Ask.Com's New Look Competes Well With Google

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Ask Jeeves has been overhauled and renamed Ask.com. The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg tested the new site against Google and found that Ask.com holds its own and even beats the search champ in some cases. 'It has some very nice features Google lacks, including previews of the sites it finds, an easy way to narrow or broaden your search results, and frequent top-of-the-screen answers that lead you directly to core information,' Mossberg writes."

Comments

The preview would be nice

[Anonymous Crowhead]

If you could actually read the text of the website. I guess maybe it would steer you away from link farms but other than that, you can't see much.

Website time-lapse

[brejc8]

I made some nice animations of the way the some sites have changed their layout (google, ask and altavista). Both altavista and ask are turning more and more google like.

Re:Website time-lapse

[brejc8]

I looked at altavista for the first time in years and noticed it being very google like and so I thought it would be nice to see how and why it changed. The script was pretty simple to make but took a while to run (overnight for each one). I like doing stuff like this as it improves my skills in different languages (in this case it was perl) and I thought learning a lot of languages might be an idea before writing my own.

Re:Website time-lapse

[pomo monster]

But in what context would you, a Slashdot reader and (presumably) seasoned computer user, actually search for the term "Linux" alone? For the kind of person who would enter a search term like "Linux"--someone without a clue about computers, for example--maybe the Wikipedia entry is, indeed, the most appropriate result. And ZDNet might be as good a place as any, for the non-tech savvy, to start learning about this "Linux" thing.

These comparisons are meaningless if you just blindly submit queries you'd never do in real life, with preconceived expectations of what you'd find useful. The only way to find out which search engine works better is real-world experience. I don't know about you, but I'm willing to give Ask.com a shot for the rest of the day.

For the lazy

[creepynut]

I know it's not hard to type, but when doing an article about Ask.com, it helps to provide a link to Ask.com.

Oh, and it's nice. Unfortunately, I use Google because I like the results it provides. Can Ask.com compete with that, or is it just a nice look?

Re:For the lazy

[op12]

I think they're taking search pretty seriously and have made some interesting improvements recently.

I particularly enjoyed this Ask.com blog entry.

Re:For the lazy

[aeoo]

Try it. It beat the crap out of Google on a very difficult search for me. But that's just one search and it's just me. But from what it looks like so far, it's definitely doing fine on the results so far. Give it a shot and let us know.

I'm hoping someone will post some more detailed research on the actual search results. :)

Re:For the lazy

[npietraniec]

I just did a search for my name and it returned documents on my website that have been gone for years... Their cache on my last name is HORRIBLY out of date... Just one search though, maybe they can compete better on more common terms.

Re:For the lazy

[hackstraw]

Unfortunately, I use Google because I like the results it provides.

What else is there?

With google I can do:

my doctor's last name my_city, state

Hit return, and at the top of the page there is the phone number to call. If only the number was hooked into an autodialer, when that comes, it will be cool.

Google has usenet searches.

Google has news searches (I get confused sometimes between news.google.com and groups.google.com, but...)

Google has search by domain searches. Very useful to do .edu or .org or whatever to eliminate the .com domains who are trying to sell me crap.

Google is instantaneous. ask.com is slow right now.

Google has image searches.

Google has video searches.

Google will have music searches.

Google...

Yes, I'm a happy user. Thanks for Google having the best real estate on the web, and those greedy link parking whores that pay for my searching capabilities. Not to mention that its refreshing that I can buy ANYTHING that I search for at eBay while I'm at it. Very convenient.

not about "quality" per se

[Douglas Simmons]

Though a competitor may try to make advances against google with revampments, Google's already got the golden brand and in this industry the guy who's at the top stays there as people feel more comfortable using what everyone else uses ... what's established. They're not going anywhere, move along.

Re:not about "quality" per se

[Guilly]

Funny, I'd like to see you say the following in future linux/microsoft bashing articles...

