Neowin member Jabb has posted some screenshots from the new version of MSN.com. Currently in testing for a "select number of users", one can see a few things have changed so far.
MSN have mainly updated the look and feel of the page. Arguably something that can be dismissed as a minor change, one can easily see how it is quite important. MSN.com is the start page (by default) for many many people and thus a slick interface is key for Microsoft. The page appears to be a little more ad free than its current state, yet it is quite possible that Microsoft will add extra ads at a later date.
The search bar also appears to have been made a bit clearer (bold green highlights). Bearing in mind what we have said about this being the default page for many IE users, this can certainly be seen as a early and easy move for Microsoft to make in the "search wars"; simple is key for users, and as Microsoft have proved so many times before, if it is there by default most people will use it. A strategy that will no doubt allow them to win over "easy" customers from search giant Google.