The MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search was officially launched today. The toolbar also includes a pop-up blocker and form fill functions to enhance the browsing experience. Users of MSN's line of services, such as Hotmail, Messenger and Spaces, will find one-click access within the product. To address some privacy concerns, you can control which files the software indexes and how often.
But are there enough reasons for me to switch from Copernic to MSN ? No, not yet.
1. MSN Desktop Search is only available on machines running Microsoft Windows XP/Server 2003/2000 & Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later. If you are a Firefox fan like me, stay away from it.
2. MSN added a preview pane similar to the one in Microsoft Outlook. This is a useful enhancement but according to SEW, Microsoft's preview is painfully sluggish compared to Yahoo's, to the point of being virtually unusable.
3. There is a toolbar everywhere. (See the image on the right) The suite includes three toolbars, one for Microsoft Outlook, a toolbar for Windows and Internet Explorer, and a toolbar for the Windows taskbar. Why not a standalone program ? I can't live without the Google Toolbar and installing another toolbar decreases my browser preview area further. Why would I want to look at a toolbar all the time even though I would use only 2% of my time.4. MSN doesn't automatically index PDF files - Most of my official documentation is in PDF format but MSN requires you to download a separate plugin for indexing PDF files. I see some rivalry here. Microsoft is expected to release its own Metro document format which is being touted as Adobe's PDF killer. Maybe that could be the reason for Microsoft not adding native support for PDF in their search suite. When MSN DS can index 200 file types, why not 201 ?
5. Microsoft plays some hide n' seek - One of the non-public betas reviewed by PCMag actually added tabbed browsing to IE, a useful feature that has, unfortunately, been held back for further security testing. Hopes dashed.
6. Can I search for files in any language? - Not yet. MSN Toolbar Suite and Deskbar Search supportU.S. English only.
7. Do I really need MS Desktop Search ? No, It's already there.
Find this article at: http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/05/msn-you-could-not-win-my-heart.html
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
Amit, I like your blog but sometimes I wonder if you're being paid by Copernic.
1 - I use Firefox and the lack of a toolbar within the browser isn't a problem - you hsve the deskbar on the taskbar.
2 - fair point.
3 - the toolbars can be turned off easily.
4 - you can index pdf files by installing the Adobe iFilter. Again, quick and easy.
5 - I don't use IE, so this isn't a factor.
6 - fair point, although I'm a UK user so this isn't as big an issue.
7 - your preference.
I realise this is a blog, but this is so unbalanced it's unbelievable. Poor stuff mate.
Written on 16/5/05 10:23 PM
Amit, I like your blog but sometimes I wonder if you're being paid by Copernic.
1 - I use Firefox and the lack of a toolbar within the browser isn't a problem - you hsve the deskbar on the taskbar.
2 - fair point.
3 - the toolbars can be turned off easily.
4 - you can index pdf files by installing the Adobe iFilter. Again, quick and easy.
5 - I don't use IE, so this isn't a factor.
6 - fair point, although I'm a UK user so this isn't as big an issue.
7 - your preference.
I realise this is a blog, but this is so unbalanced it's unbelievable. Poor stuff mate.
Written on 16/5/05 10:23 PM
Amit, I don't really see points 1 and 3 as being showstoppers. The installer now gives you the option to disable the IE and Outlook toolbars before they even get added. [netryder@osnn.net]
Written on 17/5/05 12:31 AM
It does index .pdf's - why does it matter if the .pdf indexing is a separate download? There are a bunch of different add-in's available, besides .pdf's available on this site: http://addins.msn.com [heatfri@gmail.com]
Written on 17/5/05 1:56 AM
Personally, I really wouldn't say the preview is slow at all, at least on my machine (im running a new A64 though, so it may be on older machines admittedly). MSN also has the best interface by a mile - i was a yahoo user until i tried this out. Now ive junked yahoo. The ifilters are great too.
Written on 18/5/05 9:40 AM
Desktop Search uses the same IFilters that are used by indexing services and SharePoint - so I don't see the big deal about the separate PDF download. The Office iFilters are installed by Office anyway.
In terms of the toolbars, I have them shut off and I just double-click on the magnifying glass icon in the system tray.
I like it better then indexing services b/c it has a better interface and I don't need to memorize the !/@ formats. In addition, it is easier to specify which outlook and file folders to index, which extensions should be indexes as text, etc.
The interface also lets me sort the data by any column and it has different columns displayed depending on what which tab I am on (everything, docs, email, music, etc.)
I also don't see what tabbed browsing has to do with desktop search.
[ababiec@hotmail.com]
Written on 20/5/05 1:30 AM
So what you're saying is you judged it without even trying it?
If MS Office can install its own IFiltes (and OneNote, etc), why can't Adobe Reader install its own? [bhpaddock@msn.com]
Written on 20/5/05 3:43 AM