Is there such a thing as a perfect Linux or BSD desktop distribution? If so, what features and functionalities would such a distro have for it to have attained that high state - of perfection (on the desktop)? In order to answer these questions, we set out here the most important features we expect.

Recently things got better for Linux enthusiasts as Google released its Desktop search tool for Linux as a native build. Because I consider desktop search to be a very important must have feature in all operating systems, I decided to download the Google search tool for Linux and give it a run.

Beagle is a free desktop search tool which is gaining popularity with several applications. You can search your desktop just as you search with google. It is possible to use beagle as a standalone search tool or integrate with applications such as firefox for easy desktop search. In fact, it is one application that any serious Linux user can not ignore

Deskbar is often associated with search and only search. Sure, you can search you files, search Yahoo!, search Del.icio.us, or even search for a word in a dictionary, but did you know that you could DO stuff, too?

Desktop search has come a long way these last couple of years, instead of waiting on slow search systems, we now have indexing applications that can find our files in a flash. Here I’ll present you with various options in the Linux world.

Some critics of existing search engine products say there is a growing need for alternatives to the proprietary search companies and the big business associated with sponsored information and ad revenue from search results. A few innovators are conducting a quest for new search engines and an alternative to the influences of ranking done by proprietary search platform.

My last article I spoke about the new KDE Activities features Search and Launch Containment Activity. This is the first visible sign of KDE’s use of the Nepomuk Semantic Desktop. Nepomuk is a system that uses metadata throughout the desktop to aid in file search and peer to peer collaboration. So far the project has yet to reach its full potential.

Being able to search your desktop is important. I frequently need to find that file that I know I have somewhere, but have no idea where I put it. Desktop search is a really neat solution, because it means you just start typing and it does the hard work of searching for you.

Wouldn't it be cool if you could add search plugins for any search form to the Firefox Search Bar, instead of having to create the plugin yourself or wait for the site owner to stop being lazy and make one?