Though a competitor may try to make advances against Microsoft Corporation with revampments, Microsoft's already got the golden brand and in this industry the guy who's at the top stays there as people feel more comfortable using what everyone else uses ... what's established. They're not going anywhere, move along.

Thank you.

I think...

[Machina Fortuno]

It really boils down to a basic mistrust by the population of the name "Jeeves"

I used to use ask... but switched to Google cause all the cool kids were doing it. That, and the color red pisses me off!

The next thing for ask.com... change name to "Google_eats_souls_use_us.com"

While their homepage design may be a little simpler... Google still loads quicker. Cause I gotta have my extra 5 seconds with page loads... it is a matter of National Security.

Re:I think...

[Otter]

I never really understood the whole butler thing either. A butler is someone who greets you at the door (and maybe gets you your pipe and slippers), but not necessarily someone who can answer any questions you might have.

In the P. G. Wodehouse novels, the dimwitted protagonist Bertie Wooster was wholly dependent on the practical and theoretical wisdom of his butler, Jeeves. As you note, though, that reference may have been lsot on most users.

They need to do a lot better than Google...

[g253]

When people started using Google instead of Altavista or Yahoo, it was IMHO because Google was better than Yahoo and Altavista was selling out and turning into sheer crap. If Ask wants to grab some market share, it will not do to be as good as Google or to offer a couple of extra nice features, even if that's an impressive feat; they will have to be so much better that people will not want to use Google anymore. Good luck to them...

Re:They need to do a lot better than Google...

[iocat]

Ask's search results are just as good as Google's IMHO (when I've asked it about a subject I know a lot about, sometimes the results are actually better than Google's to be honest). I use Google more cause of the toolbar, but I use Ask's portal as my homepage because it's full featured, loads quickly, and is ad free.

Re:They need to do a lot better than Google...

[ThePhilips]

Google people are clever.

Many people have noticed their approach. First they provided fast search. Then they have provided more results. Then have started filtering results to artificially guess what you really want. Then have introduced "hacks" (and in fact they are still introducing them) for most of the often searched items.

E.g. "man ifconfig" as well as "msdn CreateWindow" on Google do what I want and expect from them - fetching me pages with technical documentation. When I search in Germany "Berlin Muenchen" Google gives me option to jump to Bahn.de and look for train connections between the two cities. Weather? - he you go. Movies? - you are welcome. Shopping? - here it is. And so on. (*)

Google is cool because they always tried to bring better results for every search. And they did NOT stuck with "only search" moto like for example Altavista did many years ago. People search for various kinds of information - you can NOT optimize in general - but you can in particular. And Google optimizes lots of lots of the particular cases. That's why I like Google.

That process takes time. And of course, it requires the feat now *very* UNpopular across the IT industry: listening to your users.

Good Luck Ask.com - Google needs some healthy competition ;-)

(*) I suspect Google constantly analizes what people look for and which results they click on. That way they can guess in advance what majority of users expects from the search.

Overall I am impressed

[liliafan]

It seems like ask has come a long way, the binoculars feature is actually really smooth, I was expecting a slow loading feature when I read the article but I was suprised.

One thing I am not so keen on is the adverts displayed at the top of the page, something you see all over the place now, but also at the bottom of the page, meaning, I had to view them twice, I imagine for the advertisers this is a major benefit but to me the user it is an annoyance to have to scroll further to view the next page of results.

Another minor annoyance when you make a search you can go to settings but then to get back to your results you have to click the back button or make a change and save the settings there is no cancel and the top links to images, news, shopping and more options disappear from the top.

Minor annoyances aside though it looks like ask.com has taken a page from the google book of search engines and come up with a reasonably fast (feels a little slower than google), minimalist site with nice features, hopefully they will get the recognition they deserve for a job well done.

Poor Jeeves...

[PoitNarf]

Last I heard was that Jeeves was so upset about being dropped that he clocked an ask.com board member on the head with a pipe in the ballroom.

Re:Poor Jeeves...

