Bing Pun
June 5, 2009
Short honk: The folks at ZDNet are showing their sense of humor. Garett Rogers’ “Google Is in Bing Trouble” is a wry comment about Microsoft’s most recent attempt to close the gap in Web search. Mr. Rogers wrote here:
It’s unlikely Microsoft’s new search engine, or “decision engine” as they would like you to think of it, has a chance to topple Google at a game they have been dominating for many years. Ballmer takes a realistic approach to the situation and confesses that it’s not going to become the search leader overnight — it’s going to take time.
In my opinion, I struggle with the notion of a “decision engine”. Most of the people I have interviewed and surveyed tell me that search systems should provide answers. I want a low airfare. I see the fares and I buy the lowest priced fare. I suppose that’s a decision, but I like the notion of an answer or actionable information. “Decision” is a more pompous word, unlike Bing. Bing is down-home.
Stephen Arnold, June 2, 2009