Looking for a better desktop search tool? (Part 1)

With desktop search tools getting more advanced and becoming more integrated into operating systems, and with storing files on the cloud instead of locally on a hard drive’s PC becoming a trend, it is not difficult to understand why some companies like Google and Yahoo, who years ago developed and strongly marketed their own desktop search tools, decided to get out of the game. Google discontinued its Google Desktop search tool in September of 2011. Yahoo pulled the plug on its desktop search tool about three years ago. Now its desktop.yahoo.com website redirects to X1 Technologies.

Having said that, there are still companies out there that still continue to develop their own desktop search tools, and some of those tools are pretty amazing.

Let’s start with Windows Search, if only to mention it and get it out of the way. If you’ve searched for files in Windows 7, then you’ve already used Microsoft’s desktop search tool, formerly known as Windows Desktop Search in Windows XP. Not a favorite of mine, compared to other desktop search tools I’ve used, but hey, it’s free and already comes with Windows. With this tool you can search through your local files and Outlook e-mails. Custom searches can be done to look through network drives.

Copernic Desktop Search (http://www.copernic.com )has been around since the late 90s. It has a very nice interface, with everything nicely arranged in categories, both as a list on the left side, with file types you can check or uncheck, and tabs on the top that you can use to separate your results.

Copernic Desktop Search main screen

Version 3.5 comes in three flavors: Home (Free), Professional ($49.95) and Corporate ($59.95). I tested the Home version and got nagging screens asking me to upgrade when navigation through some of the settings and options screens. When installed, CDS puts a search box right next to the Windows System Tray, much like Windows Search 4.0 on XP. When you search using the search box the results (over 150 file types supported) are nicely displayed on a small vertical window above it.

X1 Professional Client (http://www.x1.com) This $49.95 program supports over 500 different file types but sports a clunky interface, or better said, just doesn’t look polished. The layout is pretty straightforward, search categories on the left side of the screen, results in the middle and a nice preview pane on the right side.

X1 Pro Client Main Screen

Search results can be separated by categories using tabs on the top of the program, much like Copernic Desktop Search. And just like Copernic and Windows Search it places a search box right next to the Windows System Tray. It doesn’t show results on a minimalistic version of the program, like Copernic. Instead, it just launches the actual X1 Professional Client application to show search results. Above the search results pane you will find a Search Web button with Yahoo’s red Y! symbol, and sure enough, when you click on it your web browser is launched and you’re taken to the Yahoo Search page. I would have preferred Google, or at least some way to change that setting.

On my next post I will look at a few other desktop search tools, so check back soon.