The indexing service rarely makes searches faster, but slows down your PC every time a file that's being indexed is changed. Unless you're spending 90% of your time searching, and rarely adding / deleting / modifying files, I think it's not worth it. It also sucks up RAM that could be better used. I've got a set of "old eyes" also, and I hate pointless effects on my computer. I believe it reduces productivity as you have to wait a second every time you click on pretty much anything in XP. Still some people like XP's interface; others call it "candy-apple" / "tinker-toy." Gimme the classic Windows98 look anyday.