Microsoft's New Bing Search Engine - First Impressions

Posted by Miranda Miller Jun 3, 2009

I wrote an article outlining the features as described in Microsoft's press release last week, so I really couldn't wait to check it out today.

At first glance, I see a beautiful background featuring a mountain climber gazing into the far-off mountains. I'm sure this has some significant symbolic meaning, but right now I just want to see what this new "decision" engine can do.

The Search Bar

The filters above the search bar on the homepage are almost identical to Google's: Web, Images, Videos, News, Maps, More. I have the option to search the Web, or just in Canada. So far, so good.

I searched the name of a popular company on both engines to compare results. While Google features a sponsored ad at the top of the list, Bing brings up the "Best Match." Indeed, it is the best match, but that wouldn't have been difficult given the size of this particular company. This is a feature I'll have to test more to see how often it actually picks up the best match, but it seems like a good idea.

The Sidebar

The left-hand sidebar features a list of related searches which, in this case, is actually a list of the company's top competitors. This is a great feature for online shoppers; not so hot for businesses. Unless you're in the related search list!

Below that is a history of recent searches. I like having that available instead of clicking back if I haven't found what I'm looking for in the new search.

The Verdict

Otherwise, the display is very similar to Google's. It's true that the top listings come up differently and don't match Google's, so over time I hope to see a pattern as to how Bing ranks and displays results.

Their goal was to help users make better decisions by presenting more relevant results. Only time will tell if that is the case! Right now, I'm not blown away, but then I'm not sure what would have knocked my socks off. While some others are decidedly unimpressed, I'll reserve judgment for now. More later.