Is the world better or worse off with Google

Would your life be more or less fulfilled without Google.

[colin_h]

I wonder whether things would really be any different if they weren't around. We always think that the latest technologies are totally indespensible, but lets face it ... they're just another poxy search engine. Would I be able to find what I want without them? Yes. Would there be another dozen search engines out there to replace them? Yes. When I search Google does it help my life in any way more or less than any other search engine? No.

So what makes them so special?

Come on, let me have your thoughts ...

[tedster]

I remember quite vividly what search was like before Google came on the scene -- it was a whole lot tougher and more time consuming to find information. Searches often returned many completely irrelevant pages -- not just spam pages, but pages that were just way off the mark. The idea seemed to be that if you could serve a couple decent results on the first page, the user would muddle through just fine.

Google's core insight -- that off-page factors are not as easy to manipulate -- was a big step forward and the effects of their algo were noticed and at least echoed (not exactly copied) by others

Recently, while Webmaster World was not in the Google index at all for several weeks, I had lots of reasons to use other search engines. I was usually looking for the address of a thread that I already KNEW existed (a major advantage) and so I had a very good handle on keywords.

I wish I could say the other engines were as good, or even better -- alternatives are a good thing and market domination is not long-term healthy in my view. However, nothing I tried compared to Google for finding resorces that I already knew existed here.

I've got clients with a significant amount of information where we struggle to build a good site search. And there we have the advantage of knowing and controlling the algorithm 100%. It is a major struggle, as our logs prove every day, to build a good search engine, even on a limited scale. I'm in awe of the results Google can get over such a mass scale with so many people working daily to game their engine.

Are there downsides to Google? Of course there are, and I'm sure that we'll hear of a few. But for me, the obvious answer to the opening question is that the world is better off for having Google's service. And stats seem to show that a significant chunk of the online world also appreciates them very much.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

[Would your life be more or less fulfilled without Google.]

Depends on how much you're making from Adsense ;)

[lammert]

Before Google, it was normal that many SERPs--for all types of search queries--were filled with adult listings, doorway pages etc. In 1997-1998 I was used to the fact that maybe three of the top ten listing for a given query where relevant to the search, until Google entered the arena.

Although many are trying to spam the Google index nowadays, SERPs on most queries are still much cleaner than the Altavista or Yahoo SERPs at the end of the previous century. Other engines than Google have since improved their algorithms and filters and results are better than some years ago, but I doubt if they would have improved their algorithms that much if Google hadn't been there.

Even if Google would be replaced by a better search engine somewhere in the future, the deserve the credits for starting to implement better relevance algorithms, increasing the SERPs quality of their own and other search engines.

[NoLimits]

The world was better off when Google was wearing a white hat, and practiced what they preach.

[Patrick Taylor]

So what makes them so special?

A comparison between homepages:

www.yahoo.com
www.msn.com
www.google.com

is one reason why. Google is nice and simple, and search is the thing.

[BillyS]

There are very few things that would really matter as far as the world is concerned.

Despite the fact that I don't agree with all of Google's moves, they are a great company. Yet, if they went away tomorrow, it would make no difference.

[King of all Sales]

Yes, Google led the way in what search is today, but lets face it, the serps from Yahoo & MSN are not all that different.

This is about business, not a lifetime achievement award. The average user (99.9% of all internet users) doesn't care who invented what first. The roadside of history is littered with dead companies who were once innovators and leaders.

And speaking of awards, Bill and Melinda Gates along with Bono were just named Time magazine people of the year for their charitable contributions. Meanwhile, Page and Brin just used a sizable chunk of their newfound wealth buying themselves a Boeing 767 so they can fly themselves and 50 friends to Africa. They really believe that there helping the world by doing that.

[King of all Sales]

Patrick Taylor-

Try using:

www.search.msn.com
www.search.yahoo.com

[Patrick Taylor]

Try using:
www.search.msn.com
www.search.yahoo.com

Yes I know, I use those myself. Doesn't alter my point.

[Key_Master]

What Tedster said.

Plus, Google brought financial sunshine to the Internet by offering quality spam-free search to it's visitors- no pop unders, no blinking ads, no pay for placement, no pay for inclusion. They didn't nickel and dime us for every little thing.

Google also proved that the Internet was still very profitable. Remember the dot-com crash? Things were pretty depressing around that time.

Google's success has made many of us a little richer and the value of our sites have also gone up as a result. Trickle down economics.

[King of all Sales]

I think the point is that the Google homepage was once special, but not now - it's too easy to replicate.

If that is the only difference between Google and the others, it's virtually meaningless since the ways that search will be implemented in the very near future is certain to change.

[europeforvisitors]

And speaking of awards, Bill and Melinda Gates along with Bono were just named Time magazine people of the year for their charitable contributions. Meanwhile, Page and Brin just used a sizable chunk of their newfound wealth buying themselves a Boeing 767 so they can fly themselves and 50 friends to Africa...

Yes, and Bill Gates built a $97 million house. (Which isn't to say that Gates doesn't deserve a huge amount of credit for his charitable contributions.)

