Every single browser has a user agent which tells the web page it visits what it actually is. Now here is the thing: When I visit some of the sites owned by Microsoft (e.g. msn.fi) with the N900 I get the mobile-optimised version. The mobile optimised version is meant for the devices that have a small screen and not enough power to render complex pages. Before the N900 was released the same user agent did not cause this... (Maemo SDK)

This happens with Google, too. When I got the N900 the "address bar search" with google worked fine. The view was optimised for my device. Some time ago it changed to a mobile-optimised version as well.

This is obviously done by purpose because the competition between Windows Mobile, Android and Maemo is on. I am just wondering one thing: Mobile-optimised pages lack the commercials. The ones who want their products advertised pay for that space for their products. Still, Microsoft and Google do not show the commercials in the mobile-pages.

The problem with Google and Microsoft can be fixed by changing the user agent by typing to the microB address bar.

The best choice is to search Google in the search bar in the same place and then modifying the address that is shown (google.com/.../m/...). By taking away the "m" for mobile you can make the search-function work properly. Also, this is the place where one could change the default search-engine into Bing or Yahoo or something...

You might care to look at this wiki page, which tells you all sorts of cunning ploys for improved search functioanlity from the location bar. Personally I prefer the last one, buy YMMV.