My latest column, titled Find That File Fast, isn't a roundup of all good searching tools, just an introduction to three. Yet several of you sent me your favorite desktop and workgroup search tools and wondered why I didn't mention them.
One desktop tool I tested several years ago, X1 (.com) used to charge for both the desktop and network search applications. Now the $99 desktop software comes with a $99 discount. Yep, free for the downloading. I grabbed a copy and will install it soon. They still charge for their enterprise software, but at least they're offering us the desktop tool free as a marketing device. If you use X1, let me know. Love it or hate it, let me know.
Google released one of the first desktop search tools, Google Desktop, and I didn't specifically mention that product in the column. I bet most of you have heard of Google Desktop already, so no surprises there.
Reader Brandon wanted to know how I could forget Novell's QuickFinder. I haven't thought about QuickFinder since I wrote my last NetWare book six years ago (insert your own cheap shot at Novell's inept marketing). But it does provide the search for Novell's Web site and comes with NetWare. If you're using that and want to make a comment, let me know.
The bigger problem is that too few small companies commit to intelligent searching products and the required data storage design early enough to make it a habit. Big companies spend millions and millions on document management products and still can't find what they want. I always consider a lost file a security breach, since security to me means making the right resources available to the right person at the right time. No file means a security failure.
Tell me what you use at your company. If your system consists of every computer user hoarding their own files and trying to remember what they have, you have far too much company. Let's hear from people who have a system that works
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