Many people here are pining for the old days of Google search where if you knew the operators and some tricks you could develop very specific queries and get a page that matches exactly.
I remember those days too. It did feel like Google search skill was a super power. I also remember my non technical friends and family being pretty much unable to find what they were looking for online. Google did not turn their rambling approximate queries into the results they want.
Now I find that although the precision of the old style is gone, Google is incredible at guessing what you want. Back in the day I might find the page I was looking for on the twelfth 'o' of 'Goooooooogle'. Now I rarely have to venture outside the top 3 results. I find that my family no longer needs my help to fast craft a search query.
Isn't it possible that Google just made the choices that are better for the average user and left some of us advanced users out? If your response to that is "they could leave me an advanced mode", consider how much work it would be to maintain to serve a tiny customer subset.
I think if you want a search engine for power users you want DDG
Disclaimer: I work at Google but not on Search or anything close.
I think you forgot how maintains computers of these non-powered users, it's us. Advanced users. When I decide Bing or DDG is better than Google Search, then Google can kiss my ass goodbye and my 20 computers I maintain occasionally for family and friends.
Why would you take your family to DDG? Not all users need to use the same toolset. If the parent comment is correct, and Google is targeting the "mass market" user, then wouldn't leaving your presumably less-tech friends and family with Google as their default search engine make your life easier? Just because Google is no longer the best fit for you doesn't mean DDG is the best fit for them.
I remember those days too. It did feel like Google search skill was a super power. I also remember my non technical friends and family being pretty much unable to find what they were looking for online. Google did not turn their rambling approximate queries into the results they want.
Now I find that although the precision of the old style is gone, Google is incredible at guessing what you want. Back in the day I might find the page I was looking for on the twelfth 'o' of 'Goooooooogle'. Now I rarely have to venture outside the top 3 results. I find that my family no longer needs my help to fast craft a search query.
Isn't it possible that Google just made the choices that are better for the average user and left some of us advanced users out? If your response to that is "they could leave me an advanced mode", consider how much work it would be to maintain to serve a tiny customer subset.
I think if you want a search engine for power users you want DDG
Disclaimer: I work at Google but not on Search or anything close.