Of course they should go after Apple. Will they is definitely the big question.

But as you and even the Mac-friendly legions who seem to dominate Digg have noted, it’s extremely hypocritical that Google has only targeted Microsoft and not Apple in this respect. I personally wish Microsoft hadn’t caved in so easily and instead made a stink to point out the hypocrisy until Google was forced to target Apple (although I’m sure both companies would put a rosy partnership spin on it and with a joint announcement of Google Desktop for Macs.)

And I for one won’t be installing Google Desktop Search on Vista when the existing platform already works extremely well. Vista’s taken a lot of knocks in the tech media, but I’m actually very impressed with it thus far. And the search is one of the big reasons for that.

Perhaps another thing Google’s worried about is the fact that desktop search can easily give the option of searching the web as well. And if people realize that Live.com actually offers up very respectable results (and IMO a more attractive results page than Google) it actually has the potential to hurt Google in its core competency.

I was hoping Microsoft would put up a fight, as well. I think they’re setting a bad precedent by giving in so easily. And while Google Desktop for the Mac already exists, I think you’re right about the spin that would go on such an announcement. For now, Google and Apple seem to be pretty cozy.

I run both Mac OS X and Windows Vista… and I have to say that both built-in search services are great! One of the reasons I was interested in giving Vista a go after being a Mac user for so many years was because of the search (and I’ve been equally impressed - and surprised - by Vista overall as well).

I can’t see any legitimate reasons that users would want to use a third party system when, as you pointed out, the existing services work well. But I guess it boils down to personal preference. Some folks might just like Google Desktop better. Why they can’t just run it alongside the existing search is still a good question, though.

I think you’re right on with your last point, too. Google knows that desktop search leads to Internet search. And as the world begins to move over to Vista, more and more of that Internet search is going to be pointed at whatever search engine is plugged in by default.

But like so many other third-party Windows applications, folks have to know to go download Google Desktop (except on Dells). So unless Google tries to push their wares on more OEMs - which I have no doubt they will - I’m not sure Microsoft has much to worry about just yet.

Oh… and I have no doubt that MS’s recent extra-effort push to get folks to upgrade to Vista now has something to do with that, too.

[…] desktop search - and specifically the fact that it was built into the OS - Microsoft decided to make changes that would allow other desktop search options to be set as default. Google says this isn’t […]