Comments on: Guruza brings IM to expert questioning http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:21:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: abowlofcereal.com » Blog Archive » ALok http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-108980 abowlofcereal.com » Blog Archive » ALok Sat, 22 Jul 2006 23:23:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-108980 [...] A CNET news article review. The market according to TechCrunch. Review from Mashable. [...] [...] A CNET news article review. The market according to TechCrunch. Review from Mashable. [...]

]]> By: arutha http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-93425 arutha Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:06:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-93425 Kasamba (http://www.kasamba.com) is another expert advice site that exists for many years and is doing very well. The experts (~30k) provide their services via chat (using a proprietary software application for the experts and a flash client for the customers). I agree with Carl, above - speed is key, and people prefer to pay and get an immediate response rather than having to wait for an email. Kasamba (http://www.kasamba.com) is another expert advice site that exists for many years and is doing very well. The experts (~30k) provide their services via chat (using a proprietary software application for the experts and a flash client for the customers). I agree with Carl, above - speed is key, and people prefer to pay and get an immediate response rather than having to wait for an email.

]]> By: fsckr http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-90977 fsckr Mon, 03 Jul 2006 19:50:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-90977 I like the simplicity of the site. I'm a little concerned about how it will scale over time. They need: - Good search/categorizing - Better/More descriptive tagging - More questions and answers I like the simplicity of the site. I’m a little concerned about how it will scale over time.

They need:
- Good search/categorizing
- Better/More descriptive tagging
- More questions and answers

]]> By: Carl http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-90360 Carl Mon, 03 Jul 2006 00:34:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-90360 Oskar, I think it is VERY different. I don't use either of the services you named because of the way they work. When I have a problem that interrupts my work, I don't want to wait hours or days for an answer. I want an answer NOW, and I'm willing to pay for it. Guruza does that job perfectly! Oskar,

I think it is VERY different. I don’t use either of the services you named because of the way they work. When I have a problem that interrupts my work, I don’t want to wait hours or days for an answer. I want an answer NOW, and I’m willing to pay for it. Guruza does that job perfectly!

]]> By: Oskar Syahbana http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-90085 Oskar Syahbana Sun, 02 Jul 2006 12:04:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-90085 I don't like the business idea. I mean, it's not that different from Yahoo Answer or Google Answer or Amazon what's-it's-named?? I don’t like the business idea. I mean, it’s not that different from Yahoo Answer or Google Answer or Amazon what’s-it’s-named??

]]> By: T.A. McCann http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-89470 T.A. McCann Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:51:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-89470 If you like this kind of expert Q&A functionality and want it for your own web site or blog, check out www.helpshare.com/partners. They can easily skin their features to be valuable. For an example, check out the popular blogger site, http://helpshare.lockergnome.com or if you are a blogger and want to add Q&A to your blog, check this out, http://www.helpshare.com/corp/hs_affiliate.asp If you like this kind of expert Q&A functionality and want it for your own web site or blog, check out http://www.helpshare.com/partners. They can easily skin their features to be valuable. For an example, check out the popular blogger site, http://helpshare.lockergnome.com or if you are a blogger and want to add Q&A to your blog, check this out, http://www.helpshare.com/corp/hs_affiliate.asp

]]> By: Web2.0Fan.net http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-89177 Web2.0Fan.net Sat, 01 Jul 2006 06:59:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-89177 <strong>在线问答 - Guruza...</strong> 现在在线提供专家回答的网站很多，比如国外的 Yahoo Answers， Google Answers，或是国内新浪的爱问，和百度的知道。最近 Guruza 多了一个提供用户之间问答的平台，让你跟能回答你的人在线对话..... 在线问答 - Guruza…

现在在线提供专家回答的网站很多，比如国外的 Yahoo Answers， Google Answers，或是国内新浪的爱问，和百度的知道。最近 Guruza 多了一个提供用户之间问答的平台，让你跟能回答你的人在线对话…..

]]> By: grant http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88832 grant Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:34:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88832 Not that I will use this kind of service often, but this is the first knowledge trading site that I consider easy to use. Not bad at all. Not that I will use this kind of service often, but this is the first knowledge trading site that I consider easy to use. Not bad at all.

