Google's SearchMash Adds Snap Shot Previews. But Why Is It In Flash?

Google’s Web 2.0 search playpen, SearchMash, now has a Flash version. When you mouse over a search result, you get a Snap Shot preview of the Web page in a pane on the right. The Snap Shots are powered by Bill Gross’ search engine Snap.com. (We use Snap Shots on outside links, as do two million other Websites).

Flash is so pretty, but can it truly be as fast as Ajax? Maybe not, but it is getting fast enough for me. SearchMash is playing around with the search interface possibilities of each with two different versions of its site. Which is better? (See earlier TechCrunch coverage on SearchMash here)