“Now you can search for U.S. Patents” says the [official google blog](http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/now-you-can-search-for-us-patents.html). This is exciting news because the [official patent search](http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html) feature at USPTO.gov is lacking. The navigational interface is clunky, practically to the point of being non-usable. The image display interface is not cross-browser compatible and should really highlight the pages that actually contain images. Instead, the user gets to page through the text of the application, even though they typically just read the text of the patent.
Thankfully, [Google Patent Search](http://www.google.com/patents) solves the most glaring of flaws in the official search. The interface for a “casual patent searcher” is a breath of fresh air although [Bill Slawski’s analysis of the patent search](http://searchengineland.com/061213-200005.php) indicates that Google has a long way to go before capturing the hearts and minds of professional patent searchers, such as patent attorneys.
