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Why is Wikipedia's search function horrible?

yankeesfan

Diamond Member
Aug 6, 2004
5,922
1
71
I can never find anything with it unless I use Google in conjunction with it. The article names have to be perfectly matched to your search to find something. It is easier to search wikipedia using google. Ex: "Scotland wikipedia"

What prevents improvements on this?
 

LordMaul

Lifer
Nov 16, 2000
15,168
1
0
I've noticed what you mean, contrary to these other opinions. It sucks balls, and unless you enter essentially the perfect query, you'll have to either re-search or look through a list of crap it came up with. Also lacks any kind of spelling aids like Google has.

Still, I think it's probably because Google has spoiled us. ;)
 
D

Deleted member 4644

Originally posted by: LordMaul
I've noticed what you mean, contrary to these other opinions. It sucks balls, and unless you enter essentially the perfect query, you'll have to either re-search or look through a list of crap it came up with. Also lacks any kind of spelling aids like Google has.

Still, I think it's probably because Google has spoiled us. ;)

 

npoe1

Senior member
Jul 28, 2005
592
0
76
I also have problems with Wikipedia search function I don't know what is better Anand's or Wikipedia's.

I hope that since they?re going to enter to the search business they will improve it.
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Wikipedia's search works fine for me. Either it finds the article I want or it gives me a list where what I want is in the top 3 (usually the first one).
 

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
I just use google. "term wiki" without the quotes always returns the correct result on the first page.
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
Originally posted by: Aflac
Wikipedia's search works fine for me. Either it finds the article I want or it gives me a list where what I want is in the top 3 (usually the first one).

^wot he said.
 

jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
15,424
2
0
Always seems to work for me. But if I'm not already in the site, I'll just use a search engine and enter "wiki whatever" and that always finds what I'm looking for.
 

JustAnAverageGuy

Diamond Member
Aug 1, 2003
9,057
0
76
normally I'm too lazy to do "wikipedia.com" <enter> <enter search term> <enter> <search>

I normally just do

<ctrl + L> "g wiki <term>" <enter> <click>

- JaAG
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
normally I'm too lazy to do "wikipedia.com" <enter> <enter search term> <enter> <search>

I normally just do

<ctrl + L> "g wiki <term>" <enter> <click>

- JaAG

Wtf? Then do you do up down left right up down up down A B A B?
 

imported_Ned Flanders

Senior member
May 11, 2005
641
0
0
Originally posted by: LordMaul
I've noticed what you mean, contrary to these other opinions. It sucks balls, and unless you enter essentially the perfect query, you'll have to either re-search or look through a list of crap it came up with. Also lacks any kind of spelling aids like Google has.

Still, I think it's probably because Google has spoiled us. ;)

 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
126
I agree. You have to pretty much spell whatever you're looking for exactly or you get no results. For some reason I never thought of searching with Google, good idea.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
It's not horrible, it's just not a fuzzy search engine... plain and simple.