Contrary to popular opinion, most software today does release a Mac version. With Apple’s launch of iPod and iTunes music store, and significant drop in computer prices, many people are switching to Mac platform. Mac users are on rise and most software companies recognize this and are meeting Apple community’s needs. So, why hasn’t Google, MSN, Yahoo! and all other Toolbar pushers released a Mac version?

It’s really quite simple. Since about 1997, with release of Apple’s Sherlock, we’ve had all functions of these toolbars and desktop search programs built-in to operating system. With exception of a Google PageRank checker, everything you can do with your Toolbar or Desktop search of choice, you can do with software that comes built-in on your Mac. And now there’s even a way to check PageRank of every site you visit with any browser in Mac OS X. I’d even go so far as to say us Mac users have it better. Shall we take a closer look?

Desktop Search software by Google offers 3 main features: search files on your hard drive, search through your email, and search web. All of these features have long been a part of Macintosh Operating System.

Searching through files on your hard drive has always been a snap for Apple users. The Finder is even named for it. In every finder window there is a quick search field (fig. 1) for a simple search of your hard drive. This search is a keyword search of names of every last file on your drive, including your web history or SiteCache (fig. 2). You will also notice there are mailboxes in returned search results in Figure 2. This is just a name search though, so only mailboxes with keyword you wish to find in name will be returned as search results using this quick search.

With a swift keystroke combination [Apple + F] or a selection from File menu in Finder, a search window opens up with seemingly limitless parameters (fig. 3). With this find function, you can search by name, content, date modified, date created, kind (i.e.. audio, video, text, etc), label, size, extension, whether or not it is a visible file, type, and creator (fig. 4). You can also search using a combination of these things by clicking + button.

There are endless combinations of search criteria and locations. By using "Search in:" drop-down menu, you can search in any specified location. Your home folder, your music folder and your entire hard drive are a few examples. Finder search is powerful, easy, quick and has been able to out-search any Desktop search tool since 90s.

The quick search has also been included in Apple's e-mail client, Mail. Search through messages and mailboxes for content, keywords, sender, recipient, subject and attachments. As owner of a web-based company, I receive more email than anyone would consider decent, so you can imagine how much use I get out of this particular function (fig. 5). It's absolutely invaluable.

So, what does that leave us with? Searching web. Enter Apple's magnificent Sherlock. Here's where I turn into a total nerd.