On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 3:12 PM, gaurav luthra <[email protected]>wrote:

> FOSSManiac's concerns about Google(at the last GeekMeetup on 16th Jan.
> 2011) may have some weight in them but that DuckDuckGo is a better choice is
> surely not something that I agree with.
>
> Let me list out some quick findings after few parallel searches across
> Google and DuckDuckGo.
>
> 1.Google's search is more refined and to the point.Though it can be
> attributed to the fact that DuckDuckGo is a new player.
>

even I tried that and DDG's results were more appropriate for what I needed.
eg it returned a pdf file containing format when I searched for cover
letter, while google had returned silly looking websites which had more ads
than information. (I don't hate ads .. I just ignore them :P - OT but if you
have watched movies on DD National ... then you naturally develop the habit
of ignoring ads : ;) )


>    But opt for DDG only if you have some patience to look through the
> results to find what you want and have some(if not plenty) spare time
>    on your hands,which is very unlikely.
> 2.When searching in Google,you have a timestamp associated with each
> result(which enables me to decide whether the information is of any value to
>    me) but DDG simply displays links which may lead to some time penalty if
> you hit a dead end after opening a link.
> 3.Google provides a handy feature in Link Preview that is not present in
> DDG.
>

thats a pretty new feature .. came less than a month ago ... and frankly I
have not found it very useful till date.

>
> Now coming to the privacy part.
> 1.Everybody hates Ads.DDG doesn't have Ads but you can customize Google to
> act the way you want.
>    Install Ad-Block Plus for FF and save yourself a lot of irritation.
>

Agreed ... block or ignore :)


> 2.If you don't want Google to customize your search results,Turn OFF Web
> History.
>    Note:Google provides the Web-History Controls to both Signed-Out and
> Signed-in users.
>

yeah.. do that for stuff* that you don't want to be linked to your profile
so that when you open the website it does not start suggesting those*
results.

3.And if you want to minimise the effect of searches being traced back to
> you,search when Signed-Out of Google.
>    And if you are looking for some sensitive/classified info. or restricted
> keywords use a VPN/Proxy etc.
>

> Now some points that make DDG look evil than it is.
> 1.When you use image search on DDG.ie. <search-keyword> !i it redirects to
> Google Image Search.(wooottt???).
> 2.When you use news search on DDG ie.<search-keyword> !n it redirects to
> Yahoo News.
> 3.When you use Maps search on DDG ie. <search-keyword> !m it redirects to
> Google Maps.
>
> Now even if DDG doesn't track you,rest assured when you click on the Google
> Image,Yahoo News,Google Maps pages from above your IP
> is still being logged into their servers.
> So can I say that DDG is just adding one messy step to my Google way.Either
> way i am already being tracked (Privacy goes Boom!)
> ,so why not be smart with Google(use proper settings and protection) than
> be foolish with DDG.
>
good statement ^^

>
> So IMO the trick is to make smart Decisions.
> My 2 cents on the issue.
> I would like to hear what you have to say to this...
> --
> ~GAURAV LUTHRA~
>
>  --
> LUG@IITD - http://tinyurl.com/ycueutm
>



-- 
regards
Anuvrat Parashar

Vice President, ALiAS (Amity Linux Assistance Sapience)
Member, Digit Community Advisory Council

-- 
LUG@IITD - http://tinyurl.com/ycueutm

Reply via email to