]]> By: Adam Thorsen http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88830 Adam Thorsen Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:31:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88830 J. Jeffryes: Very good point. We should show previous versions of the question somehow. J. Jeffryes:

Very good point. We should show previous versions of the question somehow.

]]> By: J. Jeffryes http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88757 J. Jeffryes Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:38:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88757 I've been trying it, so far it looks very vulnerable to spamming and griefing. Hopefully that will change once more people begin to use it for legitimate purposes. One major problem is that you can change the question you asked after it was asked. For example, as an experiment "Pyro" asked what 1+1 was. I answered 2. He/she (she, if it's who I think it is) then changed the question to "1+2=?". Editing a question in some way needs to be allowed, but it shouldn't overwrite the original question, it should be appended to it. I’ve been trying it, so far it looks very vulnerable to spamming and griefing. Hopefully that will change once more people begin to use it for legitimate purposes.

One major problem is that you can change the question you asked after it was asked. For example, as an experiment “Pyro” asked what 1+1 was. I answered 2. He/she (she, if it’s who I think it is) then changed the question to “1+2=?”.

Editing a question in some way needs to be allowed, but it shouldn’t overwrite the original question, it should be appended to it.

]]> By: Rich Collins http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88587 Rich Collins Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:23:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88587 You can now ask questions for free if you like. You can also offer an incentive to experts if you think that will help :) You can now ask questions for free if you like. You can also offer an incentive to experts if you think that will help :)

]]> By: Jason Frock http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88583 Jason Frock Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:10:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88583 Murray, The way you describe Qunu, it sounds like a website slapped on top of IRC. Sure, people are motivated by their desire to help - but I have found, personally (and disclaimer: I haven't used Qunu, but I've used IRC far far too mcuh), that IRC people are not motivated enough to help you TO COMPLETION of your problem. Money might be just the motivator real time professionals need to reach that goal. Good luck Guruza, your site looks great. Murray,

The way you describe Qunu, it sounds like a website slapped on top of IRC. Sure, people are motivated by their desire to help - but I have found, personally (and disclaimer: I haven’t used Qunu, but I’ve used IRC far far too mcuh), that IRC people are not motivated enough to help you TO COMPLETION of your problem. Money might be just the motivator real time professionals need to reach that goal.

Good luck Guruza, your site looks great.

]]> By: 21talks — On the eve of a guru world http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88361 21talks — On the eve of a guru world Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:56:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88361 [...] But no need to compare the service, Guruza cofounder Rich Collins said it straight. “In fact, our original idea (and full implementation) for Guruza was almost EXACTLY like Qunu,” he commented on Techcrunch. “You searched for experts, chose the experts that you wanted to talk to and then chatted with them using a Jabber client or the web client.” [...] [...] But no need to compare the service, Guruza cofounder Rich Collins said it straight. “In fact, our original idea (and full implementation) for Guruza was almost EXACTLY like Qunu,” he commented on Techcrunch. “You searched for experts, chose the experts that you wanted to talk to and then chatted with them using a Jabber client or the web client.” [...]

]]> By: Murray Gray http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88270 Murray Gray Fri, 30 Jun 2006 08:26:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88270 In answer to Miguel: "Another huge difference is that Qunu and Yahoo answers are free and really don’t give much incentive for experts to provide answers for you" I would argue that this is our strength. Qunu experts are here because they want to help, not because they're getting paid. The best motivator of all. In answer to Miguel: “Another huge difference is that Qunu and Yahoo answers are free and really don’t give much incentive for experts to provide answers for you”

I would argue that this is our strength. Qunu experts are here because they want to help, not because they’re getting paid. The best motivator of all.

]]> By: TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » Guruza、IM でエキスパートに質問 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88240 TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » Guruza、IM でエキスパートに質問 Fri, 30 Jun 2006 07:35:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88240 [...] [原文へ] [...] [...] [原文へ] [...]

]]> By: Akshay Singh http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88128 Akshay Singh Fri, 30 Jun 2006 03:57:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88128 Guys...the sit looks awesome. It definitely looks like a one stop shop, easy to use and to the point interface. Keep it up. Guys…the sit looks awesome. It definitely looks like a one stop shop, easy to use and to the point interface. Keep it up.

