Does Bing Have More Bang for the (Life Sciences) Buck?

If you're a researcher or pharma professional, should you prefer Bing to Google? Microsoft's Life Sciences IT expert Les Jordan (not surprisingly) thinks so. His latest blog entry details what Microsoft is up to in life sciences, but also takes a closer look at how Bing might have advantages over the "G" search engine for the industry's professionals:

Sponsored Targeted search by Therapeutics. Try this side by side with the “other” large search engine. Type “Diabetes” into Bing (http://www.bing.com) and into the “G”. I won’t give you the link ;-). Notice the difference:

“G” – gives you News on Diabetes as the first link. News! Who wants news on their disease? I need treatments, symptoms, diet, prevention, etc.

Bing – The first link is a definition (from content provided by Bing Health from Mayo Clinic), but notice on the left: Articles, Symptoms, Diet, Complications, Prevention, and Test – that’s what people are looking for! Also notice the related searches right under that - “pre-diabetes”, “Diabetes care”. Helps you sub-set your search instead of pouring through the “blue links”. Powerful.

Sponsored Targeted search by drug name. Again try this side by side between Bing and “G”. Let’s stay on the theme of diabetes. Type in Insulin into the search. Notice the differences:

“G” – A “Wikipedia” entry. Better than news, I’ll give you that…but still, it isn’t an authoritative source, and I’ll need to dig more to get the info I need, like “what are the side effects”, etc.

Bing – The first link is an authoritative article on insulin on “Bing Health” from Mayo Clinic. But notice the left side: Articles, Side Effects, Ingredients, Drug Interactions – that’s the kind of information people are usually looking for.

My first few experiences with Bing have been good ones. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

--Paul Thomas