Google is the name associated with fast speed search engine and the Microsoft is the name to reckon with in the field of operating system known for coming up with new releases every couple of years. But now the battles between these two seemingly different conglomerates is going to take a new turn with the soon to release Google desktop.
It’s the battle of the big shots, Redmond Vs Mountain view. On one hand Google is depending upon its fastest searching capability to provide the computer users same comfort zone in finding a file on their system as the ease they feel while searching the internet. Google desktop is the perfect amalgamation of an extremely fast desktop search application, high end gadgets and a dream sidebar. On the flip side windows vista is an example of graphical architecture genius as it was designed by crème de la crème of the designing world like Tjeerd Hoek and Hillel Cooperman senior design directors at Microsoft. Windows Vista screams of high end user interface which takes away the cake from Google desktop’s in terms of look and feel.
Another noticeable feature of Google desktop is it trademark logo that can be seen in both the desktop search application and also on the sidebars. Google had tried inventing and experimenting with a special “o” logo for its desktop but it surely pales in comparison to the glitz and glamour offered by Vista. Also windows sidebars appear to be more user friendly than its Google counterpart.
Let’s now compare the gadgets gallery which gets loaded in these sidebars. Both the sidebars offer almost similar functionality by allowing the users to add, manage, remove, dock and undock and navigate gadgets in these sidebars. But windows vista surely has an edge in gadget management as it allows users to add unlimited number of gadgets to its sidebar. The windows vista sidebar simple adds more pages for the gadgets to be showcased and browsed by the users. On the other hand Google sidebar keeps on adding gadgets on the same page, squeezing them together and creating a messy look. In a nutshell Windows Sidebar and Google sidebar have similar design and style. Google tool bar is collapsible thereby making it occupy less space.
Google desktop takes advantage of what it do best that is to allow the user to search their system right from their desktop unlike windows which have integrated their search option with the start menu. Google Desktop uses proper indexing to keep track of all Microsoft office files, web history, media files, chat details and also emails. Google also allows use to view and save previous versions of files. Users’ can even download and install additional plug-in to widen the search area. But as Google desktop is highly dependent on default web browsers it can lead to serious security vulnerabilities. Both Google desktop and Windows Vista hogs a lot of resources with sometimes 100% of the processor being utilized by these applications.
But with wide range of options and simplistic design Google Desktop is soon going to give Windows Vista a run for money.