I have a challenge for you today, my dear patient readers.
Try out Sputtr.com, a relatively new startup in search, that allows you to search almost everything in almost every search engine.
Yeah, but, how?
I first met this gem when I was writing a review for it for my PC Magazine Web 2.0 columns. I swear that it left me feeling as a stupid user for far too long… The problem is, how am I supposed to search in another search engine apart from the default one? (namely, Google)
I tried everything. From dragging and dropping the search engine icons to the placeholder (well, it looks like a placeholder to me) on the right, from trying to trick the site by clicking quickly on the search form after clicking on one of the search engine icons.
Turns out, that’s not it: the icons below are supposed to be a submit button, meaning that you first have to enter your search criteria in the form above and then ignore the fat Google button on the right, just to click on another of the options below. Sounds intuitive when someone explains it to you eh? Yeah.
Excuse me, but I didn’t get the whole point in it. I may sound stupid, but I really didn’t. When i first met this service, it even had a mini-tutorial above the search form that actually guided the users in how to use it.
Really: why would a search engine require a friggin’ tutorial to use? Really.
6 comments on this post
John Tsevdos #1
03.Sep.07
That’s why I never change Google. Easy ‘n simple!!!
porcupine #2
03.Sep.07
They could make everything easier if they added just a line of helping text underneath the searchbox or anywhere.
I never really used such search engines so the question is “is it really useful”?
Sugar #3
03.Sep.07
@John: Amen to that.
@porcupine: The thing is, why would anyone *need* supporting text in a simple search engine? It’s not that you’re about to use a complex CRM system or anything…
KCorax #4
03.Sep.07
I generally think that it’s ok when tools for pros have a learning curve. For example google scholar and the likes all have their own bizzare markup for limiting your results
No wait, I just saw the engine. It’s not good. It’s not good at all. I thought the buttons bellow are switches for bringing in customized results. Oh and there is no way to combine them.
Oh that’s sad.
Ok, it’s not that bad once you learn it. 60” at most I guess.
But it doesn’t let you combine results, that’s dumb.
Sugar #5
03.Sep.07
@Kcorax: See my point? This engine defies every conceptual model for search engines – everyone seems to have another theory on the use of these buttons.
And you’re right, no way to combine the results sucks.
KCorax #6
03.Sep.07
Hm, their IP is on domaincontrol.com . You know what ? I think this is a next gen search that will populate occupied domains to make them appear as legitimate businesses, kinda like what metacrawler devolved into.
And oh my I think you missed a 200$ bounty. That was a one time, not per blogger. http://rurl.org/8ne oh so cheap.
?????????? !