSN Toolbar and Google Desktop Search. I have to admit that I was completely under whelmed by Google's first desktop search attempt. Google's recently released Google Desktop 2.0 beta, however, appears to be a whole different ball game.


The first thing that you will notice upon installing it is the option to use Google's new Sidebar. Reminiscent of Desktop Sidebar, Google's Sidebar is a bar that sits along the right side of your screen, showing information that is hopefully of use to you, and giving quick access to different tools. Sidebar is slick, seems extremely well polished, and for me at least, has replaced Desktop Sidebar at the side of my screen. We'll see if it lasts, but at the moment color me impressed.
There are three main features of any desktop search solution that determine for me whether they are a "keeper:"

1. Usability - is it easy to use, and are the results presented in a way that makes sense?
2. System impact - is the indexing algorithm polite, and smart enough to get out of the way and not use system resources when the user is trying to use the machine?
3. Results - does it in fact find the data that is being searched for?

Although my initial index is still underway, I have to say that in terms of usability, this version has taken a giant leap forward. I don't particularly like seeing my desktop search results presented in a browser window looking just like Google's web search results, and although that mode is still present, it's superseded by a "search as you type" popup window that gives direct access to search results immediately.

I'll give further impressions after I've had time to truly put GDS 2.0 beta through its paces, but I'm already ready to say the beta is worth your time to download.

Tags: freeware