Windows Search 4.0 preview: 33% faster, better remote PC searching

Since I compute more on web-based apps these days, I'm don't often use the integrated search features in Vista and XP's Desktop search tools. Still, I'm thinking of downloading the new Windows Search 4.0 preview version that became available yesterday. According to the Windows Vista Team Blog, the new version is 33% faster when compared to the search tool in Vista's original RTM version. Multiple device owners stand to benefit as well since the Remote Index Discovery function efficently accesses the indices on other Windows devices. And if your index ever gets hosed, the new Windows Search won't take days to build it from scratch. A rollback feature will pull in the last, known good index so your PC will only need to categorize files after the index went kablooey.

Comments

[Amafortas]

Interesting post. I wonder, do you know anything about how it integrates into Vista search? Also, are there any new UI features?

[B]

I'd be satisfied if I didn't have to hit Advanced Options, Search Hidden Files, and Search All Files Including Non-indexed EVERY mother****ing time I forget where a file is. Would persistent search preferences be so hard, Microsoft? XP had it.

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Amafortas, I don't know about any new UI features, but I can tell you that it does upgrade the integrated Vista search.

[Bryan]

Kevin, why do you use Vista?