Google Pack Review
Google has recently released the free "Google Pack", which they describe as "a one-stop software package that helps you discover, install, and maintain a wide range of essential PC programs." But is it really a helpful group of software applications or a clever marketing ploy?
Why Did They Create It?
A couple of "computer guys" who work for Google, a web search engine company, thought that it is a complex and long process to get a new computer set up with all the applications that they feel one needs, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, a browser, some multimedia players, etc.
One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's Junk
Not everyone uses their computers for the same purpose. Some people simply use it for email and web browsing. Some might use it for music, some for digital pictures, and others might be into budgeting or accounting. Whatever a computer is used for, no two people use it exactly the same way.
The current list of software in the Google Pack includes Google software (of course), and some other utilities. What are these programs and what do they do?
What's in the Box
The following list is what the Google Pack contains as of the date of this article. I'll follow it up with my own rating of appeal to the average person on a scale of 0 to 3, where 0 is a waste of a click, 1 is unnecessary but interesting, 2 is useful, and 3 is must-have. Descriptions are from the Google Pack web site.
Google Desktop: you can use it to search your files, media, email, chats, and webpages you've seen recently. I rate this a 1/3, simply because there isn't likely something that the average person can't already find using the built-in Windows search and their own brain given enough time. And if one is that disorganized, perhaps one should consider an alternate approach: learn to be more organized rather than installing a tool that lets you continue to be disorganized.
Google Earth: A globe that sits inside your PC. You can point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Rather than install all this software, you can keep your computer less cluttered by visiting Google Maps. Rating: 1/3.
Google Pack Screensaver: The Google Pack Screensaver makes it easy to display your favorite photos when your screen is idle. Almost every digital camera on the market has software with it that allows you to do this. I see no reason to add more unneeded single-purpose software, unless you do not already have the capability. Rating: 0/3.
Google Talk: Google Talk is a downloadable real-time communications application that lets Gmail users call and instant message one another. Right now it only works with Gmail (Google's web-based free email system, a competitor to Hotmail). Rating: 1/3, but only if you are a Gmail user that doesn't already use another chat program like AIM or MSN.
Google Toolbar: Perform a Google search from any site on the web, or to search for specific words on any given page. In addition, the latest version of the Google Toolbar offers users exciting features like the Popup Blocker. I am a big fan of the Google Toolbar. It has many other useful features that make it appeal to a wide range of computer users. Rating: 3/3.
Google Picasa: Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. Again, most digital cameras come with software that already does this. There are also many good commercial programs that do this as well. Plus, I dislike it when software "automatically" does anything, especially sorts things for me that I prefer to organize myself. Rating: a hesitant 2/3.
Ad-Aware SE Personal: Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. Ad-Aware scans your computer and detects known and unknown variants of malware and removes them. This is a must-have! But as I've said many times before, you should always use at least two different spyware scanners (like those on my Downloads page. If you are interested in the Ad-Aware Professional or Enterprise versions, I am a Lavasoft partner and can provide you with a quote.) Rating: 3/3.
Adobe Reader: Adobe Reader 7 is a PDF viewer that lets you view, print, and search PDF files. Adobe Reader 7 also loads 50% faster than previous versions of Adobe Reader. And it is still slow. Not a big fan of Adobe's pdf reader, but you'll eventually come across a .pdf document along the way. Rating: A begrudging 2/3.
GalleryPlayer HD: The HD images in Google Pack are provided by GalleryPlayer, a company that delivers the world's most famous and beautiful imagery from a wide variety of categories -- including fine art, sports, news, entertainment, travel and more -- to high-resolution displays. More clutter, unless you want to show off your High Def display. Rating: 2/3 if you have an HD display.
Mozilla Firefox: A web browser that allows you to browse the web quickly and securely. Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware, and popups. Firefox also offers tabbed browsing, which helps you switch between pages easily. Other alternatives include Opera or Internet Explorer, the browser that comes with Windows. Firefox is highly recommended but not required. Rating: 2/3.
Norton Antivirus 2005 SE: Norton AntiVirus protects your computer from viruses, worms and Trojans. I am not a big fan of the Norton (also known as Symantec) product. It works, but as a professional I see a number of problems that people have with their products. Also, most new computers already come with a free time-limited antivirus suite. Rating: 2/3, only because you can't do without antivirus.
RealPlayer: RealPlayer is a media player that will play popular media formats as well as organize your music and videos. Try as you might you will find it hard to avoid using this product, as it is a very popular format on the web. I find it intrusive and obnoxious as do many people. Rating: 0/3.
Trillian: Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC. Although I don't use it personally, this chat program is considered mediocre by friends due it trying to be the Swiss Army Knife of chat programs, which is a difficult task. If you don't want separate chat programs, this is the one to use. Rating: 2/3.
Worth It?
I can't answer this one for you. Read my review and decide for yourself if it is worth the effort. I prefer to download and update individual programs on an individual basis, although the Google Updater allows you to omit any of the programs in the Google Pack. Actually I have my own toolkit of programs that I have on a CD, and it's too bad Google doesn't give you the Updater to create your own Packs.
Although the Google Pack does provide some interesting and even essential programs for some, it is no doubt a clever marketing ploy to get you to try Google software. Google is good at searching and providing information, but I've always thought that they do a bad job of listing all their Joe Public software products in one place. For that, Google Pack does the job well with a streamlined interface.
Do-It-Yourself Google Pack
Although they ask for requests for other products to be on the Google Pack list, why not allow individualization? That is, why can't I choose what programs I want in Google Pack (even ones not on their list)? If they published a set of rules that software vendors could use to add their own programs to the list, then anyone could go to Google Pack and see all their programs and see if there is an available update. Think Microsoft's Windows Update but for any applications you choose, all in one place. Now that would be essential!
