[lowprofile]

This article begs the question "Why do people need advanced search skills when using a SERP?".

If the single search box "worked", the search would provide the results the user wanted without having to use arcane search techniques.

The expectation for a user presented with the single search box is for simplicity and accuracy.

I would bet that there are very few SERP "power users" that know all the ways to manipulate the searches.

Going away from the single search box or providing hard links for filtering results might be a way around this. I imagine that there are many bright minds working on this issue.

[bobds]

> If the single search box "worked", the search would provide the results the user wanted without having to use arcane search techniques.

What if my definition of "works" includes the ability to use "arcane" search techniques? For example, I wish I could use quotes around my search terms everywhere, to get exact matches. Google now often insists that I need stemming applied in such queries, which I find to be the opposite of "works".

[lowprofile]

Your point is right on, one size does not fit all. One searcher's "works" is another's "fails". And highlights how complex the issue is, some people are the "feeling lucky" types and others are the I want to drill in and make sure I am getting what I wanted. The question may be, Are the "feeling lucky" types getting lucky?