We had a lot of great comments today, but the winner is from our post How Vulnerable is Google on Search?. The premise was that Google hasn't changed search in 7 or 8 years, so they are vulnerable to search innovators - like the companies profiled at AltSearchEngines. Gabe Morris agreed with the premise, but he argued that it has little to do with Google's lack of features. Well done Gabe, you've won a $30 Amazon voucher - courtesy of our competition sponsors AdaptiveBlue and their Amazon WishList Widget. Here is Gabe's full comment:
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"Marshall -
I agree with your overall point.
Google is vulnerable in search.
Every technology-based company is vulnerable. It's a truism (albeit one that needs to be repeated whenever overwrought fears surface related to the Borg Du Jour)...
There's a reason the best performing stock over the last 50 years is, I believe, Phillip Morris/Altria, makers of a product whose technology has remained virtually unchanged over that time period.
So while I agree with you about the overall vulnerability of Google, I don't agree with Doc Searls' rant at all.
"There are so many ways search can be improved... There's so many ways to granulate search and make it conditional and do a much better job."
I think a chapter in "Getting Real" serves as a good riposte to that (excerpted at length below).
Finally, to respond more practically to Mr. Searls, I think that in the future Google will continue to expand the Google Custom Search product to precisely enable "the many ways to granulate search and make it conditional".
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http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch04_Make_Opinionated_Software.php
"Some people argue software should be agnostic. They say it's arrogant for developers to limit features or ignore feature requests. They say software should always be as flexible as possible.
We think that's bullshit. The best software has a vision. The best software takes sides. When someone uses software, they're not just looking for features, they're looking for an approach. They're looking for a vision. Decide what your vision is and run with it.
And remember, if they don't like your vision there are plenty of other visions out there for people. Don't go chasing people you'll never make happy."
I could have thrown a dart at any chapter in Getting Real and it would have been just as relevant to exposing the weakness in DS's rant."
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