"Knol" finally opened.

[Gene]

Looks like knol.google.com is finally in full swing!

http://knol.google.com

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Knol has nothing on Wikipedia - sorry, Google...

It's full of stock photography advertisement-looking medical articles, and otherwise mundane and boring "articles" that sound like a 15 year old wrote them (Here's a real "winner" - http://knol.google.com/k/tom-wood/how-to-give-a-girl-a-mindblowing-orgasm/1io4kos0wzfur/11# - say what you want about Wikipedia...).

Bah - wouldn't have minded Google choosing a word that I owned the .com for, but otherwise this feels like a 1/2-arsed attempt by the Goog.

-Allan :gl:

 

[johname]

It will grow, then google sends Wikipedia down the search ladder lol

 

[domaino]

we'll quickly find out how "true" the google SE listings are.
Wikipedia has YEARS of service, backlinks and content ahead of Knol. If any topic shows up higher ranked than a Wikipedia listing, i seriously question the validity of Google as a SE.

M.

Excellent point.

A severe conflict of interest and yes, it will certainly be interesting to watch.

Knol has nothing on Wikipedia - sorry, Google...

It's full of stock photography advertisement-looking medical articles, and otherwise mundane and boring "articles" that sound like a 15 year old wrote them (Here's a real "winner" - http://knol.google.com/k/tom-wood/how-to-give-a-girl-a-mindblowing-orgasm/1io4kos0wzfur/11# - say what you want about Wikipedia...).

Bah - wouldn't have minded Google choosing a word that I owned the .com for, but otherwise this feels like a 1/2-arsed attempt by the Goog.

-Allan :gl:

Wow, who needs Wikipedia!

Wikipedia has tapped into what it is that makes the Internet great, it is a pioneer amongst pioneers. Any attempt made by Google to replicate the success of Wiki will have to be based on something other than mere commercial self-interest, IMO. In trying to compete with Wikipedia you are not competing merely with another profit-orientated service, you are competing against "the people".

For that reason alone, the odds are stacked well and truly against Knol competing against Wikipedia. Whether it can be a success in its own right is another question.

n.b. hang on in there, Mr. Knol!