Google’s index nearly Doubled Wednesday, most likely in response to the release of the new MSN Search Beta version just released. MSN is getting some decent reviews, but no one seems to be saying it’s any better than Google. Seattle Post-Intelligencer has a good list of reviews. Be sure to check out what Gary Price has to Say , as well as coverage at Research Buzz
Also,
The BBC reviews the big 5 search engines in a very interesting article.
Related stories at PCMag.com, Business Week (MSN Search’s Beta Blunder), and many, many More.
Thanks to Pete, Gary and searchengines guy for submissions on this one.
Just another tool
I can understand why the search engine market (if it’s even called that) is in a hoopla to find a “Google Killer” app, but I wonder sometimes if they really understand how people search the web? Especially if that person is some kind of professional info dude.
After all, we know that search engines are a tool. And like all tools, they have their uses and are better for some things than others. It’d be like Craftsman announcing that it has a “hammer killer” tool. Hell, anything can be a hammer, but you probably don’t want to drive nails with your US$250 cordless drill. They tried to sell nail guns as making hammers obsolete. Except any woodworker will tell you that there’s times a nail gun simply won’t work. It’s too big. Nail guns are for rapid fire joining and they’re great for roofing and construction projects. They’re not so good really for smaller things like cabinetry and railings.
Same thing goes with search engines. They’re tools. One’s better than another and offers a little something extra than another. Google’s great, I use it 96% of the time to find stuff on the web. Yet its Image Search leaves quite a bit to be desired when you compare it to AltaVista’s Image Search. Google allows you to search for three sizes of image: small, medium, and large. They took away the wallpaper size for some reason. Meanwhile, over at AltaVista I can search for 21 different sizes; small, medium, large, wallpaper, wide wallpaper, and 16 other standard sizes. Sorry, Google fans, but that beats the hell out of Google Image Search.
MSN’s search, whether good or bad, is destined to become yet another tool. It’ll be great at some things, good at others, and miserable at others. When it doesn’t work, we’ll go to the search engine that we know will produce some results.
Re:Just another tool
Biggest problem for us in the library is not so much the better hammer, as much as we need to get a working knowledge of what tools exist out there. There are too many sources of information on the web and it is overwhelming. With the acquisition of Keyhole Google is positioning itself as the big box retailer of information–Web, News, Images, Store! One tool, one engine, one search. One stop information shopping is comforting.
MSearch is trying to beat Google at it own game, and it won’t work. They will just be another noise in the crowd. People want what they know, and they know Google. They don’t use IE because its good, they use it because it’s there. Search engines are a choice and people won’t choose MS. Only if MS truly innovates to something original will it move into a lead position, and I don’t think MS has it in them. People go with what they know.
I will confess I use Google way too much myself. I’m in the information business and I didn’t know that AltaVista’s search was better. There are so many tools that we struggle under their weight. We need to understand what the best tools are without adding every search engine or directory to our searching toolkit. This is where a peer group like LISNews can come in.
My question to the group is not “Will Microsoft’s search beat Google,” but, “In what ways can MSearch work better?”
Re:Just another tool
I will confess I use Google way too much myself. I’m in the information business and I didn’t know that AltaVista’s search was better.
The image search is the only thing that AltaVista has on Google. Other than that, AltaVista’s web search is under par. It really wouldn’t take much for Google to bring their image search up to stat with AltaVista, just add more options. They wouldn’t have to change the way they do things, because I still get “missed” images with AltaVista. All they need to do is make it so I can better select sizes.
That’s pretty much the same thing as saying that all someone needs to do to sell me a certain car is to paint it a different colour.