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Bing vs Google

Overview

Most formal tests seem to focus on highly specific (crafted?) searches designed to favour one engine or another. Not very scientific.

So, to make it _less_ scientific, I have decided to compare results for some searches that I actually ran today.

Results Key

EXCEED: Correct answer at #1 position PASS: Correct answer in top six results FAIL: No useful answer in top six results

I'm figuring the average user doesn't look at more than three, but six sounds about fair. "Top half of the page" and all, although probably not on a 600px tall nyetbook screen.

Test 1

Question: "Can I take a camera to the Meredith Music Festival?" Search Terms: camera rules meredith music festival Bing: Exceed. Google: Exceed.

Test 2

Question: "I need specs on the 32GB Transcend ExpressCard" Search Terms: transcend 32gb expresscard Bing: Pass, rank #3 Google: Pass, rank #2

Test 3

Question: "What is a Sun part # 501-4489?" Search Terms: sun 501-4489 Bing: Exceed. Google: Exceed.

Test 4

Question: "Where's that Verge restaurant someone was telling me about?" Search Terms: Melbourne Verge Bing: Pass, although with a sponsored link for another restaurant under a Verge header. Not good. Google: Exceed.

Test 5