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Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo?
- Thread starter marc55
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I use Bing for the Bing Reward points. The search results are just as good as Google for me, but I can redeem my points for Amazon gift cards (or one of many other items, but I prefer the Amazon GC). I've considered using DuckDuckGo for the privacy consideration (you are correct it does not track), but ultimately decided I'm okay with a little tracking if I get stuff out of it.
By the way, if you decide to sign up for Bing rewards then DM me to send you a referral link.
By the way, if you decide to sign up for Bing rewards then DM me to send you a referral link.
I like Google which seems to have fallen out of favor. On occasion I will use Bing when Google is not giving me the results I am looking for.
DuckDuckGo is my personal default as well; it's the default in Firefox on Linux Mint too, which is where I discovered DDG.
I use Google only for image searches nowadays.
I use Google only for image searches nowadays.
Depending on what you search for, it may be different. To me, I prefer Google. For example, search this phrase:
g group |A| + |B| > |G| show G = AB
This is from abstract algebra about group theory, and only Google gives me what I want at the first page (I didn't see relevant results from other engines). I also realized that Google gives better results from advanced topics than other engines. Other engines may change in the future, but now only Google works.
If I search using phrases like "where to go around.....", the results from 3 engines are very similar. I can say that searching for common/social terms and topics probably don't make much difference.
You choose a search engine that works well for your field/job.
g group |A| + |B| > |G| show G = AB
This is from abstract algebra about group theory, and only Google gives me what I want at the first page (I didn't see relevant results from other engines). I also realized that Google gives better results from advanced topics than other engines. Other engines may change in the future, but now only Google works.
If I search using phrases like "where to go around.....", the results from 3 engines are very similar. I can say that searching for common/social terms and topics probably don't make much difference.
You choose a search engine that works well for your field/job.
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There's no doubt Google's search results are generally better than DuckDuckGo, but the privacy issues have made me switch my defaults to the latterif I need to, !g or !i lets me search Google securely or use their images.
Occasionally I've used Bing for their rewards, but I also don't have as many services tied to Microsoft so I'm not as worried about tracking.
At this point I only use Youtube and Gmail from Google, and I'd like to keep my reliance on them as slight as possible.
Occasionally I've used Bing for their rewards, but I also don't have as many services tied to Microsoft so I'm not as worried about tracking.
At this point I only use Youtube and Gmail from Google, and I'd like to keep my reliance on them as slight as possible.
Good point. As I said, it really depends on the nature of our job and how much information we make available online. To me, I care less my privacy if I cannot get my research done. Think about the feeling when you try to find something, but the search engine doesn't have.
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I have never been satisfied with the results from DuckDuckGo, so if I am searching something that I feel needs privacy, I just power up TOR and hit Google that way.
Most of my searches are innocuous enough, all of Google is SSL wrapped, and you can tell them not to remember browser/search history in your account settings... so that all serves me fine under ordinary circumstances.
I've never touched Bing since this post from Google's official blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/microsofts-bing-uses-google-search.html
I never follow up on that, so who knows if it was true or not, but under Ballmer's stunningly inept reign, it wouldn't have surprised me at all... and I just don't respect that methodology. Same reason I won't buy a Samsung product.
Most of my searches are innocuous enough, all of Google is SSL wrapped, and you can tell them not to remember browser/search history in your account settings... so that all serves me fine under ordinary circumstances.
I've never touched Bing since this post from Google's official blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/microsofts-bing-uses-google-search.html
I never follow up on that, so who knows if it was true or not, but under Ballmer's stunningly inept reign, it wouldn't have surprised me at all... and I just don't respect that methodology. Same reason I won't buy a Samsung product.
After hearing that Google is going to downrank sites without a mobile site when the search originates from a mobile device, I'm switching to DuckDuckGo for a trial. I wish Google would do the opposite - downrank sites with a mobile site. I hate mobile sites. My iOS devices handle desktop sites perfectly.
Unless you've read something I haven't, I think you're mistaken on what Google is trying to do. They are not down-ranking websites that don't have a separate mobile site. In fact, I think they'd probably prefer one website that works well on any device.
The sites they are penalizing are those that have a separate mobile site, but redirect people to the wrong page or result in a 404 missing page error, along with sites that use a video format which is unplayable on most mobile devices (like Flash).
More info here.
Thank you for the addition info. However, the link you provided is from June 2013, almost two years ago. The change I'm talking about wen into effect just a couple weeks ago.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mobilegeddon-seo-implications-google-lastest-195129757.html
And I'm totally willing to admit I could be mistaken about what exact criteria Google is using to adjust search results rankings.
The article summarizes: "This major [update] penalized websites that did not provide a positive user experience for mobile users via a mobile site or effective responsive design."
"Positive user experience" and "effective responsive design" are rather subjective - could be there's more to this than simply "is there a mobile site that smartphones get redirected to?"
Totally. I don't mind too much, if they give you the option to switch to the desktop version. And I also wouldn't mind so much if the mobile version was fully functional, but pared down.
Is it me, or do the sites that don't offer the ability to switch to desktop mode are the ones with the worst mobile versions of their own sites?
Bing, Bing, Bing, We have Winner! I prefer Bing because I love the picture of the day, have been using it since 2013, love Microsoft Rewards and love Bing Images integration with Pinterest and other 3rd Parties. Bing also has support for third party services and OneNote integration!!!!