My thoughts on msn and google

[ched]

Actually this little tid-bit of news bothers me. I see what MS did to Netscape, and how they push their own MSN search tools more and more with each new browser release (or OS release) and the total lack of relevant content to MSN search results (unless you pay enough for it), and I tend to get all flustered ... and ramble ....

or did you notice that already.

Anyway ... hello folks,
glad to have found this little forum on the web.
I hope to stop by often

[ng1106]

I have noticed that the return results on MSN are usually off-base, but I thought it was a lack of specific keywords. It's just so convenient to search the explorer address line, but it's back to Google for me!

Thanks,

Nolly

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums ched and nolly! :hi:

Oh yes, when a search engine only touts ppc listings and Looksmart ppc listings at that, they could not possibly be any good. :) What gives msn the edge is that they are the default search for most new computers bought.

[Advisor]

My thoughts on msn and google
Actually this little tid-bit of news bothers me.
What news is it that bothers you? I didn't see you post any news, and so I'm confused by your post!

Thanks,

Jill

[ched]

I read an article recently that stated that Microsoft announced that they now view Google as a competitor. The article (and I don't remember where I read it) stated the MS was now setting its sights on Google.

Apparently one MS exec. did confirm that they did consider Google a competitor, and were basing future marketing and plans to deal with them as such.

Personally I fear for any company that MS considers "competiton". Not that I don't use and like MS products, but I know they can be a bit of bully when they set their goals to monopolize various sectors of the computer industry.

[ihelpyou]

Well, I doubt if Google cares.

What can MSN search offer? Nothing. They want to make money and will always show the ppc listings first. They could never compete with Google, well, maybe in their dreams. LOL

[Advisor]

I'm sure Google welcomes the challenge.

Jill

[qwerty]

I think I read the same article, and it was about MS planning on building their own search technology, and not about competing with Google with their current (clearly inferior) results. We shall see what they come up with.

I know that Inktomi has been crawling more than they had been in the past, so apparently they're making efforts to freshen up their database. With Yahoo's purchase of Ink, I guess MS is looking into doing the job themselves. I've recently begun noticing entries in my logs for visits from "MicrosoftPrototypeCrawler".

I use Google almost exclusively for my personal searching, and generally just search the others to check my sites' standings. But I'd be happy to see more SEs work toward increasing the relevance of their results. I've certainly been watching Teoma with interest.

[webgator]

I read that article too, and the way I saw it, Microsoft views Google as a competitor because there isn't enough money in the world for Sergei and Larry to sell out to Bill Gates. :horns:

Seriously though, Microsoft is finally coming around to realizing that search is a valuable and potentially lucrative business and despite all of the billions of internet users who have heard of Microsoft, it is Google which is the most popular search site. Why else would Yahoo try to become more like Google and Overture would buy up a bunch of crawlers. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition.

[ihelpyou]

Yes, it would be good if MSN did get some kind of search engine all it's own. Since we have not seen anything of the sort as of yet, I would not hold my breath for them to do so. They love the money and still have not got a grip as to how to make money and have a good search engine. Maybe they will now? Hard to say, so we just have to wait and see. If they think that Looksmart or Overture is their answer, they are gravely mistaken. If they wish to compete with Google, many changes have to come about. If no real changes they can forget about it.

[merrick_lozano]

In the past they have either bought companies, or they have thrown lots of money at the problem. Let's see what they have in store now.