DuckDuckGo is good enough for regular use

Post by ufo » Fri, Mar 06, 2020, 4:18 PM UTC

richthegeek wrote: post #76

chuckgreenman wrote: post #25

I think I've figured out what is happening when people tell me that DuckDuckGo's results "aren't good enough". What's really happening is that they've been trained to search a certain way to using Google and because DDG doesn't have all the historical data of your searches on their platform they can't fill in the gaps as well. After a couple days using DDG I found the right vocabulary to get good local results and wh…

Today I was trying to find info about Corpus Christi - a Polish film that won some awards lately. DDG gives me information about a place in Texas, including stuff from the local newspaper and attractions. I'm searching from a Poland IP btw. Anyway, the actual film was at the very end of the first page of results for me. It certainly feels like it priotises things weirdly. Google Maps has a similar issue though: plent…

Post by _jal » Fri, Mar 06, 2020, 4:19 PM UTC

whalesalad wrote: post #46

chuckgreenman wrote: post #25

I think I've figured out what is happening when people tell me that DuckDuckGo's results "aren't good enough". What's really happening is that they've been trained to search a certain way to using Google and because DDG doesn't have all the historical data of your searches on their platform they can't fill in the gaps as well. After a couple days using DDG I found the right vocabulary to get good local results and wh…

A lot of DDG fans on HN blame the user or social conditioning and use that as a crutch. It’s BS. You need to provide clear examples of the differences in order to really make this argument to someone who might switch. What specifically are the differences? The last time this topic came up someone told me I was a total noob because I didn’t know how to use search and that was basically the extent of it.

Post by Fnoord » Fri, Mar 06, 2020, 4:20 PM UTC

commoner wrote: post #112

Fnoord wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Startpage is in bed with an advertising company.

Google is an advertising company, so Startpage isn't any worse.

Post by ce4 » Fri, Mar 06, 2020, 4:20 PM UTC

calderarrow wrote: post #88

VikingCoder wrote: post #78

It's Lent, so I just searched for "Fish Tacos" and clicked on Map. It showed four places, none of which are anywhere near me. I click on Directions and it takes me to Bing. Do the same thing on Google, see a dozen places in my neighborhood, and I get Google Maps navigation. What do you get in your searches for Fish Tacos? Do you have a better experience with DDG?

I'm a die-hard DDG fan, but for some things -- particularly mapping related issues -- google maps is so superior. I append a !gm to my searches for stores and it automatically opens in google maps.

Post by hedora » Fri, Mar 06, 2020, 4:21 PM UTC

whalesalad wrote: post #46

chuckgreenman wrote: post #25

I think I've figured out what is happening when people tell me that DuckDuckGo's results "aren't good enough". What's really happening is that they've been trained to search a certain way to using Google and because DDG doesn't have all the historical data of your searches on their platform they can't fill in the gaps as well. After a couple days using DDG I found the right vocabulary to get good local results and wh…

A lot of DDG fans on HN blame the user or social conditioning and use that as a crutch. It’s BS. You need to provide clear examples of the differences in order to really make this argument to someone who might switch. What specifically are the differences? The last time this topic came up someone told me I was a total noob because I didn’t know how to use search and that was basically the extent of it.