]]> By: Rich Collins http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88060 Rich Collins Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:53:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88060 SD_Chris, Yes you can stiff the expert if you want. However, we keep stats on users that are presented to the experts, so it is not likely that they will keep answering your questions ;) SD_Chris,

Yes you can stiff the expert if you want. However, we keep stats on users that are presented to the experts, so it is not likely that they will keep answering your questions ;)

]]> By: Matthew http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88052 Matthew Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:43:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88052 Ask Metafilter is awesome, IMHO. It's not really comparable Yahoo or Google Answers, though. It's more of a community (as part of the Metafilter site, with meetups and all the rest) than a simple question-and-answer site. People who just paid their $5, asked a few questions and contributed no answers to other users' questions would be given short shrift I think/hope. I agree that the quality of answers is sometimes lacking, although the sheer breadth of knowledge in the userbase is pretty amazing. Ask Metafilter is awesome, IMHO. It’s not really comparable Yahoo or Google Answers, though. It’s more of a community (as part of the Metafilter site, with meetups and all the rest) than a simple question-and-answer site. People who just paid their $5, asked a few questions and contributed no answers to other users’ questions would be given short shrift I think/hope. I agree that the quality of answers is sometimes lacking, although the sheer breadth of knowledge in the userbase is pretty amazing.

]]> By: Rich Collins http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88044 Rich Collins Fri, 30 Jun 2006 01:34:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88044 Qunu is actually quite a nice site. In fact, our original idea (and full implementation) for Guruza was almost EXACTLY like Qunu. You searched for experts, chose the experts that you wanted to talk to and then chatted with them using a Jabber client or the web client. We had this done and working. Kinda spooky actually. Then we realized that this approach has some serious issues. The biggest of which is seeking out experts. The reason I would use a service like this in the first place is that I don't want to waste any time. Searching and then going through experts one at time until you find one that is online, responds and knows the answer takes way too much time. We felt the best user experience is to ask your question and then go back to whatever you were doing until you get an answer. Qunu does have more experts than Guruza (at least until we get on Digg as well :P) We are adding another nice feature just for experts in the next few weeks. Experts will be able to create custom question feeds / alerts based on keyword search. This will allow experts to craft a number of searches that will match the kind of questions that they are interested in (think PubSub). I think this will really liberate experts as well as they can create their feed and then wait for questions to roll in. Qunu is actually quite a nice site. In fact, our original idea (and full implementation) for Guruza was almost EXACTLY like Qunu. You searched for experts, chose the experts that you wanted to talk to and then chatted with them using a Jabber client or the web client. We had this done and working. Kinda spooky actually.

Then we realized that this approach has some serious issues. The biggest of which is seeking out experts. The reason I would use a service like this in the first place is that I don’t want to waste any time. Searching and then going through experts one at time until you find one that is online, responds and knows the answer takes way too much time.

We felt the best user experience is to ask your question and then go back to whatever you were doing until you get an answer.

Qunu does have more experts than Guruza (at least until we get on Digg as well :P) We are adding another nice feature just for experts in the next few weeks. Experts will be able to create custom question feeds / alerts based on keyword search. This will allow experts to craft a number of searches that will match the kind of questions that they are interested in (think PubSub). I think this will really liberate experts as well as they can create their feed and then wait for questions to roll in.

