Google Desktop for Apple?

[dontmatter]

how is this voted negative? by the majority!?

It's a piece of software, that will be out, and installable, or not, for macs. if you like it, great. If you don't, no harm done. And still, more choices, more 3RD PARTY software that works on windows working on OS X is good. (b/c choice is always appealing, and a reason people are afraid of macs, and also, wouldn't it be nice if you're windows friends could search your computer the same way they do their own?

OK, that's all. End rant.

 

[dontmatter]

Quicksilver already does this and has a better, quicker interface. However that doesn't mean I am against google making it. Competition is good.

Seriously though if people have not tried Quicksilver go out and do so. You can find it with a google search.

Not to sure how the google thing works... but it sounds like what butler does. (which, by the way, is the best piece of software, ever). How does this compare to quicksilver?

 

[GulGnu]

Erm, people - isn't it a bit weird that people rate this negative, etc. when Google, an important player releases a piece of software for the Mac? Given that Google is the search tool of choice for most, it can be pretty convinient to search your desktop from the same tool.

Furthermore, this is Beta people, not final release, so complaining about missing features, etc. is a bit premature.

 

[AmigoMac]

Nice move but pretty wrong, almost 2 years late for the mac side and 4-5 years early for the windows crowd. Maybe it could get some people like Firefox/Camino did.

In some way I think of it like adobe releasing the photo album software for mac... , success?

 

[coolsoldier]

There are other things I'd rather see Google bring to the Mac. Keyhole (Satellite Imagery software recently acquired by Google) and Picassa (Google's remarkably intuitive digital photo organizer) come to mind as things that would be more useful on the Mac than another desktop search utility. After all, there are already quite a few out there (and unlike Google's, they aren't adware), even if you don't bring spotlight into the picture.

But if Google wants to bring a program to the Mac, I won't complain. But as long as they're hiring Mac programmers, this seems like poor prioritizing on their part.

 

[MacSlut]

Second board for this topic, and I can't believe nobody has "gotten it" yet. I guess many Mac users haven't tried Google Desktop. This isn't something that would compete with Spotlight. More than likely it's something that would utilize, extend or integrate with Spotlight.

I've used the Windows version. It's still Beta. It's not terribly exciting, but it can be a useful feature.

Methinks there's something to this rumor...There's gotta be something going on for Apple to have Google as the sole search engine for the Safari search field...clearly adding others would be as easy as cutting a small check for the creator of Saft.

 

[munkle]

to the people talking about how it will stack up against tiger, keep in mind that not everyone is willing to pay 130 to get widgets and system search.

I can only shake my head at this comment.

And people, you cannot compare Google desktop search with Spotlight. It is competing with the likes of Quicksilver, DragThing, Launchbar, Butler etc, etc - all of which incidentally search through more types of files and items and are better integrated with the file system.

Spotlight is truly the next generation. Spotlight kicks sand in the face of Google Desktop Search (I mean you can index your files now and only supporting web pages in IE and no PDF?!! )!!. Apart from being embedded in the OS, being able to sort through the meta date of all your files, allowing intuitive searches, a far superior interface, Spotlight also allows you to 'save' your search results in the form of 'smart folders' that update themselves in real time. Additionally plug-in archetecture and API support makes it easier for developers to write a plug in allowing Spotlight to index their potentially proprietary file formats.

I don't want to knock Google desktop search, it's nice they threw a bone to Window users after the vapourware that is WinFS but I don't think people realise how amazing Spotlight really is. If they port GDS to Macs - great. It'll give more exposure to the Mac platform and more choice is only a good thing, especially when one of the choices is Spotlight

 

[munkle]

There are other things I'd rather see Google bring to the Mac. Keyhole (Satellite Imagery software recently acquired by Google) and Picassa (Google's remarkably intuitive digital photo organizer) come to mind as things that would be more useful on the Mac than another desktop search utility.

Google bought Picassa and it was basically a copy of iPhoto. Admittedly I haven't tried it since Google bought it but I don't see it being much better/different than iPhoto.

 

[macidiot]

Nice to see that Google, unlike Yahoo, is developing for the Mac. Don't know if I'll use it over Spotlight though.

 

[radhak]

i have been using Google Desktop Search (GDS) for some time, and while its the best among windows file/folder search, it still is cludgy.

it sits on your tray indexing everything, and seems to have a very small footprint on the cpu/memory : good.
it searches thru every sort of file on the hard disk - and even outlook and express : better.
it displays the result on the default browser : so so (takes some getting used to, but the hyperlink is neat).
the hyper-link does not always open the file (browser problem? GDS problem? dunno) : not so good.
it searches thru everything on your disk : watch out! (did you mean to hide those -ahem- special files from your spouse? you better rename it to something more forgettable and put it under the 'Dont search these items' list of GDS preferences, and hope nobody else goes there
did you delete/move any files after the first indexing? tough sh*t - it still shows up and when you click it, you get the error msg. i would have thought the constantly-running indexer should take care of that! : atrocious, not at all google standards.

