New version: Copernic Desktop Search 3

[CWuestefeld]

Just noticed this, and I haven't seen it mentioned here.

http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/home/whats-new.html

What's New
Changes & improvements
    * Tweaked deskbar design for better usability
    * Reorganized options window:
          o Merged "Display" and "General" tabs
          o Contacts are now configured in the "Email & Organizer" tab
          o Simplified browser integration settings
    * Added video duration filters
    * Improved "Indexing Status" window (new "Pause/Resume" button, etc.)
    * New "Index this Folder" command displayed when searching within a non-indexed folder

Fixes
    * Default folders now properly configured for Windows Mail
    * Outlook Express/Windows Mail contacts now searchable by name
    * Email options could crash when closed too quickly
    * Index now updated properly when a new file type is added as “file name only”
    * Resolved deskbar-related shutdown issues

New system/software requirements
    * Windows XP/Vista or later
    * IE6 SP2 or later
    * Firefox 2.0 or later
    * Outlook 2000 or later

Features now exclusive to Professional and Corporate versions:
    * Search Outlook appointments, tasks and notes
    * Display search results as you type
    * Index network drives
    * Save searches ("My Searches")

It looks to me like they've removed the ability to index network drives (amongst other things). That's a big minus in my book.

[yksyks]

It looks to me like they've removed the ability to index network drives (amongst other things). That's a big minus in my book.

Not only this, but these are gone also (in the free version):

• Save searches
• Display search results as you type

Also, ads are to be expected in the free version, as the item "No advertisement" is unchecked.

So, this is not for me. No substantial improvements, and if I want similar capabilities as I have now, I'd have to pay $50. No way. Gonna stick with the current version as long as possible and then switch to something else.

[sttrebo]

been a longtime user of this (v1 and 2 that is) and I am also a stockholder in the company.  but it looks like i'm going to drop it in favor of something else.  too bad, v2 worked great.

[edbro]

I wish I had read this thread earlier in the day. I installed Ver 3 and quickly uninstalled it as I realized that I had lost some of the capability I had in ver 2.

[masu]

Display search results as you type

This is a big minus for private user.
I think I will stay with version 2.x and I am looking for an alternative.
Can someone recommend a good alternative for Copernic?

[yksyks]

It depends on what you need. For me the NEAR operator is the must, so as far as I know, in the freeware rank there are no other alternatives. Anyway, if Copernic 2.3 runs under Vista, which I didn't try yet, there's no need to switch.

[TucknDar]

SOunds like some wise moves by the company

Why do software developers do this? It's ok to have a free and a "pro" or whatever version, but sucks when suddenly features are ripped out of the free v. and you'll have pay for stuff that used to be free. [/end of rant]

[masu]

I tried MS Desktop Search now.
It looks good until now.

Just some things bother me:
- is it not possible to adjust which columns should be displayed in the search results?
- can I Index my Thunderbird Mails
- Search when I type in the normal Search desktop view

[philosopherdog]

I also can't believe that Copernic did this. They can write software but they have some management issues that are making me want to switch too. The last time I used Windows Desktop Search it was a nightmare, but that was just when the previous version was released. What's the word on their latest version? Anyone an advocate? I heard it was more stable and less of a hog.

[Darwin]

I've run the latest WDS under both XP Pro and Vista. I quite like it but haven't used it *that* much because I have a licence for X1 and prefer it because of its superior previewing capabilities. From my limited experience, though, I'd say you're safe giving it a try. FWIW I *hated* the previous version of WDS and vowed never to use it again... Don't know if that qualifies as an endorsement or not, but you can take it at minimum as an indication that the latest version is MUCH better than the previous one (at least on my systems) 

[J-Mac]

I couldn't stand WDS3, and I also cannot stand WDS4!

Copernic is out too. I used v2 for a while but then the indexing suddenly lost control. Never could get it to work well again.

I'd consider X1 but I cannot even write them - won't accept my emails. I thought they didn't like me anymore or something but now it appears that it is because they will not recognize my email as valid. (?!?) I'm using Fastmail which uses the ".fm" domain, and I have found others with the same problem.

Jim

[saintsatinstain]

This article gives complete info on the older version and what is missing in the new version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copernic_Desktop_Search

Since my main Windows is XP Pro I continue to use Copernic version 2 build 18. 

[J-Mac]

This article gives complete info on the older version and what is missing in the new version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copernic_Desktop_Search

Since my main Windows is XP Pro I continue to use Copernic version 2 build 18. 

Thanks fir the link saintsatinstain (or... Mr. Anagram!).

One other feature that Copernic seemed to lose was any control over indexing. Configuring what and when to index used to be fairly compliant, but starting with - I believe - V.2.5, Copernic would index any time it pleased, or so it seemed. I know that it was indexing at times when I had specifically set it to not index. And the indexing could get extremely CPU intensive. I kept knocking down the task priority with Process Tamer but the next restart would have it higher again. It seemed to be able to get around the Process Tamer rules somehow.

Thanks!

Jim

[saintsatinstain]

anagram manager, almost.