Philoking.com

So I decided to do a completely unbiased set of blogs on Google Search vs. Microsoft Live Search. It should be know that although I work for Microsoft, I pretty much use Google Search exclusively. Thinking about that today, I wondered why. This set of blogs is an attempt to answer that question, help me decide if I should switch, and of course, review the two for your reading pleasure.

I thought I really cared for Google’s Spartan approach, just the box ma’am, just the box. I compared the launch page and found Live Search’s search page to be very pleasant to look at and while still being basic in it’s functions. So what do we have besides the box? I’ll list them out and give you my best guess at percentage of how useful it is:

• Links to Live Search, MSN and Windows Live – 30% – I am already at Live Search, if I wanted MSN I would have just typed it, and while I love Windows Live products, that’s not what I came here for. If this is my default landing page and I use either of those services frequently, it’s nice to have a one click launch.
• News Link – 40% – This is same as the links at the top, but slightly more useful to me, I can get some news with one click if this is my browser’s launch page.
• Links to Country, Options, Cashback, Advanced and Sign In – 60% – Most of these are things I would use regularly, and when I don’t they aren’t obtrusive. Nice.
• Make Live Search Your Home Page – 90% – This works well and if you change it, it goes away. For those who want to change it, it’s easy and if you don’t it’s not blingy or annoying.
• The Search Box – 100% – One thing I do like about the Live box particularly, is I can change the search before I get a list. With Google, it’s no more clicks, I can search then click images instead of clicking images then searching. But something about seeing my options first is a little more “informational” just a preference.
• Bottom Links – 50% – A news splash, more bling for Windows Live Messenger and some admin links. I understand you have to have the latter, but the other two are not all that needed.

The bottom line is of the things I don’t find all that necessary, they don’t get in my way, so I don’t mind them so much. So what about Google?

• Links for all of the search types – 20% - just like Microsoft, but not at the search box, I think proximity adds to usability, just my opinion.
• Login links for my accounts @ Google – 80% – I do use Google a lot so these things are very handy.
• The Search Box – 90% – I can dig adding the Advanced, Language and Options beside the search box, again proximity is good, Microsoft Live Search did well with the search types, but the advanced and options are a bit too far away for my taste, nice one Google.
• Google Admin Links – 10% – Got to have them, at least they aren’t obtrusive or in the way.
• Add Homepage Link -  90% – Works as well as the Microsoft one, it adds then goes away.

It really is a wash and neither clearly wins, the real answer will come in the next blog, search results. I will do variety of queries and then compare the top 5 results. See you next time.