The software giant Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) announced on May 16 that it has released the finalized version of its desktop search tool. The MSN Search Toolbar (http://toolbar.msn.com), which was introduced on a trial basis five months ago, provides a way to search for e-mail, documents and other data stored on hard drives much more quickly and efficiently than the “Find” function found in Windows.
Microsoft's new desktop search, which can be downloaded from http://desktop.msn.com, can also be accessed from the Internet Explorer Web browser, the Outlook e-mail and contacts program or from the Windows desktop. Using add-ins, users can search more than 200 different file types, including Excel, PowerPoint, mp3, GIF and JPG files. PDF documents can be searched by the tool as well by downloading software components from Adobe Systems Inc. (www.adobe.com).
Christopher Payne, vice president of MSN Search, said that Microsoft's desktop search tool is more flexible, offering users the ability to exclude sensitive information from the search index, that it's actually a time-saver, and that Microsoft will also offer its desktop search tool to enterprises for use on corporate computers.
