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Doesn't that just prove the point though? In 1998 there were plenty of search engines and their use was distributed more evenly. The internet was still fairly
by Jochim 4y ago
Doesn't that just prove the point though?
In 1998 there were plenty of search engines and their use was distributed more evenly. The internet was still fairly new and most people weren't online yet. It certainly wasn't an integral part of most people's life. Google came along and improved on the existing search engines and in doing so wiped out a lot of that competition, becoming what they are today.
A new search engine now has to compete with global network effects, orders of magnitudes more data, Android, and a complex web of interconnected functionality.
Even only looking at the advantage that Google Maps brings to the table totally blows past any barriers present in 1998. Sure, you could build a much better search engine but who's going to use it when it can't give them directions?
Then consider that if you look like you'll end up making some headway, you're likely to just get bought and killed off/integrated.
- 300bps 4y agoA new search engine now has to compete with global network effects, orders of magnitudes more data, Android, and a complex web of interconnected functionality. Are you a pessimist in life? You’re focusing on only the negative aspects of starting a search engine today. 24 years after Google was formed we have orders of magnitude cheaper processing, orders of magnitude better AI, the ability to start small with cloud computing and work your way up from there. We have 24 years of search engine research to a large extent publicly available. I really think all this “things would’ve been so much easier back then” are simply excuses as to why someone can’t do something today.
- ReflectedImage 4y agoWhat alternative search engine which isn't Bing (including DuckDuckGo) have you used recently? They do exist, have you heard of any of them?
- richardsocher 4y agoWe're growing a lot at you.com
- Jochim 4y agoHey Richard, great to hear you guys are doing well! A search engine with more personal control over rests is certainly attractive. My intention wasn't to dismiss the possibility of popular new search engines. Only to highlight that the environment is substantially more complex/challenging than in 1997.