Google Software Pack

[Aston]

Seen this advertised over at t'other place - it's a pack of bundled software from Google. What do people think about this? What benefit do they have from giving you all that stuff?

I guess the common theme is that it's two-fingers up at Microsoft?

I've used bits and bobs of that software individually over time, but I always end up going back to the Windows equivilant for sheer ease. That is except for Google Toolbar, which I love.

I also quite liked Google Desktop, but it significantly slowed down my laptop noticably - which I don't think it should have done as it's a fairly new machine...

Anyway, take a look: http://pack.google.com/intl/en-gb/pack_ ... _term=feed

And let us know what you think.

[Nick Harvey]

I took Google Toolbar off a friend's machine for him because we couldn't stop it connecting to the internet the moment you powered on the computer.

It would have been all right, had he been on fixed-price broadband or even a fixed-price dial-up package, but he was on the penny-a-minute jobby and it was costing him a fortune.

Anyone had any experience of this phenomenon or know a way to keep the toolbar but stop it insisting on calling home?

[marksi]

I had the deskbar which put a search box on the task bar and thought it was very useful but they don't have it anymore.

I have been using Google Documents which allows you to do spreadsheets and word processing online - must admit I think it's great for stuff you want to access from a number of places.

[Dr Lobster*]

i really do hate the way some totally random applications try and force you to install the yahoo or google toolbars, i've never ever used them, what do they do exactly apart from block popups and add a search field (which ie 7 and firefox now do anyway)?

[cdd]

i really do hate the way some totally random applications try and force you to install the yahoo or google toolbars, i've never ever used them, what do they do exactly apart from block popups and add a search field (which ie 7 and firefox now do anyway)?

I think it's because Google/Yahoo offer affiliate programs.
They, comparitavely, are OK though - what you often get if you look at novice's machines is IE installations with about 5 obscure toolbars - at least Google/Yahoo make uninstallation easy.
My main objection to toolbars is that I can't stand not having all my screen real estate devoted to viewing the web page. Hence, I've scrapped the standard toolbar buttons (I know the shortcuts), put the Address bar and Search bar on the same level as File, Edit, View etc, and certainly wouldn't have things like the bookmarks toolbar or a tab bar present when not necessary. Needless to say, obscure toolbars who want to help themselves to some of my screen space don't get a look in.
I must admit it's crazy of me - I run at a 1920x1200 resolution so have plenty to spare! - but if I have something taking up my screen space I get all nervous and jittery.

[madmusician]

An HP printer the other day tried to get me to put a shortcut to eBay on my desktop...