19. A computer-implemented method of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for electronically displaying search related information, the method comprising: under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, providing for electronic display a search element that enables a user to submit a search query and at least two panes arranged to collectively, responsive to submission of the search query, each display search related information or results from a different respective category, the different respective search category selected from the group consisting of: general web search results, image search results, book search results, movie search results, map search results, local area search results, reference search results, dictionary search results, address based search results, news search results, diary search results, bookmark search results, search history search results and tracking number search results, and each pane being user configurable to be in either an open state suitable for displaying search results information of a particular search category or a closed state which is narrowed to a display identifying the particular search category, wherein panes in the open state are generally arranged as columns; providing for electronic display at least one adjustable column delimiter that visibly marks a boundary between adjacent panes, wherein moving by a user of a column delimiter adjusts the relative sizes of the adjacent panes; and configuring a pane in the open state to automatically be in the closed state upon detecting a movement of a column delimiter adjacent to the pane in the open state to a position where the column width of the pane in the open state is positive and below a designated threshold for closing the pane in the open state.
19. A computer-implemented method of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for electronically displaying search related information, the method comprising: under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, providing for electronic display a search element that enables a user to submit a search query and at least two panes arranged to collectively, responsive to submission of the search query, each display search related information or results from a different respective category, the different respective search category selected from the group consisting of: general web search results, image search results, book search results, movie search results, map search results, local area search results, reference search results, dictionary search results, address based search results, news search results, diary search results, bookmark search results, search history search results and tracking number search results, and each pane being user configurable to be in either an open state suitable for displaying search results information of a particular search category or a closed state which is narrowed to a display identifying the particular search category, wherein panes in the open state are generally arranged as columns; providing for electronic display at least one adjustable column delimiter that visibly marks a boundary between adjacent panes, wherein moving by a user of a column delimiter adjusts the relative sizes of the adjacent panes; and configuring a pane in the open state to automatically be in the closed state upon detecting a movement of a column delimiter adjacent to the pane in the open state to a position where the column width of the pane in the open state is positive and below a designated threshold for closing the pane in the open state. 24. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , further comprising providing for electronic display at least one pane with an associated navigation widget that facilitates scrolling of the contents of the associated pane independent from scrolling of the contents of other panes.