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Objectively Comparing Competing Search Engines?
aendeuryu asks: "My default search engine of choice is, like most of you I assume, Google. That said, some complaints about Google over the years do seem to have some merit -- basically, that sometimes the indices aren't always updated, that it's too easy to manipulate via googlebombing or legislation, and that maybe too many of its featured services never get out of beta stage. Maybe the fact that Google has gone so long without significant competition is enough to make one at least begin to ask questions about it possibly becoming stagnant. Personally, I'm so used to doing things the Google way (and achieving acceptable results quickly) that I'm not really interested in switching -- case in point, all the above links referenced were quickly found via Google. However, what am I missing out on by not giving (for example) Yahoo search a shot? Or, more to the point, how would one go about trying to effectively and objectively compare competing search engines? In what areas have people found Google to have become obsolete for their purposes? Have less ignorant people than myself figured out ways to test a competing search engine's efficacy for themselves?"
Hello.
I have been browsing your internet site for several hours and am generally impressed with your coverage of IT related issues. However, when I saw an article on Google I just had to voice my opinion. I would just like to say how increadibly appalled I am with the Google internet search engine. My main concern with Google is how easy it makes for malicious people to find information on the now illegal Bittorent computer software.
Some background information on Bittorent and what makes it so dangerous:
1. The Bittorent computer software allows distribution copyrighted material.
2. In doing so it inadvertently causes excessive use of bandwidth. Now you might say that this is fairly harmless, but is it really? The effects of electromagnetic radiation pollution caused by this cannot be underestimated. Just think of the millions of wired and wireless connections lighting up and emmiting those deadly electromagnetic rays and all the innocent men, women and children being exposed to them.
Every bittorent user has blood on his (or hers) hands. From this point on, I am boycotting Google and advise any person with a shred of decency to do so too.
Personally, I'm so used to doing things the Google way (and achieving acceptable results quickly) that I'm not really interested in switching -- case in point, all the above links referenced were quickly found via Google. However, what am I missing out on by not giving (for example) Yahoo search a shot?
I ask my wife the same thing. Honey, I'm used to doing things your way.. and I always get acceptable results from you.. but what am I missing out on by not giving (for example) Veronica a shot?
At least Google will never make you sleep on the couch, or give them half of all your assets. Hopefully.
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
Alternative search engines
-- Knowing too much can get you killed, but knowing who knows too much can make you rich.
Go to google and type in "better search engines"
God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
This should give you an answer
Yeah! In fact, people shouldn't go to school, either. They should go out into the real world and find out everything for themselves, like how to read and write. Never give anyone advice, and if someone ever asks for advice, you should punch them in the face. Information should never be shared between people. Ever.
I can remember when searching for a page on the internet was like searching for a fish in the ocean
heh, I remember when we had to prepare our gopher searches on punch cards and wait days for machine time to run them, only to find that the research paper we thought we'd found was actually ascii porn with little popup jcl terminal windows selling "CHEEP A5PRIN" (because nobody had invented viagra!). And once you're name got out there, your bitnet account would be so full of spam that you wouldn't even want to use your wyse terminal! But you know what? We were thankful for the opportunity to be on the Internet.
you kids today...
Nothing screams objective like this article displaying the Google logo.
He's "Asked Slashdot" to "compare objectively". He must be new around here.
I remember having to walk uphill in the snow both ways to the mailbox to mail my google queries in!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
That may just be telling you that sendmail can drive you to drink
A fine is a tax you pay for doing wrong and a tax is a fine you pay for doing all right.
Apparently Ask Jeeves reccommends MSN search.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
BB gave me several good locations to score some China White, but Google's beta Junkie Search performed remarkably well. Thanks again googlasdlghoaeu...
Risking karma for a little laugh.
And the winner is Yahoo.
Fred
"A fool and his freedom are soon parted"
-RMS
keywords: microsoft sucks
:)
Google == 658,000 hits
Hotbot == 136,000 hits
AltaVista == 1,350,000 hits
search.msn.com == 1,957,101 hits
keywords:apple sucks
Google == 750,00 hits
Hotbot == 139,000 hits
Altavista == 1,540,000 hits
search.msn.com == 2,415,023
keywords:linux sucks
Google == 620,000 hits
Hotbot == 117,000 hits
Altavista == 1,110,000 hits
search.msn.com == 1,828,755 hits
So there you have it. To break it down:
- msn HATES apple but would use linux before windows.
- Altavista prefers Linux but would use windows before using a mac
- Hotbot was afraid to take a stance.
- Google clearly thinks apple sucks the worst and linux the least.
This is about as objective as you can get
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Meh. You think that was bad? Why, I remember when we had to hardwire our Internet searches on plugboards and read the results off of a teletype. Let me tell you, it was pretty tough rendering a web page on a machine without any memory. And every now and then some joker would wire the AC from the wall into a board just for laughs. No, we didn't mind the odd electrocution - it was all part of the fun of the Golden Age of computing.
Back in those days, spam was SPAM, and it came in a can. And we liked it!
Soylent Green is peoplicious!
>>I find the most effective approach for me is to sue Google by default
What a litigious world we live in where you have to sue your search engine (by default) when you don't get the results you want!