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Google on the Move
R. Alex Whitlock
Kevin gave me a
GMail invitation a few weeks back and I've been just loving it. I've still got some things to figure out (how do I delete emails?!), but I'm sure that will come with time and experience.
Google continues on the warpath now with what looks to be a
really cool file-searching program:
Google Inc. (GOOG) on Thursday became the first tech heavyweight to tackle the daunting task of uncluttering computers, introducing a program that quickly scours hard drives for documents, e-mails, instant messages and past Web searches.
[...]
"We think of this (program) as the photographic memory of your computer," said Marissa Mayer, Google's director of consumer Web products. "It's pretty comprehensive. If there's anything you once saw on your computer screen, we think you should be able to find it again quickly."
[...]
Currently compatible only with the Windows operating system, Google's 400-kilobyte desktop program requires about 10 minutes to download on a dial-up connection and takes some five or six hours to index a computer's hard drive.
[...]
Google's desktop search still doesn't work with the company's new e-mail service, called Gmail. If desired, the program automatically saves all AOL instant message conversations and creates a cache of all Web pages surfed by a computer.
OUtstanding!
The fact that Microsoft Windows has yet to come up with a fast and competent search program is nothing short of pathetic. I honestly prefer the search mechanism from Windows 98 to that of 2000 and XP (it's probably 98s only advantage).
I haven't been this excited about a computer program since
City of Heroes. Except unlike COH, I'm actually going to get this one!
Observations
Alex,
Remember, you've got 1000mb. You don't really need to delete using Gmail, but if you can't resist (I can't, either), select "Move to Trash" from the 'More Options' dropdown.
Don't waste your money or your time on City of Heroes. I was going to do a post-mortem on my experience with that "game," but realized that doing so would be even more time wasted. Succeeding in the game has very little to do with your skill as a player and a lot to do with your ability to execute all your powers, rinse, and repeat. Repeatedly. The game seemed to me to be designed to ensure that the player would spend as much time as possible commuting between various locations and trying to assemble teams with which to conquer opponents and as little time as possible actually doing so. Once you do go on a mission, it's generally room after room or area after area filled with scads of baddies. If you like boring, repetitive games, COH is for you.
Of course, that's just my experience. It seems to be doing well, so maybe it has some appeal that was lost on me.
Guess you didn't get the invitation I sent you over a month ago ;)
Google is truely one of theose rare companies that has limitless potential.
Although I kind of like win9x search better than win2k+ Win2k had the advantage that NTFS is a journalized filesystem, and therefore has much faster times than that of the fat(32) systems of old.
Then again, I avoid Windows when I can.
Michael,
It's more of a clean thing than a space thing. My Yahoo account has 2GB (I'm a paid subscriber), but I'm pretty anal about keeping it clean and organized. GMail self-organizes a heck of a lot better, though, so there's less need. On the other hand, I get an email every time someone posts a comment on the blog, and when it's a load of commentspam, not much reason to keep it handy. Thanks for the tip!
Kavey,
I actually got it a couple of days after I took Kevin up on his invite. When it rains, it pours :).
The search function is about the only thing I like better on 95/98 than 2K/XP. I've never timed the search times, so it may be longer with the old way because of FATvsNTFS, and I've just gotten impatient.
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