Nothing lasts forever. When Google launched, Yahoo and AltaVista controlled search. When the web started to grow, Compuserve, AOL and even the Microsoft Network considered it a poor cousin to their gated communities.

Today, Google dominates search, but there's always another major player around the corner; a revolutionary service that comes from nowhere to change the way we use the web. Right now, Twitter is the darling, but will it last? And what's next?

Read on: After Google: who will be the next web sensation? | News | TechRadar UK

Not sure I ever heard of AltaVista. But I certainly remember Compuserve, AOL and MSN.

I don't know about changing the world, but I sure think in US, Newegg would make the list.

I've only read the first page. It annoys me when articles are put on multiple pages as I don't feel like visiting all of them but maybe later. Anyway I think that google is heading in the wrong direction with their chrome os. Unfortunately I don't think, at this point, that windows is stoppable; they would really have to screw up for someone else to take over and if they did I think it would be mac especially if apple release mac os x for the pc instead of only on their on proprietary system, but that is an argument for another day. The problem is that PCs are way cheaper than macs and that windows comes on most of them and on all of them that you buy in the store. Not to mention how most retail software is for windows. Your typical home or business owner doesn't care about building customized systems. Hobbyists and windows haters are the only ones that put anything other than mac or windows or their computer. Yet Linux isn't going anywhere but I'm not even sure google chrome will be able to compete with that. I think if anything where to bring them down putting a lot of their money into that might. I think that putting that money into something else to revolutionize would be a better idea because they can't win against windows.

Used AltaVista many times when it was around. Bing is trying to be the next Google...

Which is why MS and yahoo agreed to combine their search engines together. I don't think Bing will be any more of a competition to google than their live search or whatever they called it (in fact I thinks it's stupid) but we'll have to see if the MS/yahoo thing is approved and how it does.

I've heard of AltaVista, and for a long time was a fan of Yahoo over Google simply because of the fancier first page. That of course changed in due time.

I second newegg lol.

I'm surprised about Twitter being the darling though, but I've never really jumped into the twitter scene. I've heard of a few innovative search engine ideas, but they usually sort of fade into the background after awhile.

I'd love to see a Wolfram Alpha + Wiki + Google combination.

I am a fan of google. But I use bing some times for it is a new one.

Originally Posted by dobhar

Used AltaVista many times when it was around. Bing is trying to be the next Google...

I agree. But i use Google all the time.

All search engines are trying to be the next Google - and Google is working hard to stay on top. And as long as they don't bog it down with superfluous fluff (or turn to the dark side and commit crimes and shoot themselves in the foot), it is likely they will remain on top for some time. The problem for any alternative search engine is twofold. (1) It must "hit" the desired information consistently - that's obvious. But a greater obstacle is (2), it must change people's habits. In spite of Bing's, Yahoo's, and Ask's efforts to change me and my browser, converting me will be difficult with my set Home Page.