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Comment by nutter | Hacker News Reader

I made the switch to DDG a couple of months ago, as I like their search results page (long listing, not short pages like Google), but after repeatedly being frustrated by not finding the results I need (and surprised each time I hit Google only to find the results right at the top), I switched back to Google yesterday. DDG as awesome as they are, simply are not Google. :(

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The reason Google can give you good results is because of the tracking they do at tailoring the search results to you. DuckDuckGo doesn't do tracking like Google, so it's not going to be tailored to you.

Then what's the point of using DDG, when it can't give the results, tailored as per my needs!

What hnriot says is pretty true. However, one of the points of using DDG is right on their front page below the search bar: "The search engine that doesn't track you."

As I said, the results can't be tailored to your needs. For instance: when I search Python how does DDG know to bring up? Python can refer to the snake, the programming language, the horror film, the missile, the sports car, the turboprop engine, etc.. DDG doesn't know what I intend. It can try to go off of popularity though, or I have to feed it more keywords for what I'm actually looking for.

Granted other engines can have this issue, but I think DDG more susceptible to this problem.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8266839

that's not the only reason, google's results are better because they have vastly more resources both in employee talent and data. It's not just something as trivial as keeping track of your search history.

Where do you think those vast resources come from? Those resouces come from selling every ounce of information on you they can, they are even reading your email before you even open it. http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/09/04/google-spyi...

"they" aren't reading email and what does it even mean "before I open it" - they host it!!! It's software that "reads" gmail. If you don't want google reading your email, then simply host it elsewhere. Nobody is forcing you to use gmail. It's patently obvious that they use gmail and the usage of their other free services to garner more information to maximize their revenue. Don't like it, don't use it. It's a simple as that.

It frustrates me no end to read stupid comments like yours. Of course they use what you freely give them to their advantage. There are plenty of email hosting options, viable search alternatives, viable mapping alternatives etc etc. Google don't have a monopoly on anything. They make you a simple trade; compelling products in return for profiling you, what you say, where you go and what your search intents might be.

I know perfectly well where google's profits come from. Who reading this site doesn't?

I don't use it. I was just pointing out that their 'vast resources' are coming from the sale of your info, nothing more. Isn't that the point of these posts? Your comparing one search engine that is 'trying' to keep your searches private yet complaining they don't have the resources, when most of those resources for Google are coming from not keeping your searches private. I'm not sure where the complaint and or comparison is taking place. I freely give DDG my search data and they aren't using it to their advantage in the same manner google is, so whats your point again about ddg not being as good? I don't get your argument at all.

Its not just about tracking and collecting information on your habits that makes their searches relevant to you? You really think so? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzZzf6PoyC4

You may be in a trap of selection bias here. True, sometimes !g reveals much better results, but one uses it only when not satisfied with DDG. However try to Google some queries that DDG does fine and you will see Google's results can be worse for some queries.

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