]]> By: stev3 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88017 stev3 Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:40:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-88017 I looked at Guruza, and it seems pretty nice and useful and everything, but Qunu is better in my opinion. Why? Well Qunu has enough experts already, and it's not hard to become one. Yeah, Guruza has more, but you only need 1 person who knows the answer to help you, and unless it's a very hard or complicated question, it doesn't seem hard to find an expert who knows the answer to your question. You said that one of the disadvantages of Qunu was tht you need a Jabber-Compatible IM Client to use it, but that is only partly true. The expert needs the client, but the question seeker can ask it all through the website in real time with the online client, and since it's AJAX powered, the user only needs to have JavaScript enabled. So if you want to be an expert but don't have a Jabber enabled client and don't want to (or can't for some reason) install anything, you're out of luck with Qunu for now. But, as they said in their FAQ (http://tinyurl.com/f2qxu), there will be support for other protocols soon. Of course the other benefit of Qunu is it's totally free. I looked at Guruza, and it seems pretty nice and useful and everything, but Qunu is better in my opinion. Why? Well Qunu has enough experts already, and it’s not hard to become one. Yeah, Guruza has more, but you only need 1 person who knows the answer to help you, and unless it’s a very hard or complicated question, it doesn’t seem hard to find an expert who knows the answer to your question. You said that one of the disadvantages of Qunu was tht you need a Jabber-Compatible IM Client to use it, but that is only partly true. The expert needs the client, but the question seeker can ask it all through the website in real time with the online client, and since it’s AJAX powered, the user only needs to have JavaScript enabled. So if you want to be an expert but don’t have a Jabber enabled client and don’t want to (or can’t for some reason) install anything, you’re out of luck with Qunu for now. But, as they said in their FAQ (http://tinyurl.com/f2qxu), there will be support for other protocols soon.

Of course the other benefit of Qunu is it’s totally free.

]]> By: SD_Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87979 SD_Chris Thu, 29 Jun 2006 23:20:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87979 So you only pay when you are happy with the answer? Maybe I'm missing something here but couldn't you just "say" you're not happy with the answer when you are but get away without paying anything? -Chris www.SwitchDiscs.com So you only pay when you are happy with the answer? Maybe I’m missing something here but couldn’t you just “say” you’re not happy with the answer when you are but get away without paying anything?

-Chris
http://www.SwitchDiscs.com

]]> By: Miguel de Cervantes http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87978 Miguel de Cervantes Thu, 29 Jun 2006 23:15:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87978 Guruza can potentially deliver a more satisfactory experience than services like Qunu and Yahoo Answers for a couple of reasons. Most of these services tend to be just another iteration of expert exchange, there is no real connection to the expert. Yahoo Answers is largely for the trivial questions posed by trolling teenagers. Guruza provides realtime notification and allows you to get connected with an expert directly. Another huge difference is that Qunu and Yahoo answers are free and really don't give much incentive for experts to provide answers for you, especially difficult ones. However, Guruza creates a competitive environment where experts compete to answer your questions for the all mighty greenback. I can see alot of developers benefitting from Guruza and as more experts come on board, System Administrator and end users alike will also gain the answers to many questions that they desperately need answering. Guruza can potentially deliver a more satisfactory experience than services like Qunu and Yahoo Answers for a couple of reasons. Most of these services tend to be just another iteration of expert exchange, there is no real connection to the expert. Yahoo Answers is largely for the trivial questions posed by trolling teenagers. Guruza provides realtime notification and allows you to get connected with an expert directly. Another huge difference is that Qunu and Yahoo answers are free and really don’t give much incentive for experts to provide answers for you, especially difficult ones. However, Guruza creates a competitive environment where experts compete to answer your questions for the all mighty greenback. I can see alot of developers benefitting from Guruza and as more experts come on board, System Administrator and end users alike will also gain the answers to many questions that they desperately need answering.

]]> By: Pete Cashmore http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87947 Pete Cashmore Thu, 29 Jun 2006 22:16:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87947 Great review. I took a look at both Qunu and Oyogi a while back: http://mashable.com/2006/06/13/qunu-is-a-killer-idea/ http://mashable.com/2006/01/13/oyogi-more-questions-and-answers/ Both neat, but Yahoo Answers is way ahead of the pack. Great review. I took a look at both Qunu and Oyogi a while back:

http://mashable.com/2006/06/13.....ller-idea/

http://mashable.com/2006/01/13.....d-answers/

Both neat, but Yahoo Answers is way ahead of the pack.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87936 Andrew Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:54:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87936 Congrats Rich, site is looking good. Congrats Rich, site is looking good.

]]> By: Sasha http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87931 Sasha Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:49:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/29/guruza-brings-im-to-expert-questioning/#comment-87931 I like qunu.com better. It is easier to use and understand and they said they are working on adding transports. Sasha. <a href="http://www.snimmer.com" rel="nofollow">www.snimmer.com</a> I like qunu.com better. It is easier to use and understand and they said they are working on adding transports.

Sasha.
http://www.snimmer.com

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