It's Google search. For your Pc. How could it not be filled with goodness? Google Desktop starts where Windows' (or Linux's, for that matter) default search ends. You also get a Vista-like sidebar, complete with Google Gadgets-though the gadgets available are quite underwhelming. Even better, you can turn off this sidebar and opt for the simpleŽdialog-box approach.

The simple [ Ctr 1] + [ Ctr 1] shortcut becomes your ticket to everything-you can use Google Desktop to launch applications, rifle through your music collection, search for text within documents, search the Web, even look into your Gmail. Google Desktop caches everyŽthing it indexes, so even if you've deleted a file, the cache will let you view its contents. The best part? All this happens as you type.
Googler's Tip For Google Desktop to work effectively, it needs to index your hard disc/s, which can take time. Configure it to index all your discs (you can do this in Preferences) and leave it overnight. When you come back to your PC in the mornŽing, you'll have all you need at your fingertips.

The Alternative
Copernic Desktop Search (/en/products/desktop-search/index.html) is one of the first desktop search applications to ever come into existence. In its current version, it offers nearly all the functionality of Google Desktop, minus sidebar and gadgets, and withŽout the ability to check your Gmail.