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I think 99.9% of users would hate to have to configure their search results.

celdon25 5y ago
From parent comment: > This configuration would also need to be sharable, maybe something akin to an App Store, because not all users can be asked to be technical enough to configure everything.
- faitswulff 5y ago
  That's still configuration. Sharing a config? Asking a friend for the best search algorithm? Most users are accustomed to just typing in their search query into random input fields and getting perfectly serviceable results.
  - celdon25 5y ago
    They're free to keep using Google if they want. My grandmother preferred AOL for many years after its prime. No shame in that. Or, as with any other software, there's this thing called a default, which usually works for the average user.
x86_64Ubuntu 5y ago
The Google hate is so thick that people don't even think about what a Google competitor or replacement (that isn't Google rebranded) looks like. No user is looking to pass around configuration file, or have discoverability issues because they haven't joined the right community that has what they are looking for. People want an omnibox that takes them to what they are looking for, even if they don't know what that is, full stop. Needing to essentially have a Makefile to find out "Who is the main actor in Spider-Man" is dead on arrival.
- mgkimsal 5y ago
  Absolutely no need to provide a makefile. But... there can be multiple selectable algorithms for people to choose from, and eventually some ways to configure those to your needs. Having results come up that are also explicitly labelled "You are viewing results through the FOOBAR lens - click here to use another lens". Our results are already skewed by factors that we don't have much visibility in to - being more explicit/transparent about it, while giving people some ability to influence/change the lens they view results through would be useful.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

From parent comment: > This configuration would also need to be sharable, maybe something akin to an App Store, because not all users can be asked to be technical enough to configure everything.

faitswulff 5y ago
That's still configuration. Sharing a config? Asking a friend for the best search algorithm? Most users are accustomed to just typing in their search query into random input fields and getting perfectly serviceable results.
- celdon25 5y ago
  They're free to keep using Google if they want. My grandmother preferred AOL for many years after its prime. No shame in that. Or, as with any other software, there's this thing called a default, which usually works for the average user.

x86_64Ubuntu 5y ago

The Google hate is so thick that people don't even think about what a Google competitor or replacement (that isn't Google rebranded) looks like. No user is looking to pass around configuration file, or have discoverability issues because they haven't joined the right community that has what they are looking for. People want an omnibox that takes them to what they are looking for, even if they don't know what that is, full stop. Needing to essentially have a Makefile to find out "Who is the main actor in Spider-Man" is dead on arrival.

mgkimsal 5y ago
Absolutely no need to provide a makefile. But... there can be multiple selectable algorithms for people to choose from, and eventually some ways to configure those to your needs. Having results come up that are also explicitly labelled "You are viewing results through the FOOBAR lens - click here to use another lens". Our results are already skewed by factors that we don't have much visibility in to - being more explicit/transparent about it, while giving people some ability to influence/change the lens they view results through would be useful.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]