Google Desktop

Google edges its way into the software business with the beta release of its standalone Google Desktop Search application. Now you can search your PC as easily as you search the Web because the program can find a keyword hidden in your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents, in your Outlook email, and even in your browser history. You can search your PC and the Web simultaneously, and Google serves up both online and offline results on a single page. This application, which is currently free, is so good we would consider paying for it.

Quick Search Box

The Quick Search Box is your fastest way to do web and desktop searches and launch applications. You can call it up by pressing the ⌘ key twice, and hide it by pressing ⌘ twice again. Type a few letters or words into the search box and your top results pop up instantly, including applications. For example, you can launch iTunes simply by typing "itu" into the Quick Search Box and pressing Return when iTunes appears as the first result.

Search Your Gmail and Web History

Not everything you're looking for lives on your Mac. Whether you're searching your computer or the web, Desktop helps you find it by searching your Gmail and web history along with your hard drive. Also because your index is stored locally on your own computer, you can even access your Gmail and web history while you're offline.