Bing v Google

http://www.bing-vs-google.com/

It's fascinating to see the side by side results for a search, but I've noticed a nasty little trend, particularly since so many people rely on search engines instead of directories for their research.

The first few entries are invariably a wiki and then sites wanting to sell something.

There are more perspectives out there on any given topic -- it'd be nice if search engines had a way of taking that into account.

Linear lists perhaps aren't the best way to organize what a spider program can find. We don't typically think in lists, do we? Wouldn't a scroll-anywhere GUI that showed some sort of branding list of hits be better? More results on screen = more revenue dollars from adverts, AND there would be a better representation of the internet's population than just the things that get visited the most.

Bing gets it right with the varying context results below the main list, though -- that's a big improvement over Google. (...can't believe I just said that.) A bit too commercial for my taste, but a good idea, and actually functional for certain searches.

BenPanced said:

I refuse to use Bing because their TV ads are too creepy. I also never consider the technical aspects; "search engines instead of directories" is completely lost on me.

Click to expand...

I can clear that up.

Search engines use really, really complicated algorithms and programming to conjure a list based on a word you're interested in. Search Engines base their results off of what other people are doing. They're excellent places for advertising; a little bit of money can put your website at the top of any search matching the words you want your site associated with.

Directories are the exact opposite. They're painstakingly compiled by human beings who judge the websites and then decide what category they belong to.

In short, search Engines are lists made by a computer program, and directories are lists made by people.

Both systems have strengths and weaknesses, but search engines tend to be better for shopping and directories tend to be better for research.

That said, Bing and Google are both search engines.

And yeah, Bings' commercials really put me off, too. Ultimately, I checked it out in spite of the ads. My love-hate relationship with Microsoft was in the former portion, so I played with it for a while.