[PoitNarf]

I found the ask.com cover story for Jeeves disappearance. I'm not buying it!

http://sp.ask.com/en/docs/about/jeeveshasretired.h tml

http://blog.ask.com/2006/02/thanks_jeeves.html

Oblig. Simpsons Quote

[agraupe]

I know what we can ask Jeeves: why does he suck?

One big difference

[Araxen]

Ask.com throws big ad searches first before any of the results you actually want. Google ads are off to the side. I'll stick with Google still.

I like it...

[Otter]

Like with most "natural language" search hype, I always found that the only thing Ask Jeeves seemed to do effectively was ignore the context and pick out keywords. That's probably genuinely useful for a lot of users, but if you know how to use keywords, there's no advantage.

But the new Ask.com site is the first real advance in web search since the original Google came out. My one gripe is that their banner ads on other sites (with the Google results whooshing by in a blur) are really annoying.

Ask.com Maps and Directions

[Lord Satri]

I took a look at TFA. Is it me or they don't discuss this new important feature: Ask.com Maps & Directions.

Firefox Extension

[celardore]

There's a Firefox extension that adds preview images to search results.

http://ackroyd.de/googlepreview/

Are we finally into the 'less is better' stage?

[grimsweep]

There's always been something about Google that I've liked more than it's search offerings: simplicity. The interface never attempts to assault you with a load of options that I may never need (I'm looking at you, Yahoo.com). Ads come in the form of simple text panels that don't make me cringe for downloading the latest version of Flash.

Given the number of gaming sites I go to these days, I would love to see this design philosohpy adapted to more sites on the web. Not only does it help the user, but it can potentially save bandwidth and reduce overall traffic.

excellent engine, took me right

[wardk]

to google when I entered google in the search area.

now if MS can pull of something like this....

Why is "ask.com" a competitor? (Uses Google ads!)

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

Why is "ask.com" considered a competitor? After all, "ask.com" still serves Google Ads. (How do I know? My ads are served on ask.com and I know I only bought them through Google...)

Re:has no one

[GundamFan]

https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php ?id=189&application=firefox

here you go... it's not a google product but it does add this functionality to Firefox.

Google previews are available

[phoebe]

with a Firefox plugin, which has existed for quite some time and doesn't require you to move the mouse over the binoculars making for more productive use. The extension also works with Yahoo! search and has screenshots for a lot more sites than ask.com currently has.

Cannot search in...

[klui]

Japanese. I'd guess the same will be true for Chinese characters. Ask.com has a long, long way to go. Previews are a gimmick. I can't see the text on the website. And it sucks unnecessary bandwidth while not everything has a preview.

Preview not on all links

[192939495969798999]

The preview feature is useless because 1) it's not on every page that comes back and 2) it's not updated live. What is the point, really? Here's what i'd see in 2 seconds? I'll just spend the 2 seconds, who cares! It's much nicer to have, oh i dunno, a longer summary like Google has.

I'm sorry

[Mike Savior]

But ever since Google started expanding things well beyond search, I literally had forgotten that there are other search engines out there. Only when I see a headline concerning Google's competition or see someone using Yahoo or the like, am I reminded there are alternatives. I don't know if that's good or bad, and I'm well aware Google isn't perfect, but if they can affect people as profoundly as they have me, then Jeeves and competitors will just be putting work in for nothing. But this is probably just me being ignorant.

More on Ask.com

[packdel99]

These posts have more about what's new, enhanced, etc. http://www.resourceshelf.com/2006/03/askcoms-new-l ook-scores-big-points.html http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php /3587686 http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6317186.ht ml The image database has also been revamped. http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php /3580061

Google has one big advantage...

[NthDegree256]

Yeah, yeah, but Google is a verb now. Try and compete with that, Ask.com.

... what?

Re: Ask Maps vs Google Maps

[RonDiggity]

Ask actually correctly places Playa Vista (a relatively new neighborhood in Los Angeles), whereas on Google simply points at downtown LA.