One of the things that I like most about using Google as my primary search engine is that their page loads quick, and it’s simple. There’s no “extras” to slow down the loading time which means I’m able to perform my search faster. If they ever changed things, I must admit, I’d be a bit disappointed which is why I’m hoping that the changes they’re making over in Asia won’t eventually be implemented here as well.
According to PC World, Google is experimenting with a new homepage design in both Taiwan and Hong Kong saying that they’re doing it to “take advantage of faster broadband speeds.” What they’re actually doing is directing users to an iGoogle page that is filled with “stuff.” Google co-founder Sergey Brin says that so far the response has been positive, and that the design is more appropriate for the culture there.
If they’re taking advantage of faster broadband speeds, I’m sure the page probably loads just as quickly as the plain Google homepage loads for me, but then the issue is all of the extras cluttering up the page. So, with that… how would you feel if the Google Homepage was re-designed to look something more like iGoogle with Gadgets, and links to other Google services? I’m pretty sure Google wouldn’t take that route here, but if they did…
Source: PC World [via Google Operating System]
The key here is “the design is more appropriate for the culture there”. I work in a global company, and I’m always amazed at the different expectations that different cultures have when it comes to web design. We’ll create something here in the states that we think looks clean and professional, and folks from our other divisions see it as boring and un-interesting. We’ll ask to see something they like, and we’ll think ‘Oh, man, what a mess’. I’m becoming convinced there is no such thing as a ‘globally appropriate design’.
I dont know about hongkong, but over here in India, where broadband is in its nascent stage, people would not take such changes kindly . Like you Ashley, I am a big fan of google because, the search page loads quickly. Google better not implement such changes in my country where 128 kbps is considered to be broadband.
I never go to search site homepages, I just use my browser’s search toolbar. I don’t think that would change the search results page.
FYI: Want a stripped down Y! search page? Go to search.yahoo.com
Netster: I actually didn’t know that Yahoo had a stripped down search page. Nice! Thanks for pointing that out.
There are actually quite a few sites that have the search.blahblahblah.com domain. I use those all the time, such as search.ebay.com, since they always load a ton faster.
Before I saw the comment about the Y! stripped search page, I was simply about to say that the stripped down page was my reason for moving from Y! and other engines to the Google search (it’s been a couple of years now). Lately I’ve read a few places that the Y! search often gives better results though, and considering it’s already in Firefox it could be worth starting to compare results, and of course I wouldn’t mind getting a comparison from Cybernet
About the cluttering, I have also heard that in some countries the ‘cluttered search portal’ is a more popular layout than the simple way we Europeans and other ‘westerners’ like it – I believe what I heard was mostly about South Korea and Japan, but don’t quote me on it please..
I think a search engine comparison is a great idea, and I think we might have to stir one of those up. Thanks Emil!