The Google toolbar is a small download available from the well-loved speedy searcher, www.google.co.uk, then head for Google Toolbar at the bottom of the page.
Simply select to download and the program seamlessly downloads and installs itself as a plug in to Internet Explorer. At this stage I should say that the toolbar requires IE5 or later, and any Microsoft OS in order to work. No information is available to suggest that a Mac version will arrive.
Once installed the toolbar is clearly visible within the usual explorer toolbars. You can shift them around as you need, and if you run a 800x600 screen resolution then you may well need to sit the google bar alongside the browser address toolbar, in order to maximise browsing space.
This utility is designed to help you surf even quicker than before. You can enter a desired search directly into the box on the bar, then the results appear in a new window. It saves having to launch a new window, find google, then search.
If you’re browsing a particular page and you find something you’d like to search for more info on, then highlight the word or words, right click and select google search. Straight away you’ll be taken to the results for that search.
These are the main two features, and both work pretty well. However whilst searching from the toolbar itself the results come in a new window, but when highlighting and right-clicking the results load on the current open window, if you see what I mean?
Other features include the ability to search within the current site that you’re on, and see how the page ranks within google – i.e. how high it features on the search rankings. Not a greatly used feature I have to say.
The plug-in seems stable and doesn’t appear to utilise any system resources. I think as it is an I.E. plug-in it simply becomes part of the browser. If needed you can uninstall it, directly from the menu.
Overall it’s a great little tool, well worth downloading, and genuinely saves a little time when on-line!
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Dec 30th, 2001
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