Poll: Who thinks Google won't be 100% free sometime soon?

Logix

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2001
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Since Google has over 2 billion web pages in its index, and now 20 years worth of USENET postings, they've become a sort of "research center". I know almost anytime I have a question, I type it into Google before heading off somewhere else. They've built up a HUGE fan base that's constantly growing.

It seems like all this is building to something. They wouldn't accumulate 3 billion documents in a well-designed database, and then give it all away for free, would they?

Besides, it seems to me that text-based ads can only cover the enormous costs of caching 3 billion documents to a certain extent. And, combine that with a declining economy.

It seems to me that they could start charging a miniscule fee for access to search their huge index, and plenty of people would sign on, including me, because their search engine is far superior to anything I've ever used on the Internet before.

Those are just my thoughts. Any opinions?
 

gittyup

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2000
5,036
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Maybe google will make paying optional. And give the paying customers quicker searches. ;)
 

GagBag

Senior member
Jul 1, 2001
754
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considering google owns just about every other search engine, no

and quit smoking crack, feed it to your kitten
 

N8Magic

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
11,624
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I think it will always be free.

Those text ads may not be worth much on a low-traffic site, but I imagine Google commands a high premium because of the traffic it gets.
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
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I'm just smokin' crack and should shut up.

does this mean, you, logix are smoking crack, or does this mean i am smoking crack? :confused:
 

Logix

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2001
3,627
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<< does this mean, you, logix are smoking crack, or does this mean i am smoking crack? :confused: >>


I've cleared that up. I should probably lay off the crack. :p


<< Maybe google will make paying optional. And give the paying customers quicker searches. >>


I was thinking more along these lines. For example, Google might maintain their free searches, but they'd offer a premium subscription service that searches more content more quickly.

I can see not many people agree with me on this. But more and more formerly-free services are at least partially switching over to fee-based services. It seems inevitable in some form to me.
 

NetworkDad

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2001
3,435
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<< Maybe google will make paying optional. And give the paying customers quicker searches. ;) >>



Am i high (dont answer that) - or aren't google searches pretty damn quick & reliable as it is now?
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
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The article I linked to (not the survey) on HowStuffWorks is actually quite good, & might make you think again about paying for internet services.

Viper GTS <-- Willing to pay
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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<<

<< Maybe google will make paying optional. And give the paying customers quicker searches. ;) >>



Am i high (dont answer that) - or aren't google searches pretty damn quick & reliable as it is now?
>>



You would think linux would be slower...
 

Forever42

Senior member
Mar 24, 2001
558
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Omg, this kicks ass! I didn't realize Google did newsgroup searches...reading back in 1996 when I was posting to rec.music.beatles :) Even found this silly poem I wrote about John Lennon that I thought was gone forever :D
 

luvya

Banned
Nov 19, 2001
3,161
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I thought Google is just another search engine like Yahoo.......or, am I missing something?
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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<< I thought Google is just another search engine like Yahoo.......or, am I missing something? >>



Yahoo! is not a search engine. If I remember correctly they use google to do the searches.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
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Even found this silly poem I wrote about John Lennon that I thought was gone forever


LOL that's sweet.

 

Logix

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2001
3,627
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<< I thought Google is just another search engine like Yahoo.......or, am I missing something? >>


IMO, Google is infinitely better than any of those other so-called search engines. That's why I could see them getting away with at least a partial subscription service.
 

Choralone

Senior member
Dec 2, 1999
924
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I definately agree with you there Logix. I've been able to punch into Google from work a # off of a memory chip or PCB and find out who made the darn thing and just about anything I wanted to know about it. It still amazes my co-workers. With Google I can find just about anything relatively quickly.
 

Danman

Lifer
Nov 9, 1999
13,134
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Why would they make you pay for a search engine? It doesn't make sense to me.........
 

MeanMeosh

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,805
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i'd pay like a monthly subscription fee if it were less than or equal to 3 - 4 bux a month, as i use google a lot and it is excellent