14 DAY TRIAL // Some of the most misunderstood resources in Windows Vista are the Search folders. And the fact of the matter is that there is actually a very thin line between a tool that is useless and a functional resource. However, while this might be the conception of the end users, Microsoft fails to feels the same way.
Windows Vista delivers an entire collection of search folders by default, but the saved searches that ship with the operating system and are available immediately after installation won't be very helpful. In fact, users will want to create their own.
"One of Windows Vista's coolest features that I use every day is the Windows Vista Search Folder. The concept is simple: a Search Folder is just a saved search. There's a whole bunch that come with the system at installation. You can get to your Search Folders is from the navigation pane in any Explorer window. When you have the "Favorite Links" view turned on in the navigation pane in Explorer (versus the "Folders" view), you'll also see a Searches Folder," revealed Nick White, Microsoft Product Manager.
In essence, saved searches don't involve searching as much as they do organizing. The bottom line is that, despite the name, saved searches is a tool that will help users organize their content. All the results of your most common, repetitive and frequent searches can be saved into a folder no bigger than a few KB and accessed immediately. The best thing about Search Folders is that they will return all the results from the initial query along with items that have been added from that point on matching the search characteristics.
Search Folders is a wonderful tool if you have to deal with performing repetitive and frequent searches, streamlining your workflow. However, if you don't find yourself in this scenario, then the tool might just not exist at all, because you are not benefiting from it.
To learn more about search in Windows Vista you can access The Complete Windows Vista Search Operators Dictionary.