My experiences using Bing #1: pathetic date-limiting feature

Following up on my newsletter article on Bing's high "search success" rating, I have set my default search engine on my browsers to Bing.com. I'll be posting highlights (and lowlights) here, particularly when they relate to research-related searching.

Today, I was looking for new info on word cloud-generating tools (e.g., Wordle.net and tocloud.com). I wasn't looking for news... just the buzz from the last 3 or 4 months. I've grown accustomed to using Google's "More search tools" feature that lets me limit my search to newer sites. (I know, I know, date limitations aren't reliable. And I still find 'em helpful when I'm looking for a few good items.)

Bing's not-so-Advanced Search option doesn't offer a date filter. On the search results page some but by no means all search results pages, I have the option to limit the search to the past 24 hours, past week or past month. According to the Bing user support forums, Bing said it was working on this for two years, before it was finally rolled out this past March 16. Two years in the making and this is all we get?

On top of that, it appears that the only searches that are "rewarded" with a date limiting filter are the simplest, one-word searches. A search for autism resulted in the filter appearing; a search for autism ASL didn't. And that query for word cloud maker? Nope, no date filter.

Test: filter search to the last X days/months/years

Google - "You betcha."

Bing - "You don't really need to limit your search beyond one month. You're thinking too much; trust us."

Comments

[Marcy Phelps]

This is a great topic, Mary Ellen. I recently went to Bing while working on a client project and was immediately turned away by the lack of an advanced search page. In business research, I prefer that option, rather than adding the extra step in "search, then refine" mode.

[Mary Ellen Bates]

I agree, Marcy. When I read your comment, I realized that I'm accustomed to typing in a nonsense word when I start a Bing search, just to get to the advanced search options. I guess this counts as Gripe #3!