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Mysterious Dell branded search site within Google.com domain

Discussion in 'Google' started by Mister Tut, Apr 15, 2006.

  1. #1
    Anyone seen anything like this before?

    http://www.google.com/hws/dell/afe

    Do they offer this as a service to just anyone, or only major players?

    any ideas what the /hws/ in the url might refer to?
     
    Mister Tut, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  2. mariush

    mariush Peon

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    #2
    Page is not working. As for "hws", it could mean "hardware solutions".
     
    mariush, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  3. samm27

    samm27 Peon

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    #3
    Maybe its a test site they use before they sell an organization on buying Google search?
     
    samm27, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  4. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #4
    No, not a test site and not new.

    They also have sites for Apple, HP, Linux, Microsoft, etc. I can't remember what all of them are any more.

    Or at least they used to... that link is dead for me too.

    Edit:

    Here's the main page: http://www.google.com/options/specialsearches.html

    I don't see Dell or HP there though.
     
    minstrel, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  5. Mister Tut

    Mister Tut Guest

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    #5
    Hmm, Still works for me. I found it through my referrer stats.

    It isn't the same as what you see at the link you supplied, Minstrel. This is a Dell logo'ed page with a google search bar that searches across all topics, not just Dell related items.

    Thanks anyways, folks! A mystery to me still...
     
    Mister Tut, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  6. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #6
    I see this:

    I think you have spyware.
     
    minstrel, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  7. Mong

    Mong ↓↘→ horsePower

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    #7
    This page was generated because of one of these two reasons:

    * The web address you typed did not resolve correctly.

    * You typed a keyword query in the browser address bar.

    This page is meant to provide you with helpful related content, including web search results and paid advertisements, based on the meaning of the web address/keyword query that you typed. This program can be uninstalled from the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs. Look for the application named "Browser Address Error Redirector". Older versions may be called "GoogleAFE".
     
    Mong, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  8. Smyrl

    Smyrl Tomato Republic Staff

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    #8
    I think it is something set up on Dell computers. I purchased a new Dell and get that ugly gray page.
     
    Smyrl, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  9. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #9
    I have a Dell - that's what I'm posting on. I can't even get to the page - only that error page.
     
    minstrel, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  10. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #10
    minstrel, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  11. Mister Tut

    Mister Tut Guest

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    #11
    Ah thanks, Minstrel.

    So it seems that is a default homepage set by Dell for at least some of the computers they sell. People are pissed because they cannot reset their start page.

    I saw it in my referrer logs because someone did a search there that had my site as a result.
     
    Mister Tut, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  12. ferret77

    ferret77 Heretic

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    #12
    ferret77, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  13. schmidte

    schmidte Peon

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    #13
    It is an error page, but it has a Google search box on it. Try it.
    It only returns 10 results and some "Related Searches" plus other stuff.
     
    schmidte, Apr 15, 2006 IP
  14. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #14
    It's good marketing by google, more new computer users are using their search instead of the MSN default that is usually set. Dell also get some pretty nice branding out of it :)
     
    MattUK, Apr 18, 2006 IP
  15. DaveN

    DaveN Member

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    #15
    DaveN, Apr 18, 2006 IP
  16. dotcomsdotbiz

    dotcomsdotbiz Banned

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    #16
    Doesn't firefox have a similar start page by default?
     
    dotcomsdotbiz, Apr 18, 2006 IP
  17. nate_king1

    nate_king1 Active Member

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    #17
    nate_king1, Apr 18, 2006 IP
  18. hulo

    hulo Peon

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    #18
    It comes as the homepage on new Dells now. I have come across it on two new laptops.

    The search results are different than any other DC, and has ads interspersed. Very strange.
     
    hulo, Apr 18, 2006 IP
  19. drewbe121212

    drewbe121212 Well-Known Member

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    #19
    Firefox has a link similar to this too when you first load the "default homepage" when a fresh copy of firefox is installed. I can't remember the exact url, but it is similiar ( I think anyways)
     
    drewbe121212, Apr 19, 2006 IP
  20. ice00

    ice00 Peon

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    #20
    google is probably just testing it out
     
    ice00, Apr 21, 2006 IP