As for Picassa, it is far better than iPhoto : performance-wise. iPhoto gives up on larger volume of pictures far before Picassa does. I have to use iPhoto gingerly, while I can be much more carefree with Picassa.

 

[AmigoMac]

a new company joining to apple... great, that Picassa gives a good chance to win users to know a better alternative, now, GDS, what's next? the rumored Jabber-based Google messenger... that will take apple to the high-end arena... who needs MSN? Give us the google messenger...

 

[johnnyjibbs]

This is strange. Why bother? The google desktop thing is only viable on Windows because Windows is so inept at searching. Panther already has a good search - just type into the Finder and you get what you're looking for most of the time. Even Jaguar is leagues ahead of Windows XP.

Did we ever see the Google internet search bar for Mac? No, and this came out long before Safari was released with its own Google search field.

Unless they dramatically change the interface/useability of the Mac version, no-one is going to use it instead of Spotlight. And while this is good for software to be released for Mac (and for those who don't upgrade to Tiger), it will take some of the limelight away from Spotlight. Suddenly, Apple seems behind with Tiger. They need it ASAP. Its major features like meta-data search and RSS feeds already seem old hat, even though Microsoft is even more behind.

 

[MacDawg]

I agree that getting Macs in the news is a good thing, and perhaps this will boost awareness. It will probably fill a niche at least, though Spotlight will no doubt be far more integrated. Its like anything else, if you can use it... more power to ya! I personally don't have much of a need for it.

 

[applekid]

Isn't all of these searching tools, how should I say it... Pointless?

Really, do you know of that many Mac and PC users searching their millions of files? Don't they know how they organize their own files? Not to mention, I was more than content with the current searching abilities in OS X. Windows XP's search method was too complicated, yet also too user-friendly that you had to be a really naive user to figure it out, IMHO.

My dad and I said that these search tools are almost a step back. When we saw Steve Jobs type in an application in Spotlight's search field to find the application, it reminded us of how DOS worked. We almost are killing of the graphical user interface!

But, for those of you that feel search tools is what you need, I don't mind having a Google Desktop for the Mac. Some competition would indeed help.

 

[verces]

Search? No Big Deal.

To be quite honest, I don't know whats the big deal about this whole "SEARCH" thing. Sure, Apple's bringing out Tiger with possibly the greatest ever search function, which is great, but whats the hype all about? I mean, if you want something from the Internet, just go to Google.com, or even Yahoo, and you'll get you stuff, and if you want something found on your PC, just hit Search and there you have it. It might not find it in an instant second, but if you know what you're looking for, any search function in any OS will do the job. Its not rocket science.

All in all, This whole Google desktop rubbish seems just like another way for Google search domination. Pretty pointless and mindless. You don't need crap on your PC running and eating up resources, you just get on the Internet and search. Easy.

I mean, even if you're not gonna get Tiger upgrade, its pretty simple. Whats the big deal about it anyway? How much **** do you have? How much crap do you need to search for? Most of us know where the important files are, (if you've used a computer before) and probably you'll know where you keep your major files anyway. Even if its some weird system file, any operating system (Windows, OS X, Linux, etc) will do the trick. Kinder stuff.

However, for those who'll be seeing those Orange/Black stripes....different story. Spotlight.

 

[cube]

Real privacy risk

We don't want it on Mac unless it is fixed. See here.

 

[mymemory]

Sorry but I am ignorant on the subject... what is a Google Desktop?

Ok, I asked this question and no one answered what give me the impresion that everybody here are talking about something they do not know anything about, am I right?

 

[mdetry]

Google Desktop Search for Mac

I think it´s pretty good the good develops the tool for MAC.
It will put some pressure on the Spotlight development team. I will set up a "Minimum" required.

I have been using the Google Desktop on PC and like very much the following:

- Index Quickly
- Does not take much CPU time. It´s very unnoticeble. That´s Great.
- I do Not like how the results are shown.

I use search mainly to seach through tons on email and I like very much the format of X1 (another search engine for PC) uses to search email but I really like google in the CPU efforless program that they have made.

It´s a good think and just in time for apple to deliver the BEST spotlight they can. I helps to see and analize what other have done...little good ideas always are taken "borrowed" from others.

I agree that Google developing Desktop for MAC is a great help to put the MAC on Mainstream.

