Start++ will allow you to
1. Search from the start menu (It is just like Opera) you can add searched using the configuration UI.
2. Launch applications with specific user privileges.
Typing "sudo" followed by a command will run that command with elevated (admin) privileges. etc.
3. Play Video or Audio files directly from the start menu.
Advanced functions can work with search results, powered by Windows Vista's integrated desktop search engine. For example, typing "play radiohead" will find all music that matches the query "radiohead", compile the results into a .M3U file, and launch it in your favorite media player.
Read more here
Start++ is for Windows Vista, but there is a Beta version available for Windows 7. You can find add-ons here