Hey, Rene --
While you and I are fiddling, Rome (CMGI) is burning in the last half hour. Down 7-ish -- ugh! -- while the Naz continues to dive.
Anyway, allow me to respond to your thoughts here:
An issue of specialization. Yes, portals usually have some form of search engine, but so far I have yet to find one that allow me to make as specialized searches as I can with AltaVista. Granted, most people probably don't know how to use this to the full but that is just a matter of time, I think.
I respectfully disagree and would posit that you're making my point. You are interested in specialized searches -- sophisticated stuff that will never be mainstream. My mother doesn't know what Boolean means, you know? As you say, most people don't know how to use this and it's NOT a matter of time. In fact, I believe the OPPOSITE will occur. People on the Web to this point are the earlier adopters, more willing to use Boolean operands, etc. To get further down the adoption curve, portals and search engines will have to build in MORE simplicity, not more POWER.
Try searching for an mp3 tune with an artist you know, say "Beatles" just for the example. You can remember that it's something about "darling", "love" and possible "money". Try searching for that on Lycos -
Well, it's your example... I hate to tell you, but Lycos has a simple MP3 button where you search for just MP3 files. Very simple.
On top of that, when I click "AltaVista" on my bookmarks I get straight to the search interface. No need to wait for a page full of stuff I don't need to download.
That's merely bandwidth and the time to load a Lycos vs. AV home page is trivial. Certainly not a reason why a search engine page is better than a portal page...
I don't think the web world has settled yet. Yes, AOL and the others still have a lot of clicks, but we're still very much in the infancy of the Internet revolution.
You're certainly correct, but as I mentioned above, the early adopters are far more interested in complex searches and specialized engines. As we cross the chasm, mainstream mom-and-pops ain't gonna do that or need that.
Home page? Who needs a home page? In my browser I have "Blank page" as my home page. No need to go download something I don't need. When I (re-)start my browser (which is not often, it's usually always on) I usually know exactly where I want to go - and it's rarely to a portal.
Simple solution, just hit the stop button when you load the browser.
Granted, I use Yahoo News from time to time, but that is just to get quick headlines not to use any of the other - for me - unnecessary stuff available there.
I guess this, too, validates my point. Do you read a general-circulation daily newspaper? Most people (albeit a declining number, admittedly) do. That's because specialized sources prevent the pleasant "discovery" experience of browsing and flipping through new and unfamiliar topics...
Sorry Rene, I'll stop beating the horse here. I guess we just disagree.
Talk to you later,
Scarecrow |
