British Expat Forum

Today is Googles 7th Birthday.

Amazing to think we have all been 'googling' for as long as that. I must admit to not really using any other sort of search engine any more, if there is something I want to know, I just 'Google it' and normally get the information that I want.

I never did get the hang of what the 'Ask Jeeves' search engine was all about. It seemed to infer that you should ask a direct question, but whenever I did just that, it seemed to shoot a whole lot of other questions right back at me....when all I really needed was - an answer!

How do all the other posters on BE find information - do you go straight to Google or do you find the other search engines just as helpful?

I refuse to use them and I hate that "google" has now entered the vernacular. They engage in practices that make Microsoft look like the good guy.

I use any search engine available as long as it's not them. Far from "happy birthday", I wish them a childhood demise.

Well, you did ask

Alan.

I had a feeling you were going to say something like that, Alan.

Perhaps you can explain your reasons for Mojan and anyone else who might wonder why you aren't a fan of Google - or point to another thread (I think there might be one on your Internet board here) where you've already done it.

I expect it's to do with their "monetization" policies and the sand box etc.

The thing is that those of us who make our living online are always more up on these issues than the average Internet user.

I still use Google, and have recently also started paying for AdWords because if you can't beat them you have to join them. I've looked for alternatives for AdSense too (eg AdBrite) but nothing comes close.

Which search engine would you recommend?

My biggest gripe with them is the subject of this thread:
http://www.britishexpat.com/expatforum/viewtopic.php?t=6033
(their "toolbar" defaces web sites, illegally infringes on my copyright and adds outgoing links to my web pages and thousands of web masters are having to add code to every page of their web sites to stop this theft).

Yes, I also have big issues with their policies re the sandbox. The sandbox is a compulsory penalisation of web sites for competitive search phrases of anything up to and above a year. Basically, if you have a new web site - no matter how good it is and useful it would be to the public, it is buried thousands deep in the results for an undisclosed period of time. Of course, during this time, you have little choice but to pay for listings - and it'll probably be with google adwords.
This practice does nothing for the search engine users and denies them some very useful information just so that google can get revenue from the PPC (Pay-per-click) model.

I have issues as to why they need to place a cookie that uniquely identifies me and that will stay on my machine until 2038!
I have issues with them providing the browsing history of their users to the US government and the fact that they refuse to explain why.

I have issues that they are just about the only people that have software (the dreaded google toolbar) that updates itself and installs new programs on your computer without even asking you first!

Other than that, yeah, happy birthday

Alan.

Thanks for finding that thread, Alan. Crikey! I'd forgotten just how serious the issue is. It's so easy just to use Google and gloss over the realities.

Again, please can you tell us which search engine you recommend?

PS: I'm moving this to the "Making the most of the Internet" board because I think it belongs in there more than on Chinwags. 8)

Oops, sorry. Actually, I'm finding it hard to recommend one. I use msn search. I used to use yahoo, but for some reason I have regular connection issues with them.

This could be a good poll. I'll try to set one up on the Making the Most of the Internet forum.

Alan.