Bing Is Pretty, But Is it Any Good?

What's with all the trying to kill google lately, anyway? Why weren't they trying to kill google years ago? A little late to the ball game, aren't we?

This article is of the lowest of the low considering it's (lack of) quality. This is NOT science, it's not even Fact, this is tech gossip which I think is so far from what PopSci should be publishing. PS used to have nice articles and I have been subscribed for a few years now, but recently there have fewer and fewer articles on science posted, and the ones that are unscientific- like this one- are so steeped in opinion that it's not even funny. I mean for crying on out loud! Isn't there any most science to post that you have to bring back "golden nuggets" from the 60s, 70s??? I can now with out a shadow of remorse say that I am unsubscribing from this rather very low quality "Science" blog. Bleh.

O BTW, I have used both google and Live/Bing for many years now and I honestly like Bing far more than any search engine I ever tried. That includes yhoo, goog, and a few others.
And no, I'm not affiliated with Microsoft, or and competing science blog.

Well, then would you recommend a better blog that's more recent news? Obviously PS is the first answer anyone, such as myself thinks of when wanting to hear about new and exciting things. Tell me, sir/ma'am, if there's something better that I'm unaware of. Please and Thank you.

I agree. The second that this site turned into blog-format it seemed to have lost connection with the magazine. Why are we reading an article on rather or not one web service is better than another? Isn't this an article more aptly suited for Engadget or Gizmondo?

rlenston, I'm sure you could find something here: www.bing.com/search?q=science+blog&go=&form=QBLH

As for me, I'm not too wildy into this sort of stuff so I can do without and LifeHacker's occasional "cool discovery/invention" article does me fine. (Just thought of Wired.com, that might be an alternative as well)

Wonderflex, My feelings exactly. That's why we have the whole life-hacker/gizmodo family.

Wow. LogicalValidity took me seriously. I figured I'd get trolled to death. Thank you, Sir/Ma'am. You are much appreciated. I do think, however, that I will be frequenting this site quite a bit, mainly for the high I get on the hype of things. I do have a tendancy to google stuff, at the very least, after I've read about it. On a side note, I think it's hilarious that you've linked to Bing.

I wonder if part of the $100 million budget went towards paying for Bing trolls to flood comment boxes on any article Bing-related...

Microsoft just wants to destroy all other companies and take over.. that's all it really is about. =P They have their hands in everything... Next I'll have to buy my milk and bread at the Microsoft-mega-mart. I better be quiet or I'll give them more ideas =O (they're listening you know????) heh...

No, it'll be "Micro-mart" spelt in blue letters with a little star... And to make it extra special, it'll be the size of a cities downtown. Eventually, entire cities will become Microville A1,D3,E9,A9E and we'll all live in a Microstate. Addresses will take the form: E5A89CmvA1B2msC4

Bing looks cool, but its not as good (not at all) at figuring out what the heck I'm looking for (which often, even I don't know) So sticking with Google.

Hey google is trying to steal some of the internet browser market from microsoft, but when microsoft gets into the search market its seen as hostile? As is stated by the article Bing does work really well if your input is perfect, but Google is much better at understanding whatever you type - most people have gotten used to just typing in whatever pops into their head and still getting good results. Bing you have to think a little more about what you're searching for.
Anyway this article does miss a few cool features and is not very thorough in testing its search capabilities. The Bing cashback for shopping seems to be the most interesting feature to me but I'm not so sure how it works.

"Hey google is trying to steal some of the internet browser market from microsoft, but when microsoft gets into the search market its seen as hostile?"

I'm going to have to agree with you on that one, except to point out the fact that Microsoft has already been in the search market for a very long time, so they're not really "getting into" the market as much as flailing their arms for attention. I think people have reached the point where we assume any act by Microsoft to encroach on a market is a hostile act.

Really, unless either company thinks they can do the same task spectacularly better than the other, all they're doing is throwing money down the drain. Why would I bother switching to another search engine, when Google already does exactly what I need? And why would I bother switching to a new browser, when I already have one that does everything I want it to? Granted, that browser is Firefox, so I guess Microsoft is 0 for 2...

Bing image search is awesome!! I got bored after typing in stuff into the general search, so I typed in Origami (FTW!!!) into the image search, and got rewarded with a huuuuuge page full of pretty images, and you don't have to click any next button, as it automatically brings more images as you scroll down. Another feature in image search that I found awesome, you can hover over the thumbnail of an image you especially like and click the button labeled "Show similar images", and it reloads the image search with results with somewhat similar images (obviously).

That said, it also sometimes shows up with a pointless image or 2 of chicks trying to look hot etc, but only occasionally.

^guy above me, microsoft grunt

Linux-Don't fear the penguin
Dustin H

Not sure if I want to try it yet, don't forget all the security issues Microsoft has with Windows

I recall Microsoft in the past having something called Smart Tags in IE offering additional information, but got forced to stop linking those smart tags to advertising.

So these hot-spots on the back ground image, do they provide additional information on the image, or do they link to advertising, and pay for things, like travel to the location where the image was taken?

Don't forget, MS does nothing unless there is profit, and it must be worried about open source OS taking over, it tried getting IE into 100% of computers, knowing that everything was becoming web based (today's free cloud computing apps, with advertising) it lost the browser wars, so now its going for Search.

And did not Google put out the Chrome Browser in competition with IE? (and Firefox)

I have found that while prettier than its predecessor, Bing is very biased. Simply typing in "linux" at the Bing homepage and seeing what suggestions are populated and you'll see what I mean (they're all Microsoft sites).

I actually thought Bing was kind of cool until I realized how biased it's results are. I'll stick with Google because it's better and I don't feel dirty after using it, heh.

why don't they just kiss and make up, Microsoft and Google? if they were to work together again, what other junk could they produce?

Google rocks. It would be cool to combine Microsoft's lame attempt with google so that it would benefit the consumer, but Microsoft would never go for it. Furthermore, if Google doesn't have any copyrights and patents to go over, why don't they take the good things out of But it's still not google?

Since Bing is using human input now to determine best results, I'd expect it to grow in market share as the results start becoming more relevant.

http://beecherbowers.com

I get blown in the direction of Bing once in a while, never had any particular problem or success that was remarkable. That said, I'll still take Tux the Penguin. Linux will always be both simpler and safer, not even speaking about how much more functional the filing systems operations are. Never Run A Defrag Again, use FREE TECH!

I dont love bing, it doesnt worth Google at all, in my opinion...

www.tendances-de-mode.com/tag/zara