I am a future switcher...January is my date, and personally it brings me peace of mind to know that Google mail has been made from the start for MAC (safari) and now that Google Desktop will be available for MAC.

You do not know the Trauma a long PC user goes before switching...fear that many things he is used to will not be available...and seen MAC going to mainstream will help to make the step to many future switchers.

 

[AlanAudio]

Whether you think that Google is going to do a better job than Spotlight or not, there is one thing you should bear in mind.

This story comes to you via Reuters. A while back, they also broke the story of $100 iPods coming out, when what actually appeared was the iPod mini. There was no hint that their story was speculation, they reported it as fact, even though any Apple watcher knows that Apple never mentions new products to the press the day before an announcement.

They've run quite a few other innacurate Apple-related stories in recent times.

Reuters's reputation isn't what it used to be, so you can't always trust what they say.

 

[GetSome681]

choice is good.

you hit the nail on the head.

You people don't understand. All you do is sit there and complain about people developing stuff for the mac platform, and then a big company states they are making/porting the software to os x, and you all complain. Jesus, what do you guys really want then? Having choices is a good thing. You don't have to use it, but the fact that it's there gives the mac platform more validation in some people's eyes.

 

[t300]

No way! I spoke with the guy who oversaw the whole Google Desktop project at Google and I asked him about a Mac version and he gave me so many reasons why there wouldn't be one, the thing he said the most is that the Mac already does it great and, I quote, " with Tiger coming out, it's just going to redefine Mac search to a whole new level." This was about a week ago...So HOW could this happen?

He is also the guy who confirmed to me that a Google Web Browser IS in the works.

 

[dudemac]

I see this has been said by a few others out there, that Quicksilver does this and a whole lot more. In fact I use it so much that forget were things are actually located on my hard drive. It is so simple and really fast. I my opinion is the best launcher/ desktop search out right now for mac and its still just a beta. So check it out. It even has a customizable interface that makes it look just like spotlight.

QuickSilver

As for Google search it seems redundant and I don't really like the way the windows versioin works. Mac search right now is about 10 times faster. Seems faster than the desktop google search on my windows box. Just my experience. Still better than the windows search though.

dudemac

 

[Mainyehc]

You do not know the Trauma a long PC user goes before switching...fear that many things he is used to will not be available...and seen MAC going to mainstream will help to make the step to many future switchers.

Hmmm... that's the trauma of the adventurous and desperate Windows users that jump to the Mac platform because Windows has become just unbearable. Preety funny to watch them migrate, if you ask me
But no, I don't think your trauma is funny at all, just this (hopefully) massive exodus, LOL. But don't worry, man, everything will be fine. Even if you don't find some specific software title, another freeware/shareware/paid alternative is very likely to be avaliable, and most of the times, it will be even better than the unavaliable Windows application.

I switched 10 months ago, but I did a lot of research. And it may sound preety weird to you, but two or three months before switching, my Windows 98 desktop started to look a lot like Panther's, and I eventually switched (I find it curious because I've read somewhere that most of those guys that emulate OS X's look and feel in Windows don't switch, EVER... ). I'm already on my second Mac (that's because I'm nuts...), and I don't regret a single minute of my experience with them. The first, an iMac G4 17'' 1,25 Ghz, was a lovely machine, even though it had a dead pixel. The second one, an iMac G5 20'' 1,8GHz, is a gorgeous and preety damn fast machine (even more, now that it has 1,25GB of RAM in it ) ... It has one of those defective PSU that does an irritating buzzing, but it seems Apple is replacing those, so, cool then. Even with these minor glitches (which I'm preety sure are due only to bad luck, at least the fact that I had glitches with both Macs), my experience with Apple products has been by far the best I've ever had with consumer electronics of any kind (that includes a 20GB 3G iPod, and its (sometimes) malfunctioning remote plug... In comparison, the cord of one of my Sony MD recorder's earbuds just snapped off with normal wear and tear... great, eh?? ).

Sure, there will be hardware and/or problems... But you just can't compare, everything else looks like junk when compared with Apple stuff (and btw, that will probably include Google Desktop Search )

 

[macridah]

spotlight is going to be hard to beat. i have the tiger preview and the google desktop seach for the PC ... apple wins, hands down. But people are right, this google desktop search for the mac could be the spotlight for 10.2 and 10.3.

 

[Doctor Q]

Will this software help sell more Mac hardware? Will this software cut into Apple's sales of Tiger? I suspect the answers are respectively YES (one less Windows-only application that new Mac buyers might see as a disadvantage) and NO (not a big enough development to make a difference in Tiger sales). Therefore, I vote positive.