Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

1.  

   Some related work & examples

   

   Ben Edelman, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 2:29pm

   
   

   I agree that this is a big problem, and that consumers are rightly getting fed up with it.
   Some representative recent examples:
   

   • Pushing Spyware through Search -- showing Google running ads for vendors as notorious as Direct Revenue
     
   • How Much Does 'Free' Cost? -- critiquing Google ads that try to charge users up to $38 for copies of Firefox and other free software
     
   • Paid Search Results Often Not Worth the Click -- the InfoWorld piece that perhaps inspired this news item, but isn't linked in the original article

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

2.  

   No Subject Given

   

   Anonymous Coward, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 2:39pm

   
   

   I think that google would be better served keeping it's sponsored links squeaky-clean. That would make them seem more reliable, making people more likely to click on one. So they would therefore be more valuable

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

3.  

   Re: Some related work & examples

   

   Carlo, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 2:52pm

   
   

   Thanks for the links, Ben. ANd you're right on the Infoworld piece, I got it mixed with all the others.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

4.  

   A registration-free link to the InfoWorld article

   

   Ben Edelman, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 2:53pm

   
   

   For those seeking to read the InfoWorld article, but not wanting to register, see this registration-free link.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

5.  

   google

   

   MikeTrin, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 3:20pm

   
   

   Not only does searching for FireFox on Google lead to sponsored ads where users pay $39 to download FireFox. Google also shows sponsored ads that pull up a page full of Google ads and a Google sponsored download FireFox link where the site owner gets $1 per download, not to mention money from the Google ads. I just wonder how much he pays for the sponsored link on search results and if his income from the $1 per download on FireFox pays for it.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

6.  

   No Subject Given

   

   Anonymous Coward, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 4:55pm

   
   

   Google is evil. Fuck them

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

7.  

   Re: google

   

   IZach, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 5:42pm

   
   

   What are you talking about? Have you actually tried searching? There are a multitude of places to download firefox for free and one sponsered ad for amazon selling firefox the movie.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

8.  

   Never have, never will.

   

   merlin, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 7:08pm

   
   

   I use a search engine to find *real* results - not results presented to me because some grubbing bastard paid them to show the link to me no matter what the hell I searched for. I *never* click on a paid sponsor ad. Never. Period.
   

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

9.  

   Re: Never have, never will.

   

   DarthManiac, Feb 6th, 2006 @ 9:02pm

   
   

   Amen.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

10.  

    Re: Never have, never will.

    

    I know better, too, Feb 7th, 2006 @ 3:32pm

    
    

    Merlin is right. I _never_ click on those spyware-filled Google ads. To all you new people out there, don't click on -any- of those Google or Yahoo ads because most of them are spyware...funny that those companies claim to not know that.
    
    If you want free reliable software with no spyware or ads in it, try Nonags http://www.ded.com/nonags/menu.html. I have used them for at least 8 years and never got any spyware or adware and I have downloaded hundreds of programs there.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

Add Your Comment