Desktop Search Engines: Reviews

Download.com: CNET editors give this latest version of Google Desktop the highest possible rating, praising its new preview capabilities and useful widgets.

DownloadSquad.com: Google Desktop Search 5.5 beats Windows Desktop Search 4 based on DownloadSquad's indexing speed tests, but the reviewer finds Windows Desktop Search easier to customize, with much better organized results.

Lifehacker.com: This review praises Google Desktop for its cross-platform availability and extensive indexing, but notes that the optional widget sidebar gets mixed reviews.

MakeUseOf.com (blog): Comparing Google Desktop with three other desktop search engines, this anonymous reviewer praises the way Google can search chats and Gmail, but notes that for PCs, it's designed for 32-bit systems; using it on 64-bit computers is tricky and limited.

Kalio: The objective tests at Kalio.com compare Google Desktop 4 with four other desktop search engines available at the time.

PC Pro: Editors give an earlier version, Google Desktop 4, a very low rating of only two stars on a six-point scale, favoring Copernic as the best choice because of faster indexing and search, as well as better categorization of results.

PCMag.com: Although an earlier 2005 comparison review ranks Yahoo!

PC World: As of 2006, Google Desktop 3 earns top ranking at PC World, edging out the 2005 choice, Copernic.

PC World: This review praises Copernic 3.0 for the way it "displays your results in a clear, easy-to-understand manner." The main differences between the Pro and free Home versions are well summarized here, including the ad display in the free version -- but the author isn't sure the Pro version's advantages outweigh its cost.

Download.com: CNET editors give this slightly earlier version of Copernic Desktop Search a rating of four stars out of a possible five, but more than 100 users give it a slightly lower average rating.

Snapfiles.com: Editors at this download site give the free version of Copernic Desktop Search a perfect five-star rating, but the average rating is only four stars from about two dozen users -- some of whom complain that version 2, though problematic, still provided more features than the only free version now available, Copernic Home 3.

Lifehacker.com: Copernic earns kudos in this comparison review for its excellent previews, but a poll of over 2,000 (mostly tech-savvy) readers ranks it toward the bottom in popularity.

PC Pro: This older review gives an earlier version, Copernic Desktop Search 2, top ranking among five desktop search engines, rating it five stars on a six-point scale.

Kalio: Older objective tests here find Copernic 1.6, a much earlier version, faster than Google Desktop 4 but slower than Yahoo!

MusTech.net: Joseph M. Pisano, a musician and fine-arts professor, gives Copernic a rave review based on his personal use of several free and paid desktop search engines, including Google Desktop and the search built into Windows Vista (Desktop 4). Copernic wins points for excellent previews and overall ease of use.

Web Worker Daily: This reviewer praises Copernic Desktop Search for its speed and the fact that it doesn't slow his system, finding it faster than the search built into Windows Vista.

Download.com: At CNET's download site, editors rate the Everything search application four stars (on a five-point scale), praising its real-time search and extreme speed: a million files in one minute.

MakeUseOf.com (blog): This recent write-up recommends Everything search engine "not for full blown desktop search, but in a crisis where I need that file and I need it now!" according to anonymous reviewer "Ben." Based on hands-on usage, the reviewer praises the application for its speed and real-time searching as you type.

Freeware Genius: Freeware Genius offers users the opportunity to submit reviews for free software.

The Portable Freeware Collection: This forum discussion compares Everything search engine with another popular free desktop search engine for Windows, Locate32.

84 Productions (blog): This brief blog post praises Everything search engine for its speed and minimal use of computer resources.