[texasville]

I use all the big three search engines and don't find google particularly that much better. I see plenty of sites gaming google. In commercial searches for things like widgets, I find msn better. If you are looking at categories that are maybe content oriented, selling adsense for a living then perhaps google is a little better.
What I find bad about google is they dominate the marketplace on what I feel is perception. It leads websites into building for google instead of building for the surfer. If you aren't somewhere in the first two pages you are relegated to low traffic. I know, I know...don't rely on a search engine. Easy to say. But if the site is for small business, they just can't afford to hire a full time web master. And they just don't have the time to do it themselves.
This is why if market share was more equal, your chances for traffic would actually be much better.
Google worries me. I feel that it has turned into a lumbering behemoth that dictates what ever it wants to the internet.
I just wish the other engines would get their act together and better their serps and more importantly better the public's perception of them.
Bret once mentioned that the biggest gut check call he had ever seen was Go's rebranding. I agree. And I believe that msn is going to have to do the same thing to ever be true competition. Spin off search and rebrand it. I think then they could give google a run for it.
Would I miss google? No. I don't think they are smarter or better. Search was bound to evolutionize anyway. They were just first out of the starting blocks.
Do I think it will happen? Yes. As with the dot com bust, I think google's stock is inflated and will eventually topple. I think they are spreading themselves thin and into too many ventures at this point. Sooner or later something will give and with a fall in stock will come a big black eye.
Google is kind of like GM once was and somewhere out there is a small startup group. They will be the Toyota or Honda of search.

[BillyS]

Yes, and Bill Gates built a $97 million house.

What's your point? He is the richest person in the world? He spent 0.2% of his net worth on a home. I spent 46% of mine on my home.

He claims he is going to give nearly all his money away and he is taking steps to make that happen. If every billionaire was like Bill Gates this world would be a much better place.

[europeforvisitors]

What's your point?

Simply that it's a bit unfair to criticize Page and Brin for living high on the hog while ignoring the fact that Bill G's house cost nearly a tenth of a billion bucks.

In any case, nobody here is questioning or disparaging Bill Gates's charitable contributions; the question is whether the world is better or worse off with Google. From an Internet perspective, Google has certainly improved the landscape for users and mom-and-pop entrepreneurs.

[rkhare]

remember quite vividly what search was like before Google came on the scene -- it was a whole lot tougher and more time consuming to find information. Searches often returned many completely irrelevant pages

i dont agree, if anyone remember altavista was the greatest thing then, and it mostly gave relevant results

[edited by: rkhare at 7:00 pm (utc) on Dec. 18, 2005]

[King of all Sales]

The point about the Google boy's personal jet is that they justified the purchase by saying that by flying to Africa, they would make the world a better place. They said that.

That actually has a lot to do with the difference between the two companies. There is a huge difference between the people at the top that affects everything the companies do.

[phantombookman]

In my area no other search engine even comes close to Google in quality of results - they are streets ahead

[King of all Sales]

This is not new, but if you haven't seen it, check it out: [mindset.research.yahoo.com...]

[Meta_Vision]

If "all" the valences of the AOL stock purchase are understood ... then the answer is "obvious" ;)

[annej]

I remember quite vividly what search was like before Google came on the scene

I remember searching for a kind of cancer because my dad had it. I think I used Alta Vista and all it had were obituaries. Most depressing! Then I remembered hearing something about Google so I tried it. All the top cancer sites came up. I was an instant convert.

The other search engines do much better now than they did then but Google got it all started.

[BillyS]

In any case, nobody here is questioning or disparaging Bill Gates's charitable contributions.

That is my point, you are doing exactly this. First you had to point out how much money they spent on their home...

I just calle 'em as I see 'em. It's a compliment - but you had to throw in a criticism. Well I like Bill Gates almost as much as you like Google. In fact, to get back on topic, I would say the world would be worse without Bill Gates.

[europeforvisitors]

In fact, to get back on topic, I would say the world would be worse without Bill Gates.

I agree, but to really get back on topic, I think search and mom-and-pop Web sites would be worse off without Google.

[reseller]

Good evening folks

Let me put it like this. I can't imagine life without Google and without WebmasterWorld Google Search News Forum 30.

Oh..I can hear Dayo_UK shouting; well said reseller :-)

[walkman]

you guys gotta be kidding me: they are worth $12+ Billion. Why shouldn't they buy a jet? I'd buy an entire a nation too. Don't be hatin'

as far as the topic: Obviously info is found faster, but technology improves and Altavista, MSN and Yahoo would have still improved somewhat, even without Google. At the end, I think the notion that everything will be online and sorted by price, zip code etc ., is more important that saving 20 seconds on each search since you don't need to scroll that much.

[colin_h]

<<Bill Gates built a $97 million house>>

I think that it's refreshing that Bill still gets over-charged by tradesmen :-)))

[colin_h]

Probably the best I can say about Google is that they made a positive difference to people's lives for a relatively short time.

However, people like their comfort zones and soon fall into a pattern of visiting the same old sites for the same old things. After a while they shop at their favourite shops, they chat at their favourite forums and search at their favourite engine. I think what we gave been lucky enough to witness during Bourbon, Jagger etc is the decline of competition between search engines.

Google especially has expanded and extended their services and probably sees themselves as moving toward the next generation. A society where accurate information has to be delivered in double quick time, without cluttering the experience with commerce and competition. [I hope I'm making sense, it's early here and I bleary eyed].

Anyway ... I can see a day when google becomes the most comprehensive encyclopedia online. I think the latest updates are the beginning of this process. People don't want ads for male potency tablets with every search result and google have the difficult job of presenting information as accurately as possible ... without killing their revenue stream.

Good luck to them. I just like them because their home page is quicker to download than the other ;-)

[Eazygoin]

I guess Google can't please all the people all of the time, as the jigsaw puzzle is too difficult, to put all the pieces together. The anomalies of creating a spam-proof, idealogically referenced index, are virtually impossible to achieve. However, they are trying very hard to reach that target, and I give full praise for their efforts.
On checking my stats, the results for SE traffic are as follows:
Google: 86.2%
MSN: 6.2%
Yahoo: 4.6%
This may suggest that my main site needs optimising for the latter two SE's, but the truth is that I have many keywords in top positions on these also, so the only conclusion I can come to, is that more people are using Google than the others.

[Essex_boy]

way back when, I used Metacrawler.com things were just fine.