Comments on: Wikipedia hits the top ten http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:43:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brad Wright http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-179585 Brad Wright Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:24:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-179585 I work for Yahoo! in London, and I can tell you that no one who professionally deals with the specifics of Internet traffic takes Alexa rankings seriously. The system they use to gather data is extremely flawed and not at all indicative of the actual "Top 10" of the Internet. This is because Alexa gathers data only from those who have the Alexa toolbar installed--which is very unlikely to involve a more technologically familiar audience. Let us not forget that there are (apparently) 1 billion users on the Internet now, and I wouldn't even care to estimate how many (few) of them would actually have the Alexa toolbar installed. That said, it _is_ interesting that Wikipedia made it, specifically because Alexa data is more skewed towards the "less techy" end of the market. If Wikipedia is breaking into that end of the market, more power to them. I work for Yahoo! in London, and I can tell you that no one who professionally deals with the specifics of Internet traffic takes Alexa rankings seriously. The system they use to gather data is extremely flawed and not at all indicative of the actual “Top 10” of the Internet. This is because Alexa gathers data only from those who have the Alexa toolbar installed—which is very unlikely to involve a more technologically familiar audience. Let us not forget that there are (apparently) 1 billion users on the Internet now, and I wouldn’t even care to estimate how many (few) of them would actually have the Alexa toolbar installed.

That said, it is interesting that Wikipedia made it, specifically because Alexa data is more skewed towards the “less techy” end of the market. If Wikipedia is breaking into that end of the market, more power to them.

]]> By: Eszter http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-179182 Eszter Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:18:35 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-179182 Thanks, Mary. But you mean according to comScore, no? Those figures were based on their data. Thanks, Mary. But you mean according to comScore, no? Those figures were based on their data.

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178960 harry b Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:11:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178960 They cant typpe, eitherr. They cant typpe, eitherr.

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178959 harry b Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:11:13 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178959 Children use yahoo in droves. They'e ignorant, but there are lots of them. Children use yahoo in droves. They’e ignorant, but there are lots of them.

]]> By: abb1 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178937 abb1 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:55:32 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178937 I use 'My Yahoo' for the homepage. Custom news, weather, stocks - all on one page. Is there an alternative superior enough to be worth switching? I use ‘My Yahoo’ for the homepage. Custom news, weather, stocks – all on one page. Is there an alternative superior enough to be worth switching?

]]> By: Mary http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178841 Mary Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:14:12 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178841 Eszter: <a href="http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/04/gmail-fourth-most-popular-webmail.html" rel="nofollow">Google says</a> most popular, although Hotmail is only 4 million users (or about 2%) behind Yahoo. Eszter: Google says most popular, although Hotmail is only 4 million users (or about 2%) behind Yahoo.

]]> By: Maynard Handley http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178838 Maynard Handley Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:07:42 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178838 I don't know of an alternative to Yahoo Movies (though I can't say I've looked very hard). On the other hand, when, in Yahoo Movies, I ask for a map and get some lame-assed POC from 1996 that doesn't support any of the inline manipulation of Google maps, I have to wonder at a claim like "Yahoo has also been scoring points with web developers by offering one of the best opensource AJAX/DOM toolkits out there, along with several other development tools. " If they have such mad AJAX skills, how come I have never come across a single Yahoo web site that seems to offer the slightest bit of this type of functionality? God knows their map site needs it, and it's not like they haven't had about four years now to work on it. I don’t know of an alternative to Yahoo Movies (though I can’t say I’ve looked very hard).

On the other hand, when, in Yahoo Movies, I ask for a map and get some lame-assed POC from 1996 that doesn’t support any of the inline manipulation of Google maps, I have to wonder at a claim like
“Yahoo has also been scoring points with web developers by offering one of the best opensource AJAX/DOM toolkits out there, along with several other development tools. ”

If they have such mad AJAX skills, how come I have never come across a single Yahoo web site that seems to offer the slightest bit of this type of functionality? God knows their map site needs it, and it’s not like they haven’t had about four years now to work on it.

