Paul Hutchinson wrote:

> Google Scholar and Google books take the attitude that it is better to
> let you know that the information is out there even if you can't access
> the complete information for free. Personally it doesn't bother me to
> see a standards body restricted access document listed first in the
> results. If I really need to see the information I'll head to a library
> or have my employer buy it.

I agree with those results on Google Scholar and Google Books; after all,
that's what they are for. But it really bugs me when the first page of hits
on a search item in plain Google turn out to be irrelevant or paid sources
-- which are irrelevant for me, and for a large majority of users. There
was a time where this was not so.

Whether money changes hands or not, indexing sources where the subscribers
are only a tiny minority among the general Google users is more a nuisance
than a service. It is not much more than advertising for those paid-for
services, without much usefulness otherwise. 

I really would like an option to blank those results out. They do me no
good. I found Google was better when they weren't there.

Gerhard

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist