Disagree. Google just had way better results than every other search engine. Secondly, it had a much more streamlined and simple interface (they had a simple search box with a "Search" Button -- no page directory, no email, no banner ads -- during that time period search engines had giant directories of pages by category when you first opened them up) . People would often refer novice users to Google because there were less points of confusion. By the time the company IPO'd they were already on an exponential tear.