Version:           SVN (using KDE 4.5.95) 
OS:                Linux

I (like most people) have my Kopete window most minimalistic. That means there are the normal application borders, the contacts and the menubar (menubar is mostly disabled, too ;) ). So there's no search bar 'cause it takes too much space!

Actually I have about 150 contacts and 2 possibilities to search for a specific contact:
1. scroll though the whole list and use my eyes
2. pressing X times the first letter of the contact

Now I had following idea (I saw it in some other application... don't remember):
Functionality should be the same as the search bar, but without the search bar!
I'd say that if the contact list window is active, then the imaginary search bar should receive ALL input (means: letters, digits, etc.). This would me MUCH more intuitive!

Following reasons: If you press a key in your contact list it's always because you want to search, there's no other option. But actually you have always to click at the search bar or use a shortcut. Completely unneccessary, right?!

I have a kind of vision how it could look like: If nothing has been typed there's no search bar. If you hit any key (except ctrl, alt, etc.) the search bar appears and filters the list. Afterwards you can hit "esc" or press "backspace" till there's no more input and the bar fades away.

Reproducible: Always