It is almost three years since Google launched its Desktop search application for Microsoft Windows. The search major has now gone and done the same for Linux...

For those not-in-the-know, Google's Desktop application helps users search for information/files on their computers, which includes Gmail and Web search history. As the desktop index is stored locally on the computer, the application also helps users access their Gmail and Web history offline.

Similarly, Google's latest Desktop for Linux will also help users index and find their data in PCs as well as on the Web.

Reportedly, Desktop for Linux deploys Google's own desktop search algorithms, and not those of Linux.

However the catch is that only computers with x86 processors can use the software.

The newest Desktop supports the Debian 4.0, Fedora Core 6, Ubuntu 6.10, Novell Suse 10.1, and Red Flag 5 versions of Linux. And, the application uses either the KDE or Gnome graphical user interface (UI).

Besides, Desktop for Linux sports the ability to search source codes and information contained in .pdf, .ps, .man, and .info documents. The software features a Quick Search Box, which can be summoned by pressing the control key two times. Once the search box appears, users need to only type-in their query for the results to appear almost instantaneously.

As of now, Desktop for Linux is available in 10 languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. It can be downloaded free-of-charge at http://destop.google.com.