AlphaAlien, y_notm and myself have been working on a guide to customize the Windows Search Engine experiences in the recent release of Windows Vista Beta 1. The guide covers the following themes: creating custom Virtual Folders (search queries), making the Indexing engine index files in usual folders (not only in the \Users\ one), and the incompleted ‘Custom-location indexed search’ - so far this can be done using a third party handle viewer and manipulator to enable the appropriate combo box; I am working on an application that should do this automatically.

You can read the guide here: HOW TO: Customize search locations in Vista Beta 1.

On the other hand, Nighthawk and myself made a little pack for the Window Desktop Manager that allows it to read per-user settings, so that every user on the computer can have different settings. The package also contains a few Registry key files that allow fast switching of the available features, such as Blurring, Slow Animations when the Shift key is held, Animations and Glass effect. You can download the pack here: Per-User DWM Modification.