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Google Homepage Redesign

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Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#31

Post by lecha »

apsurd wrote: post #2

Uh no. Not everyone on the planet is die hard web two point oh bleeding edge geeeeeeeniusssses like us. There is no context. I don't know what I am supposed to do. Why is there no submit button? I'm supposed to magically realize that enter = submit? Not everyone knows what google is. It is quite absurdly annoying to assume our "above average" knowledge of the internet is a common trait. Please someone add a link list…

The focus of this and other comments here seems to be to critique how this UI works for the majority of Google users. IMHO there's room for several alternatives interfaces for any popular service.

> 8% surveyed (by Google) in Times Square knew what a browser was

So 92% need the UI that works for them. There should also be a UI for the 8% minority that Google is, who know to hit enter for submit.

We've come to value multiple interfaces adapted to the client device. Isn't it time to have interfaces adapted to the skill-set of the user as well?

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#32

Post by timcederman »

mrlebowski wrote: post #7

I do not go to google.com and then search all that often nowadays. Most of the search takes place right from the search box (Firefox) or directly from Chrome..

I use the address bar in Firefox thanks to its handy-dandy I'm-feeling-lucky submission (and neatly tuned confidence -- it will take you to Google.com if unsure). Try typing "paul graham's homepage" in your address bar and see where it takes you.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#33

Post by tptacek »

Any time you post a redesign of a major Google page, isn't the burden of proof really hard? I'm under the impression that there's an avalanche of data backing up every pixel on those pages. If Google starts setting search results in Comic Sans, you're still going to have to start by assuming that Comic Sans is making them a shit-ton of money.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#34

Post by decultured »

lecha wrote: post #31
apsurd wrote: post #2

Uh no. Not everyone on the planet is die hard web two point oh bleeding edge geeeeeeeniusssses like us. There is no context. I don't know what I am supposed to do. Why is there no submit button? I'm supposed to magically realize that enter = submit? Not everyone knows what google is. It is quite absurdly annoying to assume our "above average" knowledge of the internet is a common trait. Please someone add a link list…

The focus of this and other comments here seems to be to critique how this UI works for the majority of Google users. IMHO there's room for several alternatives interfaces for any popular service. > 8% surveyed (by Google) in Times Square knew what a browser was So 92% need the UI that works for them. There should also be a UI for the 8% minority that Google is, who know to hit enter for submit. We've come to value m…

So do you know of a script that detects the skill set of the user then displays them an appropriate design?

The biggest problem with this design however is that it does not add anything to the experience other than aesthetics. In fact, it obscures many options and reduces usability. So how is this a power user's interface? Appearance is nice, but usability and understandability are much more important with design.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#35

Post by unalone »

tptacek wrote: post #33

Any time you post a redesign of a major Google page, isn't the burden of proof really hard? I'm under the impression that there's an avalanche of data backing up every pixel on those pages. If Google starts setting search results in Comic Sans, you're still going to have to start by assuming that Comic Sans is making them a shit-ton of money.

Aren't we allowed to redesign things just for the joy of showing people what we think things should look like? I mean, Jesus Christ, when people post Google or Craigslist redesigns here we get so bitchy about it. I've always seen these redesigns as sorts of "covers" of the original site. It's like Hendrix playing All Along The Watchtower. It's a riff on an idea for the sake of being creative.

You know what? I liked this redesign a lot. I like how white it is. I like the smaller logo. I like the effort the author put into making each logo look really crisp, the Wikipedia one in particular. I like that there are only four words on the entire page. I like the blue bar around the search box. So seeing this page made my day a little more enjoyable, and I'm glad it was posted here. No, I don't think it would be a good idea to implement this, but maybe that wasn't the point.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#36

Post by unalone »

decultured wrote: post #34
lecha wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The focus of this and other comments here seems to be to critique how this UI works for the majority of Google users. IMHO there's room for several alternatives interfaces for any popular service. > 8% surveyed (by Google) in Times Square knew what a browser was So 92% need the UI that works for them. There should also be a UI for the 8% minority that Google is, who know to hit enter for submit. We've come to value m…

So do you know of a script that detects the skill set of the user then displays them an appropriate design? The biggest problem with this design however is that it does not add anything to the experience other than aesthetics. In fact, it obscures many options and reduces usability. So how is this a power user's interface? Appearance is nice, but usability and understandability are much more important with design.

Perhaps the users who are in that 8% are bookmarking this page right now to use for their searches. You don't need to go to google.com to start up a search.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#37

Post by tptacek »

unalone wrote: post #35
tptacek wrote: post #33

Any time you post a redesign of a major Google page, isn't the burden of proof really hard? I'm under the impression that there's an avalanche of data backing up every pixel on those pages. If Google starts setting search results in Comic Sans, you're still going to have to start by assuming that Comic Sans is making them a shit-ton of money.

Aren't we allowed to redesign things just for the joy of showing people what we think things should look like? I mean, Jesus Christ, when people post Google or Craigslist redesigns here we get so bitchy about it. I've always seen these redesigns as sorts of "covers" of the original site. It's like Hendrix playing All Along The Watchtower. It's a riff on an idea for the sake of being creative. You know what? I liked t…

You're allowed to do whatever you want. The redesign here is pretty. But the cart is probably dragging the horse, and it's always worth contrasting "what works" with "what designers think is best".

Compare what a competant designer comes up with to Google's home page and start asking "why did Google do it this way", and you might learn something new.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#38

Post by mikeryan »

andrewparker wrote: post #29
JimmyL wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Now try explaining difference between URL bar and Search bar in Safari, Firefox, etc. Exactly. My mom, who is in her early sixties and is considered to be very proficient in how to use the Internet among her peer group, can't seem to get that there's a difference between the Google search box and the address bar - she just searches for "cnn.com", clicks on the first result, and gets there. And when you think about…

I've heard that roughly 30% of Google search are searches for domains, just like this cnn.com example.

heck I do that sometimes when I just get lazy and hit the wrong bar or I'm not exactly sure of the domain.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#39

Post by andrewljohnson »

apsurd wrote: post #2

Uh no. Not everyone on the planet is die hard web two point oh bleeding edge geeeeeeeniusssses like us. There is no context. I don't know what I am supposed to do. Why is there no submit button? I'm supposed to magically realize that enter = submit? Not everyone knows what google is. It is quite absurdly annoying to assume our "above average" knowledge of the internet is a common trait. Please someone add a link list…

If you look up in the top right of your browser, you'll see no search button. No matter what browser you use, you'd see a search box with no button. Billions of people see this interface everyday.

Even if the user doesn't know what a browser is, they know to press enter in that box.

I agree that this isn't a good redo, but your comments are off target.

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