Dear IE, I'm Leaving You For Good

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
Yeah right.

Some third party hack no doubt.

Third Party Hack?

Depends what you mean. You currently have to use a third party aggregator, as MS doesn't make one.

But MS is about to release a beta of its Desktop Search app, and Google already has its Google Desktop Search. Both of those are like Spotlight, but Google Desktop Search is more powerful.

[Agathon]

Neither is like Spotlight. Spotlight functions within apps as well as between them. You don't need to open up some third party utility to search within an app.

Most of the Spotlight functionality is already in OS X. Launchbar takes advantage of it. The Finder already as find as you type.

I suppose M$ will sort this out if their next OS ever sees the light of day.

It's funny that it's the stupidest idea ever that is generally accepted to be the best implementation by academics and end users alike.

Only by Windows using idiots. Pity them....

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
Neither is like Spotlight. Spotlight functions within apps as well as between them. You don't need to open up some third party utility to search within an app.

Most of the Spotlight functionality is already in OS X. Launchbar takes advantage of it. The Finder already as find as you type.

I suppose M$ will sort this out if their next OS ever sees the light of day.

Well, sort of. MS' solution is far, far more elegant...and that's to have the entire filesystem be a database. Spotlight, Google Desktop, etc. are all kludgey hacks that act in the form of a limited database.

And all of the apps I know of that need to be searched have search functionality already, what's the point of integrating Spotlight into them? AFAIK, the point of Spotlight was to aggregate all searches throughout your computer. You can type in one thing and have it search all your programs, not just one.

Single programs have had search functionality forever, so it doesn't make any sense to integrate Spotlight to that...

[Agathon]

Single programs have had search functionality forever, so it doesn't make any sense to integrate Spotlight to that...

It standardizes it and allows developers to incorporate it into their apps.

But all it is, is a new version of the searchable content feature that OS X already has. I'll stick with the current find as you type over anything Windows has to offer.

MS solution doesn't really exist yet. I wonder if they will ever release it. If they do, it will no doubt be up to their usual standards and won't work properly.

[Asher]

It exists. Only certain people have a copy right now.

The Desktop Search is to be released shortly, and is quite mature:

It can dock with the taskbar:


Results "slide" above it:


Or you can use the full-screen interface for power searches: http://www.neowin.net/staff/creamhac...rchresults.PNG

[Asher]

I think I'll stick with Google Desktop, though.

The cool thing about it, is it integrates seamlessly with Google.com (and soon to be gmail).

It adds the "desktop" tab to the google webpage, and automatically searches your computer as well as the web, and presents the information to you at the top like so:

[Agathon]

I'll stick with Launchbar.

[Asher]

Does Launchbar even support simple boolean searches?

[Agathon]

No, but I rarely use sophisticated searches. I have pretty simple needs. The best thing about Launchbar is that it is instantaneous. There is absolutely no wait at all.

[Agathon]

It does however have the indispensable feature of making your itunes library completely and instantaneously searchable and allows you to play any playlist, album or track by typing three or four letters and pressing return.

edit: there's something to be said for being able to find all your music composed by Richard Starkey at the touch of a button.

I use it for that most of the time. Although it does support search templates and I use those a lot.

[Urban Ranger]

We have find for ages

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Hueij
HEY!!

Stop it please. I don't give a **** who prefers what browser. Opera and Firefox are both great browsers, and it all comes down to personal preferences. I myself am an Opera user but I can see why Asher prefers FF.

Why don't we all join forces against IE instead of *****ing between ourselves?

Hear hear comrade! Let's bury our hatchets.. in the skulls of the mindless M$ / AhOL drones!

[Asher]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
We have find for ages

Find is painfully slow and the stupidest interface, ever.

You have to specify basic options that should be bloody obvious.

[Ljube]

I still use IE.

Works well for me.

[Ljube]

Originally posted by Asher
The main thing is it's far more secure.

Security is unimportant for a regular user.

Even an advanced user like you shouldn't care much about security of his internet browser.