Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Objectively Comparing Competing Search Engines?

Posted by Cliff on from the oogling-others-against-google dept.

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?"

3 of 405 comments (clear)

  1. dogpile.com by Bad-JuJu-Man · · Score: 5, Informative

    personally I prefer dogpile. I like the organization of results much better.

    --
    ""I don't see an obvious biosynthetic pathway from allicin (CH2=CHCH2SS(=O)CH2CH=CH2)to isothiocyanates (R-N=C=S) ""
  2. Alternates by hambonewilkins · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here's my own experience.

    Yahoo search is okay, not as nice as google, but a good second.

    Alltheweb.com has found things google hasn't, but in general I rarely use it.

    I rarely use MSN because it was awful all the times I tried it. Same for Altavista.

    In general, if I'm searching for something I'll use google first and then Yahoo and Alltheweb to catch anything that google may have missed.

    --

    God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
  3. Search Engine Watch by Guidii · · Score: 5, Informative
    Or, more to the point, how would one go about trying to effectively and objectively compare competing search engines?

    For some time now, Search Engine Watch has provided a good editorial and comparison on various search engines. They focus on marketing topics, but also tend to talk a lot about the underlying technology, etc.

    A recent roundup of engines is at http://searchenginewatch.com/links/article.php/215 6221.