Reviews of Google Desktop for Windows

1. 
   mfaccone

   Reviewing 5.9.909.30391 (Oct 18, 2009)

   Windows 7 and Vista will let you do the same thing as this.
   Google is only just trying to control the market and get into your hard drive.
   Now they have an app to mess up your IPhone as well.
   Stay away from anything Google or Yahoo is my motto. All they want to do is infiltrated your browsing experience and find information to all your habits.
2. 
   DeKoquonut

   Reviewing 5.9.909.30391 (Oct 16, 2009)

   Installing this is like putting a handfull of sand into your salad. Yet, people still do it. some people should not be allowed to breath.
3. 
   roj

   Reviewing 5.9.909.30391 (Oct 16, 2009)

   Lived with this for a few days now.
   
   It's still got a bug where gadgets will suddenly disappear from the sidebar. The outline of the gadget and the space it occupies remains but the gadget itself is gone. This is noticeably prevalent with the LauncherMod app launcher (indispensable to me).
   
   Also, the bug persists where it is too easy to accidentally undock a gadget form the sidebar. A lock function MUST be added.
   
   Windows Vista DOES offer the sidebar functionality but Windows 7 DOES NOT. The "renovations" to the sidebar now lose the "bar always on top" function that would push applications aside from the space it occupied, leaving anything on the sidebar always instantly accessible (good design, Micro$haft - you stole it form every other sidebar that has been there since Windows 3.1). One must now click an icon to display gadgets (stupid move, Micro$haft!) or leave them in "always on top" mode which means they appear on top of other applications (even more stupid move, Micro$haft!).
   
   That being said, Google needs to get past its shoddy application image which means that (heaven help us!) they should actually practice QA and proper testing on their apps.
   
   The current bugs are inexcusable.
   
   THREE stars.
   
   Note to DeKoquonut:
   
   Ain't nuthin' but an echo in yours, mon.
4. 
   roj

   Reviewing 5.9.909.8267 (Sep 24, 2009)

   I have significantly flayed this software in the past because it didn't offer what other products did, did not support 64bit Windows and worse yet, was rife with bugs.
   
   I'm not going to comment on the security implications at this point.
   
   The software has matured, now supports 64bit Windows and Google has gone on a comprehensive bug squashing mission that has been largely successful.
   
   The software is now usable.
   
   Whether or not I trust Google to stay out of my hard drive remains to be analyzed by, at the very least, observing what packets emanate from a PC running this software and analyzing the implications thereof but at present I haven't done this.
   
   I am prepared to, ignoring any possible security implications, award the software a guarded FOUR stars based on its usability.
   
   That being said, I don't trust corporate ethics, viewing that term an oxymoron.
   
   Users should take all claims of Google's (or any other corporation's) "integrity" with a HUGE grain of rock salt in today's world.
   
   FOUR stars.
5. 
   timbuctoo

   Reviewing 5.9.909.8267 (Sep 13, 2009)

   Google may be a software Czar, but all said and done, it's a company that mines your data to find out your behaviour, and any associated patterns. All this, to be used to possibly target you for customized advertising, in all probability.
   
   There's a line to identify between using free software and compromising the security of your data. Hope people get to see the line.

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