When I started taking frequent notes on my MacBook, I downloaded and installed Google Desktop. I liked it at first, save for its cmd-cmd shortcut default, which I quickly changed to cmd-shift-g.
But since about that time, my system has been sluggish, slow, and a pain. I was fairly confident Google Desktop was the culprit at first, but upon further reading I’m mostly sure that my wait times are due to Google Desktop’s incessant indexing. Now I kind of like how one search box will hit the innards of my filesystem along with my email (Gmail). At such a hit, though? I don’t think so.
So I have uninstalled Google Desktop, and I’m hopeful that the ol’ MacBook will pick up her pace again. I’m going to miss the slight preview Google Desktop provided in its search results. This is something sorely missing from Spotlight. SpotInside, a free utility from ONERIVER Software, could provide that extra context I sometimes need.
Technorati Tags: Google Desktop, Mac, OS X, Spotlight, SpotInside
Comments (5)
There’s a cool site called http://christonium.com that is musch better than google desktop for notes (and without the security flaws - see http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9725537-7.html?tag=head)
There’s nothing to download either.
You might find using christonium.com is a better way of creating and storing notes, and you’ll be able to get access to them anywhere with an internet connection.
Cheers
Thanks for stopping by, James.
I can only assume you are involved in Christonium because I don’t think Google desktop and Christonium have any crossover.
While I understand some value with accessing notes anywhere with an Internet connection, I guess Christonium doesn’t appear to improve upon the problems I had with Wordpress in the first place. If I do have a note that I must have access to anywhere, I can still put it on my secured notes blog. But there is no why Christonium is going to match the ease of use that my note-taking system provides.
Yay! I’ve also been slowly ridding myself of all things Google :D I know you’re not doing it for the same reasons as me, but it’s still reassuring ;)
I’ve thought of responding to your post, but haven’t had the energy. :) I’m not as paranoid about Google having my info. But, even though my bro works there, I can readily admit when one of their products suck.
Desktop sucks. Google Video sucks interface-wise. I’m sure other things suck, too.
I’m more intent on making sure my stuff at Google is backed up somewhere. My email is, more-or-less. Documents, not so much, though I don’t have many there.
Anyway, I can see your point. But I’m surprisingly not phased by it. :)
Hey bjhess
I guess I wasn’t very explicit about what I meant when I suggested christonium. It looks like you want to be able to back up and search your files online while also posting notes. I guess I didn’t realize that you prefer to have things available on your desktop for the times you are not online. Christonium is a totally online solution for backing up and storing data securely. They lack search features but the organization scheme they use makes up for that, at least for me. I’m sure they’ll put up a search eventually as they are still in beta. I was suggesting christonium as a google desktop alternative because it’s less complicated, there is no download, and it appears to provide the services that you used google desktop for, albeit in a completely different format.