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Microsoft Releases Toolbar Suite

Posted by timothy on from the pretty-soon-it-will-be-a-trend dept.

Philipp Lenssen writes "Microsoft today released the MSN Toolbar Suite Beta. This brings true desktop search to Windows (for those who don't have Google Desktop Search or similar software running already) and also includes features like search term highlighting in web pages, auto-completing of forms, and a pop-up blocker."

9 of 476 comments (clear)

  1. Bundled Soon? by fembots · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Who wants to bet that this suite is going to be bundled in the next Windows? It's pretty easy for them to integrate this toolbar into any Windows-apps like IE, Outlook, calendar etc since they also happen to write the OS.

    I always maintain that the majority of users don't know they have a choice, hence they're using/starting/opening whatever that's been thrown at them.

    It's quite convenient for MS to sit and see what works, then create their own, and with their dominance in desktop OS, they can easily claim a huge chunk of the desktop-suite market share overnight.

    It wouldn't be as easy for its online search service because that requires users to go there, thus opens up the "choice" perspective.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:Bundled Soon? by wastingtape · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's quite convenient for MS to sit and see what works, then create their own, and with their dominance in desktop OS, they can easily claim a huge chunk of the desktop-suite market share overnight.

      Seems to work though wouldn't you say? I think a lot of business models are fashioned after low-risk investments. If someone else has already done the R&D why not "borrow" some from them? A good examples of positive externalities.

      Actually, as you mentioned, integration with all of MS's tools is probably great... for people who use them. Devaiting from the norm has it's consequences however. Running SquirrelMail as your primary mail client you rarely get support like this (heck i can't even click a mailto: link and have a window open up). It's all good for ma and pa Dell Windows XP machine.

    2. Re:Bundled Soon? by 1u3hr · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But the computer and electronics industry tends to confirm the first mover advantage:

      Microsoft - first microcomputer software company
      Intel - first microprocessor company
      Oracle - first reliable and commercial RDMS company
      AOL - one of the original online services
      Xerox - first photocopier company
      Sony - first widespread transistor radio company

      You've got to be joking. That just shows that the real first movers have been wiped from the public mind.

  2. Ironically... by wasted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The toolbar claims to block annoying popups, but the most annoying pop-up on my work computer (where I am forced to use Internet Exploder) is the one that says I have Active X disabled.

  3. Desktop Search? by ikkonoishi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Like what should have been in an OS from the start?

  4. nice job guys by VAXGeek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    See, even Microsoft gets to say ME TOO sometimes.

    Future predictions for Windows features:

    Expose
    Tabbed Browsing in IE out of box
    Rendezvous
    Dashboard

    --
    this sig limit is too small to put anything good h
  5. Re:Popup blocker? by Stormwatch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > Why would they put another one in
    > (besides bringing popup blocking
    > to earlier versions of Windows)?

    That could be a huge reason: to keep people with older Windows from adopting the "other" way to block popups... *cough*Firefox*cough*

    --
    Circumcision is child abuse.
  6. Re:Google toolbar for Firefox by AstroDrabb · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Informative? Exactly what is the point of this toolbar? Firefox 1.0 has had built-in Google search for ages and you can add _tons_ of other searches to the toolbar at the click of a button. Searches like Dictionary.com, Amazon, Bible searches, recipe searches, tech searches, shopping, you name it, it is there, hundreds of search engince.

    Popup blocking? Uh, Firefox has had that for _ages_. There are currently 175 extension to Firefox 1.0 covering everything from web development to bookmark sync, games, you name it. Who would install _any_ Firefox toolbar from some .com site? It is just probably some tracking code.

    --
    If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
    it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
  7. Microsoft is doomed. by rindeee · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't say this as an anti-MS zealot or anything. It's just that I've noticed over the past two years Microsoft has gone from a market leader to an almost purely reactive organization. It's amazing to see a company go down hill that quickly.