First of all, Google doesn't use clicks to improve their searches, because they have no way of knowing on what you click, the links on the search page are direct to the websites that interest you and the JavaScript function (clk) doesn't send any info to GOOG. They do monitor AdWords clicks obviously and do a ton of optimizing on it, but that isn't where I get my value from. ( a possible exception is clicks to sites with Google AdSense where they can monitor both ends ).
And I don't care what other people read, maybe its my weird taste in books, maybe it is my extreme individualism, but I really don't give a damn. I just want to be able to find a book and get it to my doorstep as soon as possible as cheaply as possible and as hassle free as possible.
Most importantly the point wasn't the examples it that there are ideas that need very little users to be useful to their end users - think 37signals apps. And there are ideas that need a lot of people to have any effect.
You think PG is buying AdWords ads now? I'm aware of the difference between paid and organic search results; give me some credit.
I bet you're not signed into Google when you try it. I'm signed in for gMail, Google Reader, etc. When I mouseover any of the organic search results, it shows the normal link in the status bar. But when I right click on it, it switches to the google address and that remains if I move the mouse and mouseover again.
No offense, but these were the only links I could find with that format.
Just tried it while signed and still the link when I do "copy link location" is direct. Maybe they only do it on a small focus group or for users in certain countries (I'm in Israel).
And I don't care what other people read, maybe its my weird taste in books, maybe it is my extreme individualism, but I really don't give a damn. I just want to be able to find a book and get it to my doorstep as soon as possible as cheaply as possible and as hassle free as possible.
Most importantly the point wasn't the examples it that there are ideas that need very little users to be useful to their end users - think 37signals apps. And there are ideas that need a lot of people to have any effect.