idoc - 10:53 pm on Feb 8, 2004 (gmt 0)

zeberdee,

When I said:
"the average "joe surfer" doesn't really know how to use a search engine" I didn't mean to imply that they should, in fact until recently google was about the best for being user friendly IMO.

Now, unless you know how to use boolean operators you won't be able to get results on a commercial search term that you would a couple months ago. Some are going to argue that is good, spam is less... but define spam. Is a directory page returning for a commercial search term SERP that has ppc ads on it for the searched term a good result? To me it is no better than the old spam, but that's just me. Will the average "joe surfer" be able to tell the difference... probably not. But, if another engine becomes known as the more "user friendly" of the engines they are done for. The internet is a very unforgiving place.