The newest google toolbar is really dumb. I suggest we make some noise about it.
In the old version, if you type something in the search field, and click on the SITE, MAPS, FROOGLE or IMAGES (etc) button and it (obviously) applies the search string you just typed to the appropriate search type at Google.
The new version however, IGNORES what you've just typed, and instead takes you to default landing page of FROOGLE, MAPS, or IMAGES, without applying the search you've asked for. You can re-type what you've already typed into the search field, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of a toolbar? Why install a toolbar if it's behavior is only as smart as a shortcut? The only toolbar-like feature they preserved is the straight-up searching of Google.
It's really, really, really, really [sic] dumb. I can imagine the toolbar developers not thinking of that feature in the first place, but to have the feature installed and working, and then deliberately REMOVE it? I can't even imagine a business rationale for it. All I can think of is that the organization has become large and top-heavy and has consequently forgotten to engineer a well concieved user interface. I scoured the options and help in the toolbar and there's no 'fix' for this bad behavior. I had to fake having Win98 and install the old toolbar to get back the old not-dumb functionality.
-Karl
