Yup. That and they needed to compete with Google. But the reason Google released it is they saw an opportunity; with Microsoft moving so slowly, they knew they could get in favorably with the IT managers before Microsoft released Desktop Search.
You see, Sarbanes-Oxley and other related acts were what forced IT in US companies to have control over sensitive information. IT needed to have a standard method of controlling employees searching and downloading so this indexing came about. Apple and Google were first. Microsoft was about last I suppose and had the worst implementation. No surprise here.
Anyway, YES, it was Sarbanes-Oxley that forced Microsoft to release Desktop Search.
And now everybody here knows how it started - this Microsoft/Google rivalry.
Oh, that little thing about having to compete with Google. How could we forget that. Maybe that was the only reason (actually, not maybe - it is!)
WTF? Why the SOX obsession? I know you don't get it. It's not about IT, it's aboout the public corporation having controls.
"IT needed to have a standard method of controlling employees searching and downloading so this indexing came about". This statement is so whacked, I'm pretty sure you have become unhinged. It not only is false, but it defies logic. Wow, wow, wow.
Seeing you have never used WDS, as evidenced by your lack of understanding, I would say you have not idea if it is the worst. (It is actually quite good).
"Anyway, YES, it was Sarbanes-Oxley that forced Microsoft to release Desktop Search."
Thanks for repeating it. At least you are consistent on this one issue. I could say more, but the wrongness of your words speak for themself.
Thanks for telling everyone what they already knew - a MS/Google competition. Wow, geez, we had no idea....