So, I’ve been trying out the various features of the new Google Desktop 2, and one thing that grabs me is the Deskbar. Since I find the Sidebar takes up too much space without doing enough, I’ve been running the Deskbar instead.
The Deskbar has some good stuff. Like the sidebar’s search box, it has the search-as-you-type ability. I’ve found this most useful as a quick Start Menu, as I can type in a letter or two and get a quick list of Start Menu programs. Of course, this is a feature in the beta of Windows Vista that has been getting some terrible press, so all it does is make me wonder how many Vista features Google plans on “adapting” for Desktop, and why Vista users will install Desktop at all.
See, it is a good idea for Google to compete directly with Microsoft’s products (although copying them outright would just be wrong). But if all Desktop does is emulate Vista features, Vista users will be hard pressed to have any reason to install it on their new or upgraded systems. After all, if Microsoft is doing it at the operating system level, who needs a third-party utility to do the same thing?
On the other hand, if Vista is a collosal dissapointment, or these specific features are poorly realized in Vista, Google can deal a massive blow to Microsoft with an ad campaign that proclaimes Desktop as “The Real Next Generation Operating System”. Those dissapointed with Vista could “fix” the OS by using Desktop, and Windows XP users could avoid upgrading entirely (and avoid giving Microsoft any money) by using Desktop.
Its a very tricky idea, and if indications of Vista are accurate, it isn’t likely to work. Competing with the next generation of Windows within Windows is a difficult concept at best. Google has done its best work catching Microsoft when it was down. Microsoft is no down on Vista, just behind schedule. Once Vista is around, will Google lose out?
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The other thing I noticed about the Deskbar is that the non-floating version does not place itself on the desktop like a normal Windows toolbar. Normally, you can pull a toolbar off the taskbar and put it anywhere on the desktop, but the Deskbar loses its search box when you pull it off (and is thus rendered useless). This means I can’t dock it where I want to, in my floating Quick Launch box forcing me to fake it by putting the Floating Deskbar on top of the Quick Launch box:
The Floating Deskbar is always on top of all other Windows, with no option I can find to turn that off. That means that when I don’t want to see the Quick Launch and run an app full screen, the Floating Deskbar is still there, annoying me when I try to use Photoshop.
I realize Google probably created the Floating Deskbar (and didn’t fix the Deskbar) so no one would have to take the Deskbar off the taskbar, but if the Floating version won’t act like a regular deskbar, and the Deskbar breaks if you move it, I’m left with even less reason to use these programs.
I’m quickly finding that all three of these apps, the Sidebar, Deskbar and Floating Deskbar, are all space-wasters and annoyingly designed. The sidebar won’t go under other Windows, it only hides. The Floating Deskbar won’t go under either, and the Deskbar won’t detach from the taskbar properly. Google needs to give more customization options if it wants everyone to use these programs.
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I might add, Desktop is still not done indexing after 12 hours of continuous usage (including a few hours where I was actually sleeping).
76% complete with about 25.0 idle hours left.
89,288 items indexed so far.
Nathan Weinberg writes the popular InsideGoogle blog, offering the latest news and insights about Google and search engines.
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