Google has just released their desktop application to users of Mac OSX 10.4 or later.  Of course, Mac users already have the advantage of a desktop search application built right in to the OS, Spotlight which is an instant search utility and can launch programs. This is much of what the Google Desktop Search is used for on Windows and now does it on the Mac.

Google has said that it will have no problem coexisting with Spotlight on the same system. “We designed Google Desktop for Mac to be a companion for Spotlight, Google Desktop searches users’ Web history and you can set it up to search Gmail too,” said Rose Yao, Google Desktop for Mac Product Manager.

Google Desktop for Mac will make use of any installed plugins for Spotlight and will respect the Spotlight Privacy list and won’t search those items. There is no need to rewrite the Spotlight plugins for use with the Google Desktop.

Two taps of the command key bring up the Google Desktop search box and as soon as you start typing, results are listed regardless of if it is a program or file.

Also with the Google Desktop installed, you will find a new button available in their online search page labeled “Desktop” which will launch a local search from within your browser. Google does not see or record your local searches in any way using this method. This option can be disabled if you are overly concerned about privacy.

Google Desktop can also find old files or files you might have accidentally deleted since it creates cached copies of files you view using the search and stores copies of these files on your hard drive. Just what I want, multiple copies of the same file (I hope that can be disabled).

Gadget integration will be available in a future version of Google Desktop for Mac. “If you know how to use Google, you know how to use Google Desktop for Mac,” Yao said.