Say It Ain't So, Google

Please, no. I've been a huge Google fan since I found it in the late 90s. I remember hearing about and trying Google as a search engine, and instantly saw how much better the results were. It wasn't even close. From then on, Google has been my primary search engine and my homepage. I try other engines once in while, but the staggering difference in usable results always sends me right back to Google.

I've loved that Google has kept their page simple. Just the big search box and their name. While search results are important, having the clean interface (unlike MSN and YAHOO) is just nicer to look at.

Then came some more links on Google's homepage. Ok, that's fine. I understand they have business and advertising solutions. Then came some more - ok, ok, fine. They have Google labs, new products, tools, news services, fine. Actually, for the amount of content and tools they have, the interface is still relatively uncluttered.

Then came... privacy concerns? C'mon Google. And Eric Schmidt's quote: "If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.” Ouch. That sounds a little closer to evil than I thought Google would ever be. Not a terrible quote, but doesn't quite leave me feeling warm and fuzzy about Google.

Then came the hideous background day. What were they thinking? Forcing content on their users? Eliminating choice? Thankfully, they rescinded this decision, but the damage was done. Google appears to be changing their ways.

Finally, the new Google News layout - which is confusing and crappy. Not to mention that the stories on the page keep moving up and down on my screen as the page loads. They took what was a great, easy-to-use layout, and tinkered with it leaving it worse than it was before. This doesn't sound like the Google I know at all.

What's happening over there? Is this what we can expect from Googleland? Say it ain't so, Google. Say it ain't so.

In their defense, however: I am still quite thankful for their blogger software!! And their search engine results are still, by far, second to none. For that, I say thank-you.