Search on
As always, the Super Bowl is host to many great and memorable commercials. This year was the first to feature a Google commercial (not that Google really needs a commercial) and I was pleased to see how simply perfect it was. It got me to thinking about the philosophies between the two companies who are battling for the ‘best search engine’ – Google and Microsoft.
Microsoft has always been – at least to me – a company who forcefully crams its way into lives. Whether it’s preinstalling Internet Explorer during Windows installations or shoving numerous bing commercials down our throats, Microsoft is just over the top with everything. Bloated operating systems and bloated commercials.
You ever heard the saying, “Jack of all trades, Master of none”? Well, this is Microsoft. They try to be everything to everyone – operating systems, gaming consoles, mp3 players, computer hardware, search engines, and who knows what else. How many of these flop? Nearly all of them. I think maybe the Xbox was their biggest success (at least in my book). And I’ll admit, Windows 7 ain’t bad. It sure took them long enough though.
Google is the best search engine because it’s simply that – a search engine. Now, granted Google does other projects too, but at least they all rally among a common theme – search. Google doesn’t need a “pretty” homepage to extend quality to the user. Google does just fine using the bare minimum (which I admire). Microsoft is the opposite… gradients, shininess, superfluous crap… I don’t need my OS to look pretty, nor do I need my search engine to look pretty. What I do need is for my OS and my search engine to work well and work efficiently.
Take a look at these commercials:
Microsoft Bing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkaTcjDIMk
Google
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH5RRLgqzmI
Google and Bing are both search engines, yet it feels to me that Bing tries too hard. Google’s search engine is to the point. It’s simple. You can only do one thing and that one thing is search. And, you can search for the same stuff that you could search for on Bing (Google is even a calculator) – all from a well-dressed, simple, usable homepage. And how is Bing gonna go on about “search overload” when the entire point of search engines is to search? Lame.
Contrary to popular belief, people don’t really “surf” the web anymore. The web is a tool. We use it to accomplish tasks and goals. If we go to Google (or Bing if you prefer) we’re there to search for something, not sit and stare at (and get distracted by) pretty background images.
And as The Washington Post mentions, “Amid dozens of ads focused on cars, beer, and busty women, the Google spot definitely took a different approach: it tells a love story through a series of search queries.” Beautiful. Perfect. Simple.
Whatever search engine you choose I hope you find what you’re searching for efficiently and quickly. In the end that’s what it’s all about. I, however, will be searching with Google. Because it looks pretty.
Search on.
Cassidy Hoffman said...
This is a really quality blog post! I have to agree, I enjoyed Google’s commercial during the Superbowl! I thought it portrayed exactly what Google is about. Bing to me is just too messy and their campaign was too targeted against Google. Thanks for your insight!
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 09:44
Chris said...
Thanks for the comment Cassidy. I agree that Bing’s campaign was less about search results and more about one-upping Google.
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 09:57
Justin said...
Spot on Chris. And is it me or is the Google commercial somehow even better in that youtube clip — the camcorder and shaky hand add an enjoyable, low-fi effect.
The one thing I’ll differ about is the idea that the super bowl is host to great commercials. I actually find most of commercials that run to be so unfunny and pathetically emotional that it demeans the brand for me. These companies spend decades and $millions honing exactly what their brand should be and in a span of seconds dilute it and confuse their audience. That and the American sense of humor is now apparently shaped by the makers of Bud Light, which is around 8 steps beneath Adam Sandler.
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 10:05
Melissa said...
I absolutely loved the Google commercial. However, I also find the Bing commercials rather entertaining. I choose to use Google for my search engine, but I don’t hate Microsoft for anything it’s trying to do. In fact, I don’t hate Microsoft for any reason at all. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of competition – in the end, it can only benefit us, the users.
In fact, you even said so yourself, in a recent blog post about how you were going to stop wasting energy hating Microsoft (*ahem*):
“Then we discussed competition and how it’s good that Microsoft came out with bing because it will keep Google on their toes and if Google is on their toes, it means better functionality, results presentations, and a better overall product for us users. So very true! And for those who wish to use bing, you can be sure Microsoft is trying hard to produce a product that’s better than Google. It’s really a win-win situation for everyone, but I didn’t realize that until this weekend.”
http://www.inathought.com/blog/2009/07/google-vs-bing-or-familiarity-vs-competition/
—
I also loved the Doritos commercials! Especially the dog collar one. My dogs have invisible fence collars and I swear they really ARE that smart. Maybe it’s good they don’t have thumbs …
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 13:36
Justin said...
It’s worth nothing that an African American friend of mine found the Doritos commercial of the guy picking up the single mom for a date to be absolutely insulting. I guess nothing’s funny unless it’s pissing someone off.
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 14:04
Melissa said...
That reminds me of the Vanity Fair cover fiasco – have you heard about that one? 9 actresses – “the future of Hollywood” – all white …
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 14:36
Justin said...
I did hear about that, though I found that anger misdirected — Vanity Fair really did put the 9 biggest young actresses on the cover — if there was no one of color, I blame the studio producers.
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 14:53
Chris said...
@Justin: I don’t personally like Bud or Bud Light, but I found the commercials entertaining. It does seem like they’re speaking to a certain audience though and I do see how, if someone picks up on it, it could potentially be offensive and thereby damage the brand.
@Melissa: Yes, this is another knock at Microsoft, but I’m just voicing my opinion on why I think Google is the better search engine. Agree or disagree as long as you find the results to your search quickly and efficiently, feel free to use whatever seach engine you prefer. We all have certain tastes and preferences and we all have reasons why we have those tastes and preferences. I was trying not to “hate” them though. I certainly hope it doesn’t come across that way. I did give them props on the Xbox and Windows 7.
And besides, it’s the negative opinions about Bing that’ll keep them on their toes, which will in turn keep Google on their toes. So it’s all positive really.
What’s this Vanity Fair cover fiasco…?
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 15:01
Melissa said...
VF did a cover of the “future of hollywood” and featured are 9 white actresses. They have been criticizing for leaving out a couple of key players that happen to be black – and their reasoning is that they had a specific process of choosing who goes on the cover, and additionally that scheduling concerns also needed to be taken into account.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35286138/ns/entertainment-gossip/
None of it bothers me, really. I think the Doritos commercial would have been just as entertaining had it been a white man picking up a white woman for a date, so long as the actors played their parts just as well. I don’t pay enough attention to Hollywood to know if the 9 white women VF selected happen to be the right choice or if they actually did leave out some big names.
re: your microsoft stance. Maybe you didn’t intend to come off as bitter toward MS, but your feelings were pretty strongly conveyed with this statement: “Microsoft has always been – at least to me – a company who forcefully crams its way into lives. Whether it’s preinstalling Internet Explorer during Windows installations or shoving numerous bing commercials down our throats, Microsoft is just over the top with everything. Bloated operating systems and bloated commercials.”
Microsoft, Google, black, white … can’t we all just get along? Let’s all have a party at Chris’ house – I’ll Google the directions and you can Bing them. I’ll bring the Doritos and you bring the Bud Light. :)
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 15:09
Chris said...
I’m in!
Comment posted on 8 February 2010 at 15:21