Microsoft just released Bing.com, their new search decision engine, last week. I must say I am somewhat impressed.

Yes, I rolled my eyes like most people at the thought of another lame attempt by Microsoft to try to dig into Google’s share of the search market. That reaction was mostly developed over time by the fact that everytime Microsoft rolled out a new version of their search platform, I’d try using it a few times, not find what I was looking for and immediately go back to Google because I usually got what I wanted within the first few results.

I am suprised to find that after a week, I am using Bing consistently at home and at work and have now permanently changed my default search provider to Bing.com. I have only once gone back to Google when I didn’t find what I wanted in a Bing.com search and Google didn’t do any better. That is the first time that has ever happened for me since Microsoft entered the search market many moons ago.

I am also impressed with the layout of search results. My “Related Searches” in Bing are to the left of my results, not forcing me to scroll all the way down to the end of the page (as in Google). Bing also notes the “Best Match” for my query, something Google does not do.

Other improvements include image and video previews, although Microsoft had to change the behavior of the previews initially after porn started showing up. However, that only happened when the Safe Search filter was turned off or set to its lowest setting. So one could argue that users have complete control over their results if they know how to use the settings properly.

Overall, I think Microsoft is off to a very good (re)start with Bing.com. And, so do a lot of other people apparently, since Bing.com has now overtaken Yahoo.com in search use and has actually started an uptick in market share.

Only time will tell if these modest gains in the first week are an indication of a pattern. But I can say that I am now a full time Bing.com user after years of disappointment with Micrsoft’s search efforts. I wonder how many other people will make the permanent change too?