When you think web search or search engine, you normally think software. But, if you can think outside the box once in a while, you may come up with a different thought. In this case, Google thought of web search inside the box and came up with Google mini - some web search hardware.

The Google mini, according to Small Business Computing, is a garish blue and loud-as-hell server that slips into a server rack. After some jiggery pokery, the mini will index your website or intranet. Voila, thanks to Google, you have the perfect in-house search engine capability.
How perfect?

The Mini can index the content of 220 types of files, including HTML, PDF, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, WordPerfect, Lotus Domino, Lotus 1-2-3, compressed archives, all common e-mail formats and many more. But with convenience comes risk.

If you aren't careful at set-up time, it is likely to expose some of your company's most secret info. The Google Mini sounds a perfect vehicle for "Microsoft internal memo" results to hit the internet by mistake.

Google Mini searches at a price

About $2000 gets 50,000 pages indexed, $3k gets you 100k documents in the search parameter, and up to $9k for 300,000 pages. And then you have to pay $995 a year for support. Or rather, you have the option to pay up, but if you choose to be a cheap skate, carry on with your Google Mini without any support. Seems fair enough, if you are in that league.

Is the Google Mini for you?

Obviously this isn't for the lightweights of the internet, and to be honest, as a grade A lightweight with about 1500 articles, I am really happy with the search results that Google Co-op delivers for The Pisstakers. However, one day they will become affordable on main street and everyone may be considering one of these babies. Just make sure you have ear defenders and air con to compensate for the big hitting Google Mini whirring away 24-7 in the corner of your bedroom.

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