]]> By: stuart http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178833 stuart Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:51:37 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178833 The largest UK ISP also sets Yahoo as its homepage when you install for the last year or two at least, I imagine a few partnerships like that help yahoo get a lot of pagehits and exposure. Personally although I still have a yahoo webmail account active (a couple in fact), I almost never visit their site to collect it. The largest UK ISP also sets Yahoo as its homepage when you install for the last year or two at least, I imagine a few partnerships like that help yahoo get a lot of pagehits and exposure. Personally although I still have a yahoo webmail account active (a couple in fact), I almost never visit their site to collect it.

]]> By: John Quiggin http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178826 John Quiggin Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:28:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178826 Orkut is incredibly popular in Brazil, apparently. Orkut is incredibly popular in Brazil, apparently.

]]> By: Jonathan Lundell http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178816 Jonathan Lundell Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:23:48 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178816 I figure that Yahoo Mail is a sufficient explanation for Yahoo's ranking. But what explains Orkut? I figure that Yahoo Mail is a sufficient explanation for Yahoo’s ranking. But what explains Orkut?

]]> By: Barry Solow http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178812 Barry Solow Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:58:02 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178812 Sorry, my memory is failing me. What sites (other than AOL and MSN) provide the range of offerings that Yahoo! does? Just to make sure, I'll list a few: finance.yahoo.com, music.yahoo.com, local.yahoo.com, podcast.yahoo.com, tv.yahoo.com, movies.yahoo.com, travel.yahoo.com, realestate.yahoo.com, personals.yahoo.com, groups.yahoo.com, 360.yahoo.com, autos.yahoo.com, food.yahoo.com, wallet.yahoo.com, auctions.yahoo.com, hotjobs.yahoo.com, tickets.yahooo.com... Well, you get the idea. Many of these have existed for years, long enough for Yahoo! to have developed a loyal customer base. I really can't think of too many other sites so broad in their offerings. Sorry, my memory is failing me. What sites (other than AOL and MSN) provide the range of offerings that Yahoo! does? Just to make sure, I’ll list a few:

finance.yahoo.com, music.yahoo.com, local.yahoo.com, podcast.yahoo.com, tv.yahoo.com, movies.yahoo.com, travel.yahoo.com, realestate.yahoo.com, personals.yahoo.com, groups.yahoo.com, 360.yahoo.com, autos.yahoo.com, food.yahoo.com, wallet.yahoo.com, auctions.yahoo.com, hotjobs.yahoo.com, tickets.yahooo.com…

Well, you get the idea. Many of these have existed for years, long enough for Yahoo! to have developed a loyal customer base. I really can’t think of too many other sites so broad in their offerings.

]]> By: Thom Brooks http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178799 Thom Brooks Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:15:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178799 I am horrified to hear that more and more people continue to use Wikipedia. The world must be coming to an end! I am horrified to hear that more and more people continue to use Wikipedia. The world must be coming to an end!

]]> By: Eszter http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178794 Eszter Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:07:49 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178794 <i>a Webmail service that’s still pretty popular</i> Isn't it either <b>the</b> most popular or second to Hotmail? Another popular property they have is Yahoo! Answers, that site must get tons of visitors. Flickr must as well, but that likely doesn't even come under those figures even though it's owned by Yahoo!. All that said, I'm not really sure what such site rankings tell us and why there is such an obsession with them. (I am not criticizing you, John, just the general focus on them.) a Webmail service that’s still pretty popular

Isn’t it either the most popular or second to Hotmail?

Another popular property they have is Yahoo! Answers, that site must get tons of visitors.

Flickr must as well, but that likely doesn’t even come under those figures even though it’s owned by Yahoo!.

All that said, I’m not really sure what such site rankings tell us and why there is such an obsession with them. (I am not criticizing you, John, just the general focus on them.)

]]> By: bob mcmanus http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178791 bob mcmanus Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:06:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178791 what 9 says. and fifteen sets of news digests ( one for Cisco, for example), sports scores and schedules, dictionary etc, calculator, 2 min maps...I hadn't realized I was likeso 20th century. what 9 says. and fifteen sets of news digests ( one for Cisco, for example), sports scores and schedules, dictionary etc, calculator, 2 min maps…I hadn’t realized I was likeso 20th century.

]]> By: tps12 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/comment-page-1/#comment-178757 tps12 Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:16:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/11/14/wikipedia-hits-the-top-ten/#comment-178757 I use Yahoo for weather, TV listings and movie times. Geocities, though...heh. I use Yahoo for weather, TV listings and movie times.

Geocities, though…heh.

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