MSN released version 1.0 of its toolbar today, including an updated Windows Desktop Search component (via Scoble). I may prefer MSN Desktop Search, but as I discussed I certainly had my complaints. The interface in particular has driven me away, as I find myself using Copernic recently.
This new version seems to address a lot of these complaints. It may take awhile, but when Microsoft puts its collective mind to something it usually puts out a wonderful product. This 1.0 product, while maybe not perfect, certainly appears to be a wonderful product.
The biggest improvement I've noticed is the much improved interface. It is generally more polished, and now has a preview pane instead of the inline autopreview (a la Outlook) that I absolutely detest. It's also snappy - sorting, for example, no longer takes an inordinate amount of time. You can also explicitly decide whether a particular Outlook folder is indexed or not - no more obscure hacks.
In related news, Microsoft announced that it will begin offering a corporate desktop search solution later this year. From the press release:
In response to feedback from corporate customers looking for desktop searching capabilities designed for their needs, Microsoft is developing a desktop search offering, built on Windows Desktop Search, for the corporate environment. Scheduled to be available in beta form by the end of the calendar year, the offering will enable corporations to empower employees with fast, powerful searching capabilities across their PC, with plentiful customization options.
No word on pricing. I suspect this will build on Sharepoint Portal Server in one form or another; perhaps SPS will simply become an additional search location within the Windows Desktop Search interface? I wonder if it will also be introduced independent of the MSN brand. Many enterprises may be reluctant to deploy the full MSN Toolbar Suite, but then there is no reason Windows Desktop Search couldn't be released as a separate product (or perhaps as a core replacement for Windows Search).