MSN Desktop Search Part 2

Tuesday, December 14 2004

Scoble left me a couple comments and basically told me that I did not have either of these tools installed if I thought MSN was copying Google.. well I do have both of them installed. (I can post a screenshot if needed.) And I still think MSN is copying Google. The main functionality of both these applications is the exact same, sure there are small differences in the GUI and the files indexed, but that is it. Google comes out with Desktop Search then MSN comes out with Desktop Search. Tell me how I am wrong.

He also sent me a link to his Channell 9 movie about the different features, so I thought I should at least check it out. 52 Minutes later I am still not impressed. MSN Search is pretty cool, I like the filtering, but I don't see how it gives me anything more than what I get from Google.

MSN integrates with explorer, Google integrates with whatever web browser I am using. This means MSN has some cool GUI stuff and you can click on a file and it will launch, but does not work with my browser of choice. When I want to use Google desktop search I just search Google in my Google toolbar and I get the results from my desktop and the internet. The "word wheel" and shortcuts are cool, I will give them that, but having my results in my browser is more important to me.

What is pretty interesting is that you can see Microsoft really turning on Google. At first alot of MS employees were as big into Google as anyone else, that is slowly changing. Google is becoming the enemy. Sucks.. because I like Google and Microsoft.

-James

Comments

#1 Darrell on 12.14.2004 at 3:43 PM

Hey, it's Microsoft's modus operandi (I hope I spelled that right). It just hasn't been evident since we as Microsoft platform developers didn't really notice when Microsoft turned on Java. :)



Now that they are doing the norm on something we've all come to know and love, things will be different. Well, except for those people that loved Netscape.

#2 Kelly on 12.14.2004 at 4:28 PM

If you seriously think that Microsoft is just copying Google then you are missing whole concept of competition and market timing.



None of these ideas are new and the game is now to announce early and produce beta products (bad or good) faster than the other guy. That is clearly happening in Google's favor at this point but at some point that may change.



#3 James Avery on 12.14.2004 at 4:38 PM

I think the idea of combining desktop search results and search engine search results is new. Who did it before Google? Google was also the first search enginge to do a desktop search.



I understand competition and I think it is important that MSN does compete with Google, but why not come up with something new and innovative thast put Google on the defense?



-James

#4 Sriram on 12.14.2004 at 4:43 PM

Google Desktop search was released just over 2 months ago- you really think the MSN team took it apart and copied it right away?



As far as I'm concerned, the biggest strength of MSN is the desktop integration. You can right-click and get the same Explorer context menu which is awesome. And btw,about multiple browsers, MSN uses IE similar to how Explorer uses IE.

#5 James Avery on 12.14.2004 at 5:14 PM

I am not saying they took it apart and copied code or anything, I am saying they copied the idea. They are playing catch-up, copy cat, etc. In the Channel 9 video they even admit that they did not start work on desktop search until summer, probably around when we started to hear that Google might be doing a desktop search.

#6 Robert Scoble on 12.14.2004 at 5:30 PM

James: um, Google shipped their desktop search about a week after we showed desktop search to a group of bloggers. So, there was no way we copied them. The MSN team had no access to Google's product before they showed it to the bloggers.

#7 Tom Laird-McConnell on 12.14.2004 at 5:39 PM

Also, if you listen to the video you here us talking about how our team has been working on search related technology for the last couple of YEARS. (I have the patents to prove it too.) I full expect Google to respond to features we come up with, and for us to respond to features they come up with. That's what a competetive environment is about. Sheesh.

#8 James Avery on 12.14.2004 at 5:57 PM

I am sure you have been working on search related technology for a long time, and I am sorry if I have insulted you guys.



I just get tired of seeing MSN simply trying to emulate everything that Google does. The beta MSN search screen even looks like Google's simple design. And I seriously doubt Hotmail decided to upgrade everyone to 250MB way before gmail was announced.



I just want to see MSN doing new things instead of just trying to do what Google already does.



-James

#9 Heather on 12.15.2004 at 7:55 AM

Check out my friend Mike's blog site on MSN Spaces. That's a pretty innovative development coming from MSN - have you seen the integration into Mesesnger? You can right click on a buddy to see their contact card, and see abbreviated content on their space. Their buddy icon "gleams" with a star when someone has updated their space with new content, photos, etc...

#10 MADDIEY on 11.13.2005 at 2:08 AM

I DONT LIKE IT

#11 Elaine M. Lockerby on 12.04.2005 at 3:34 PM

I went old Google search page back with pictures.

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