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The MU Catalog is a central location for Microsoft updates and 3rd party Windows drivers. You can search the site for updates, add them to a 'basket', and then download the updates for later distribution using your favorite ESD tool. Additionally, you can link the MU Catalog with products like WSUS, SCE, and SCCM to import updates that might not otherwise be available.

Main User Interface - Search or... Search

I know the team spent a lot of time building 'plumbing' and connectivity to various products... so I don't want to rain on their ship party. However, this service leaves quite a bit to be desired. For starters there's the UI - or should I say the lack thereof. Check out the following screen shot or just head on over to the MU Catalog yourself.

Maybe the team is taking a page from Google and emphasizing the importance of search... but I'm left wanting a hierarchical browse interface to drill down to the appropriate updates. Anyone else feel the same way?

Private Hotfixes, Anyone?

One of the most compelling features that didn't make it in v1 is the ability to download private and/or limited release hotfixes. Readers with access to Premier Support know how handy it is to download private hotfixes through the PSS web site. Here's a screen shot of Microsoft Premier Online's listing for KB 940046 - a hotfix for Windows Server 2003. Notice the link to download the hotfix right at the top of the page.

Now imagine if you could sign on to the MU Catalog with your Passport (er, Windows Live) credentials and import this same hotfix right into WSUS, SCE, or SCCM. That would simplify deployment and improve the usefulness of WSUS, SCE, and SCCM in one fell swoop. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this feature makes it into MU Catalog v2.