I happen to also design websites. In my experience, the following is now what appears to be more common (no specific order):
1. Load times. The new MSN substantially improves load times.
2. Centered page. The old MSN was offset to the left, leaving a massive right margin in higher resolution browsers. The new MSN follows the new center standards
3. The clean white slab is common for ease of reading. Note the new MSN Beta Search, the Google Search, the beta Yahoo search and the default Firefox startup page.
4. Cross browser support. The new MSN appears to look almost 100% identical in Firefox as it does in IE, with the exception that FF doesn't revolve the main story headline through the different pictures. (javascript)
While I agree there is no depth, I find the layout and the picture images well placed to draw your attention to those specific areas.
Has nothing to do with an os.
So, being faster, more cross browser friendly, designed heavily around the internet standards, easy to read, I think I made my opinion noted.
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