15 Sep 2004 | JF said...

I'm impressed. I didn't think I'd use it, but I think they've actually managed to beat Google on a few fronts (and since the results are Google results, the accuracy apoears to be equal).

15 Sep 2004 | Dr_God said...

I like the one-page set-up. I'm not sure I'll ever use the "diary" or "bookmark" features, but they're certainly interesting concepts.

I'm kinda surprised there isn't a "news" button on the right, however. That would make the most sense out of all of them IMO.

15 Sep 2004 | Ryan Mahoney said...

I haven't spent too much time using it, my first impression is that the interface is cluttered with features that I have no interest in. Besides, I'm still going steady with google ;)

15 Sep 2004 | Matthew Oliphant said...

I think it's "neat" I can pick a stylesheet on the preferences page.

I would like to see the option to choose more than 10 results per page though. After typing the previous sentence, I though, maybe there is a way. Then I saw the little link in the web page results column called "[full]."

I clicked it, expecting to see all the web page results show up in the column (which I thought might actually be happeing since it was taking so long), but all it does is close the other columns and spread the web page results column across the page.

Not impressed so far, especially since I ge the same resutls on a Google search, but much, much faster. I think all that functionality is getting in the way of the function.

15 Sep 2004 | indi said...

Hmmm ... interesting that on the prefs page at the bottom it says "Note: A9.com uses Google's SafeSearch".

I did a search on "Canon EOS Digital Rebel" and was surprised when the results not only had a column of website hits but also a column of pictures. That could be useful , but also good that that feature can be turned off.

15 Sep 2004 | pb said...

Not clear why I'd want to view multiple columns at once. I'd prefer tabs that replace the whole page (i.e., Google tabs with a9 refresh-less switching).

15 Sep 2004 | Brad Hurley said...

Hmm, well I do like some of the features, but now I've got a problem:

I already had the Google toolbar installed on Internet Explorer (IE 6 for Windows). I figured I would replace that with the A9 toolbar, since it provides the same key functions (e.g., popup blocker) plus a few more that I'd like to use (like the A9 diary).

But now that I've installed the A9 toolbar, I can't get the Google toolbar to go away. Which means I've now got about 3 inches worth of toolbars at the top of my browser.

Yes, I've tried going to View --> Toolbars and unchecking the Google Toolbar. That does absolutely nothing. Grrr.

16 Sep 2004 | Realish said...

Brad, I'd recommend immediately ceasing to use IE6.

16 Sep 2004 | Brad Hurley said...

Ah, I figured out how to uninstall the Google toolbar...there's an Uninstall command, it just took me a while to find it!

16 Sep 2004 | Douglas said...

Well, A9 looks like it doesn't want to be made out of HTML, that's all I can say. Too slow to be really good, doesn't feel natural enough. And doesn't work in Opera, so I've got no plans to go back in a hurry!

Douglas

16 Sep 2004 | Brian said...

So it's like Google, but bloated? I keep my bookmarks in my browser, my diary on my ... wait what the hell's a diary have to do with anything at all? I also really, really don't like the fact that it knows my name (from Amazon). Very unsettling.

I do like the idea of typing "a9/my search terms" in the URL field to start a search, but "a9" is perhaps the most uncomfortable two-character combination ever (although I'm a one hand on keys, one hand on mouse typer). I find myself trying to make the reach with one hand, realizing the futility, and ashamedly using the mouse-hand for the nine.

Besides, "google"-return-wait-"search terms" is already embedded into my motor memory.

17 Sep 2004 | Kevin said...

I like the concept, layout, and overall design. I thought it was quite usable and offered a few good things that I have had to rely on various other sources before.

Is there room for improvement, of course? Is it a good first version? Absolutely yes.

17 Sep 2004 | Don Schenck said...

(When I saw "A9" in the SvN headline, I thought "Oh no ... not another Audi").

Can A9 cut into Google's market share? Doubtful. You know you are successful when your product become a verb and it's mentioned on Law & Order.

24 Sep 2004 | gll said...

A9 is a google search engine. They arent going to cut into google's share, because they are adding to google's share. Unless people run away from google all of a sudden because of A9 bloat.....

25 Sep 2004 | Don Schenck said...

In which case, Google has become an evil corporate monopoly AND MUST BE STOPPED!

:)