Microsoft’s Live.com the worst search engine ever?
July 18th, 2006
I was trying out some alternative search engines earlier as I wanted to become less reliant on Google. Live.com Search is supposed to by Microsoft’s Google killer. I think it’s absolutely terrible.
Take a look at the top results for Firefox on Live.com:
The official Firefox download page isn’t even even in the top 20 results. The top result is a UK company called Firefox which is an acceptable result but most people won’t be looking for it.
The second result is a spammy page which makes money by providing a Firefox with Google Toolbar download. Compare the results to those given by Google which include official download pages, Firefox advocacy site "Spread Firefox" and a link to the Firefox Wikipedia page. Live, in contrast, has an Uncyclopedia result in the top 10.
It doesn’t seem to be limited to just Firefox, Linux comes up with pretty poor results. Even a search for Windows doesn’t even bring up the official Windows XP page.
Worst search engine ever?
I don’t think you did it right. I just searched for firefox via live.com and I got Mozilla’s homepage asthe first one. The rest are pretty close to Google’s.
I’m surprised because I’m used to getting pretty good results on live.com. But most of the time it’s the same results as I get on google.com
they say it’s beta so.. :)
Thats strange. Could it perhaps be because I live in the UK? That would explain why the top result is a UK company.
I get the same results as the first 2 comments. I live in the UK.
Update: If I change my language preference to English (United Kingdom) I get the results that cow has mentioned in his post.
Same.
Just you Khlo :)
Full disclosure: original blog entry hyperlinks have been modified to link to actual results pages.
By the way, I’m using the default settings in Firefox. I am not signed in and have not customized anything on Live.com. Same results in IE 7.
I get those results with UK settings, which is obviously default if you come form the UK, maybe they should start checking results againsts one another and come up with a definitive search ‘list’
I get the same results as Khlo. I live in the UK, and I haven’t changed any settings on the live.com page.
The scrollbar/page system annoys me a lot as well.
Microsoft appears to be making the erroneous assumption that results from somewhere geographically nearer will be far more useful than they are - probably they’re gearing their searches towards users looking for the nearest blockbuster, rather than those looking for non-localised data such as software.
Also, I’m impressed with the number of "sponsored" sites offering a free firefox download despite not apparently being related to the mozilla foundation. What’s the odds that they’re laden with spyware?
Could it perhaps be because I live in the UK?