Just about anything Microsoft does is bound to generate significant buzz and so it was yesterday with the release of
the public beta of the new MSN Toolbar Suite which includes their new desktop search tool. I like a lot about the beta
but it's not ready to be my primary search tool, falling short of both Copernic Desktop Search and x1 in my
experience.
I have two principal reasons for uninstalling the MSN Toolbar Suite.
First and foremost, there is an acknowledged bug that, on some systems, causes an Outlook e-mail account (I have four)
to be "unexpectedly closed", requiring Outlook to be restarted. Not good. The team at MSN has acknowledged the bug but
have been unable to find the cause yet.
Secondly, Outlook must be running to be indexed. This causes a burst of activity when Outlook is launched as the
Indexer rushes to catch up with the latest content in the application. This is especially problematic if, like me, you
get a significant amount of new mail each time you launch the application and the Indexer had not finished with your
content the last time you exited the app. The overall effect is a time lag before you can find the most current stuff.
Again, not good.
The UI is very nicely done and, unlike a few other critics, I actually like the way the search tools are implemented
in different contexts (deskbar, Outlook, Explorer). I hope the development team can lock down the bug that's currently
making this tool unusable for some Outlook users and seriously reconsiders how and when Outlook (and Outlook Express)
mail is indexed.
This space is too heated right now and there are too many good choices for anyone to settle for a tool that doesn't
get the job done. Onward.
MSN Toolbar Suite: a good start but it's uninstalled (for now)
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Andrew: Sorry if I was unclear. The bug does affect my system - in a big way. It makes Outlook so unpredictable I can't afford to use the MSN search suite right now.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant
3. Marc,
In case you haven't noticed...Onfolio just released the beta of their product today. Early impressions: AWESOME!
The RSS feed addition is simply incredible. Firefox support!
Check it out.....
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Nitin
5. Works great for me. Much better then Google Desktop Search.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Hellsbellboy
6. What about Google, Copernic ( http://reviews.cnet.com/Copernic_Desktop_Search/4505-3684_7-31087427.html ), Ask Jeeves, Yahoo, or even Blinkx ( http://blinkx.com )?
Copernic has been in the search market for years, their metasearch program is great. I just downloaded Copernic Desktop and that seems equally good after 1 day of use.
http://jbegalke.org
8. Andrew: Sorry if I was unclear. The bug does affect my system - in a big way. It makes Outlook so unpredictable I can't afford to use the MSN search suite right now.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant
9. Marc,
In case you haven't noticed...Onfolio just released the beta of their product today. Early impressions: AWESOME!
The RSS feed addition is simply incredible. Firefox support!
Check it out.....
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Nitin
11. Works great for me. Much better then Google Desktop Search.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Hellsbellboy
12. What about Google, Copernic ( http://reviews.cnet.com/Copernic_Desktop_Search/4505-3684_7-31087427.html ), Ask Jeeves, Yahoo, or even Blinkx ( http://blinkx.com )?
Copernic has been in the search market for years, their metasearch program is great. I just downloaded Copernic Desktop and that seems equally good after 1 day of use.
http://jbegalke.org
14. Andrew: Sorry if I was unclear. The bug does affect my system - in a big way. It makes Outlook so unpredictable I can't afford to use the MSN search suite right now.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant
15. Marc,
In case you haven't noticed...Onfolio just released the beta of their product today. Early impressions: AWESOME!
The RSS feed addition is simply incredible. Firefox support!
Check it out.....
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Nitin
17. Works great for me. Much better then Google Desktop Search.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Hellsbellboy
18. What about Google, Copernic ( http://reviews.cnet.com/Copernic_Desktop_Search/4505-3684_7-31087427.html ), Ask Jeeves, Yahoo, or even Blinkx ( http://blinkx.com )?
Copernic has been in the search market for years, their metasearch program is great. I just downloaded Copernic Desktop and that seems equally good after 1 day of use.
http://jbegalke.org
1. Are you saying you uninstalled because of a bug you have not encountered yourself or has the 'unexpectedly closed' problem occurred for you?
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Andrew