On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:37:08 +1100, timeless <timel...@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 3:49 AM, Charles McCathieNevile
<cha...@opera.com> wrote:
No, I don't think so. Google searches based on analysis of the open web
are *not* generally more reliable than faceted searches over a reliable
dataset, and in some instances are less reliable.
dunno. i use google to search apple, msdn, and a number of other
technical resources because the actual technical resource search
engines are unusable/useless.
Sure. That's wonderful that Google are so good (or sad that the people who
make the information you rely on are so useless).
i also use gmail (which i presume shares some intelligence with
google) to manage access to bug databases, because it's faster/smarter
than the actual database search engine..
And I use my Opera's filters to search for certain things because they are
far more efficient than the full-text search I also use. It depends on the
use cases.
My point is not that Google is bad. It is that there are all kinds of
search where it is not the best. One set are those which reliy on faceted
information and on well-developed metadata. I don't know what searches you
do, but I know that some databases I search are dreadfully maintained and
free-text is the only sensible approach, while others are well-designed
and I can get better results from a tool designed for the job I am trying
to do.
Anecdotal evidence that demonstrates there is a use case for Google is
something we probably don't need. I think that we are all convinced that
Ian's employer is important - not least because it kindly pays Ian for his
work. I think the question is to establish what cases doesn't Google
serve. (Well, and the rest of the search engine market, who I believe are
the majority of searches performed globally even on the public internet).
And my further question to Ian is what are the criteria for deciding
whether a case is sufficient.
cheers
Chaals
--
Charles McCathieNevile Opera Software, Standards Group
je parle français -- hablo español -- jeg lærer norsk
http://my.opera.com/chaals Try Opera: http://www.opera.com
