zatoicchi
22.07.08, 03:05
f you notice your hard drive crunching later this month while performing a menial task, fear not: it's just the new Windows Search software creating an index of your files. Microsoft plans to automatically deliver version 4.0 of the software, formerly Windows Desktop Search, to Vista users.
Windows Search 4.0 was released in June and Microsoft says it has "seen a good number of downloads, and a number of positive responses from customers." The advantage over Vista's built-in search function is one of performance, the company claims. The structure of the search index was completely redesigned to speed up locating items on the hard drive and networked PCs.
But not all changes will happen behind the scenes. Version 4.0 will place a new "Deskbar" next to Vista's system tray that makes it possible to perform searches directly from the Windows Taskbar. A pop-up lets users select whether to search locally or on the Web, and choose filtering options.
In BetaNews tests of Windows Search 4.0, we found the software doesn't try to replace the default search engine selected by the user, a good move considering it may soon be on over 100 million PCs. Microsoft has also attempted to make the transition fairly painless, promising, "the indexing process doesn't take too long and won't lock your PC."
Microsoft prepares to auto-deliver Windows Search 4.0 to Vista users (http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_prepares_to_autodeliver_Windows_Search_4 0_to_Vista_users/1216686151)
Windows Search 4.0 was released in June and Microsoft says it has "seen a good number of downloads, and a number of positive responses from customers." The advantage over Vista's built-in search function is one of performance, the company claims. The structure of the search index was completely redesigned to speed up locating items on the hard drive and networked PCs.
But not all changes will happen behind the scenes. Version 4.0 will place a new "Deskbar" next to Vista's system tray that makes it possible to perform searches directly from the Windows Taskbar. A pop-up lets users select whether to search locally or on the Web, and choose filtering options.
In BetaNews tests of Windows Search 4.0, we found the software doesn't try to replace the default search engine selected by the user, a good move considering it may soon be on over 100 million PCs. Microsoft has also attempted to make the transition fairly painless, promising, "the indexing process doesn't take too long and won't lock your PC."
Microsoft prepares to auto-deliver Windows Search 4.0 to Vista users (http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_prepares_to_autodeliver_Windows_Search_4 0_to_Vista_users/1216686151)