Microsoft Lookout: Desktop Search Outlook Add-In
October 10, 2006 ·
Have you ever tried to search Microsoft Outlook for an email? I could take a speed-nap in the amount of time it takes Outlook’s built-in search function to go hunting and turn up likely results. If it even finds what I’m looking for.
Ok. I’m over-stating it. A bit.
A few months ago, in Desktop Search: How to Find a File or Email Quickly, I discussed a few good programs for locating a file or email in fairly short order. I’ve been a content X1 user and haven’t been seeking a new program. Then I heard about Lookout, Microsoft’s free contribution to desktop search.
I have to say I took a fairly skeptical initial view of Lookout because it’s described on Microsoft’s site as “lightning-fast.” It’s a term I don’t normally associate with Microsoft products. But I have to give them this one…it is really fast and efficient.
You can use Lookout to search for these kinds of files:
- E-mail messages
- Contacts, calendar, notes, tasks
- Data from exchange, POP, IMAP, PST files, Public Folders
- Files on your computer
I’ve been using Lookout for about a month now and have been very pleased with the ease of use, efficiency and quality search results. Its toolbar integrates with Outlook and I can launch any search from there. Since I always have Outlook open when computing, that’s a good feature for me.
To use Lookout, you’ll need Outlook 2000 or later, Windows 2000/XP, and Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 (the latter also free). Lookout is unsupported software, which means if you have problems, Microsoft won’t be able to assist you. It’s straightforward to use, isn’t a memory hog, and doesn’t seem to be buggy.
Copyright © 2006 by Tammy Lenski. All rights reserved.
lookout, did this product stop working for everyone or is it just me?
Hi, Joe -
I haven’t heard anything else about this product not working anymore, sorry!
a) Lookout was a 3rd party product that worked better than Microsoft’s search. Microsoft bought it in order to kill it. Then, because of the uproar, they brought it back. It’s based on something called Lucene.net, an open source search tool.
b) Outlook 2007 automatically disables Lookout, because they claim that Windows Desktop Search works better. It doesn’t.
c) Outlook just got an upgrade that makes search speeds reasonable with WDS, but still not as fast as Lookout. But Microsoft killed Lookout again anyway.
Lookout 1.30 is still out there to be downloaded. So if you’re not running Office 2007 apparently - thanks MS
- then I definitely recommend it. I’ve been using the 1.30 version for at least the last couple of years and it’s about irreplaceable to me for finding that one specific email that I know I have SOMEWHERE..