Why Did They Create It?
A couple of "computer guys" who work for Google, a web search engine company, thought that it is a complex and long process to get a new computer set up with all the applications that they feel one needs, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, a browser, some multimedia players, etc.
One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's Junk
Not everyone uses their computers for the same purpose. Some people simply use it for email and web browsing. Some might use it for music, some for digital pictures, and others might be into budgeting or accounting. Whatever a computer is used for, no two people use it exactly the same way.
The current list of software in the Google Pack includes Google software (of course), and some other utilities. What are these programs and what do they do?
What's in the Box
The following list is what the Google Pack contains as of the date of this article. I'll follow it up with my own rating of appeal to the average person on a scale of 0 to 3, where 0 is a waste of a click, 1 is unnecessary but interesting, 2 is useful, and 3 is must-have. Descriptions are from the Google Pack web site.
Google Desktop: you can use it to search your files, media, email, chats, and webpages you've seen recently. I rate this a 1/3, simply because there isn't likely something that the average person can't already find using the built-in Windows search and their own brain given enough time. And if one is that disorganized, perhaps one should consider an alternate approach: learn to be more organized rather than installing a tool that lets you continue to be disorganized.
Google Earth: A globe that sits inside your PC. You can point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Rather than install all this software, you can keep your computer less cluttered by visiting Google Maps. Rating: 1/3.
Google Pack Screensaver: The Google Pack Screensaver makes it easy to display your favorite photos when your screen is idle. Almost every digital camera on the market has software with it that allows you to do this. I see no reason to add more unneeded single-purpose software, unless you do not already have the capability. Rating: 0/3.
Google Talk: Google Talk is a downloadable real-time communications application that lets Gmail users call and instant message one another. Right now it only works with Gmail (Google's web-based free email system, a competitor to Hotmail). Rating: 1/3, but only if you are a Gmail user that doesn't already use another chat program like AIM or MSN.
Google Toolbar: Perform a Google search from any site on the web, or to search for specific words on any given page. In addition, the latest version of the Google Toolbar offers users exciting features like the Popup Blocker. I am a big fan of the Google Toolbar. It has many other useful features that make it appeal to a wide range of computer users. Rating: 3/3.
Google Picasa: Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. Again, most digital cameras come with software that already does this. There are also many good commercial programs that do this as well. Plus, I dislike it when software "automatically" does anything, especially sorts things for me that I prefer to organize myself. Rating: a hesitant 2/3.
Ad-Aware SE Personal: Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. Ad-Aware scans your computer and detects known and unknown variants of malware and removes them. This is a must-have! But as I've said many times before, you should always use at least two different spyware scanners (like those on my Downloads page. If you are interested in the Ad-Aware Professional or Enterprise versions, I am a Lavasoft partner and can provide you with a quote.) Rating: 3/3.
Adobe Reader: Adobe Reader 7 is a PDF viewer that lets you view, print, and search PDF files. Adobe Reader 7 also loads 50% faster than previous versions of Adobe Reader. And it is still slow. Not a big fan of Adobe's pdf reader, but you'll eventually come across a .pdf document along the way. Rating: A begrudging 2/3.
GalleryPlayer HD: The HD images in Google Pack are provided by GalleryPlayer, a company that delivers the world's most famous and beautiful imagery from a wide variety of categories -- including fine art, sports, news, entertainment, travel and more -- to high-resolution displays. More clutter, unless you want to show off your High Def display. Rating: 2/3 if you have an HD display.
Mozilla Firefox: A web browser that allows you to browse the web quickly and securely. Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware, and popups. Firefox also offers tabbed browsing, which helps you switch between pages easily. Other alternatives include Opera or Internet Explorer, the browser that comes with Windows. Firefox is highly recommended but not required. Rating: 2/3.
Norton Antivirus 2005 SE: Norton AntiVirus protects your computer from viruses, worms and Trojans. I am not a big fan of the Norton (also known as Symantec) product. It works, but as a professional I see a number of problems that people have with their products. Also, most new computers already come with a free time-limited antivirus suite. Rating: 2/3, only because you can't do without antivirus.
RealPlayer: RealPlayer is a media player that will play popular media formats as well as organize your music and videos. Try as you might you will find it hard to avoid using this product, as it is a very popular format on the web. I find it intrusive and obnoxious as do many people. Rating: 0/3.
Trillian: Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC. Although I don't use it personally, this chat program is considered mediocre by friends due it trying to be the Swiss Army Knife of chat programs, which is a difficult task. If you don't want separate chat programs, this is the one to use. Rating: 2/3.
Worth It?
I can't answer this one for you. Read my review and decide for yourself if it is worth the effort. I prefer to download and update individual programs on an individual basis, although the Google Updater allows you to omit any of the programs in the Google Pack. Actually I have my own toolkit of programs that I have on a CD, and it's too bad Google doesn't give you the Updater to create your own Packs.
Although the Google Pack does provide some interesting and even essential programs for some, it is no doubt a clever marketing ploy to get you to try Google software. Google is good at searching and providing information, but I've always thought that they do a bad job of listing all their Joe Public software products in one place. For that, Google Pack does the job well with a streamlined interface.
Do-It-Yourself Google Pack
Although they ask for requests for other products to be on the Google Pack list, why not allow individualization? That is, why can't I choose what programs I want in Google Pack (even ones not on their list)? If they published a set of rules that software vendors could use to add their own programs to the list, then anyone could go to Google Pack and see all their programs and see if there is an available update. Think Microsoft's Windows Update but for any applications you choose, all in one place. Now that would be essential!
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