[Sigia-l] Google's new home page

[Paola Kathuria]

[catching up on list mail]

Jayson Elliot wrote:
> I would suggest that the fact that users are searching directly from
> Google.com and not from a search toolbar demonstrates generally (though not
> automatically) a lower "expertise" or level of "power user" with the web
> overall.

Whilst helping my various neighbours with internetty things, I've
noticed that their browser home page default is a search engine,
often Google. Every time they start their browser (every day,
since they all turn off their computers/lap-tops after use), they
see Google's home page.

They get to web sites by typing the URL in Google's home page search
box. They don't know about the browser location bar. They don't know
that they can change the default home page.

Aren't most web users non-experts?

That said, I've always disliked the Google home page design. It's
been lauded in the past as an example of great design but Google
hides its non-search functionality under small links, some via a
'more' link. I'd like a clever version of the options page as the
Google home page, with the search box at the top:

  http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/options/


Paola
--
http://www.paolability.com/