4 Google Search Desktop Tools Compared

Tags: Google SEO ,Google: Web Search ,PR SEO ,Search Engine ,Google - We’re Better Now Than 2000. Okay, Let Us Test It!

Most desktop search applications are advertised as “time savers” as they don’t require to open a browser which is not true actually because they still open a browser after you hit “search”. So that’s not the reason I’d use them. Instead, I’d take a look at other features the tools offer.

These additional features may include quicker access to search operators or combining several search engines, etc. So here’s a quick overview of desktop Google search tools that offer some extra goodies as well:

Google desktop search tool CostAccessed via Main search options Google DesktopFreeGoogle Web + Google DesktopSearch field in the taskbarGoogle-SearchToolFreeGoogle services + Advanced operatorsIcon in your task barDesktop Search Bar$14.95Google services + Other search enginesPop-up on mouse-overSearchIt in GoogleFreeGoogle Web + Google DesktopIcon in your task barGoogle Desktop

By default, Google desktop searches the web and your computer. What’s more, it:

Shows desktop search results as you type;Allows to exclude any domain from your search results (think Wiki!);Has plenty of non-search features.

Google-SearchToolMultiple Google services support (Web search, Google groups, Google images, Google news)Advanced search operators (links:, related:, cache:, info:, etc)

More settings:

Set SafeSearch filter,Set number of results per pageExact match search;Language preferences.

Note: by default the tool opens Internet Explorer to search. To switch to the browser you are using, you will need to enable custom browser. When you enable this option a “popup” asks a name for your custom browser. After that a Filepopup should appear, browse to the folder/directory of the custom browser and pick out the browsers startup executable.

Desktop Search Bar

(Paid with one-month trial)

A really sleek and cute desktop Google search utility allowing to use multiple search services including: Google images, Google video, Google groups, Google Trends, Google Blogs as well as a lot of non-Google search engines including Amazon, Yahoo, StumbleUpon, etc.

It also allows to customize the look and fill as well as make it transparent:

SearchIt in Google

The least feature-rich of all. All it can do:

Access either general search or Google Desktop;Set up a custom shortcut to quickly access it;

Note: The tools seems to use Internet Explorer (I didn’t manage to change the browser).