I’ve spent a little time checking out Dogpile and comparing it with other similar ’’everything under the sun’’ sites. Dogpile just doesn’t come up to the standard of the others. I have Yahoo, Excite and MSN bookmarked and primarily compared Dogpile to these.
Search Dogpile’s search engine is effective. You can search the web or locally. I did the same search on dogpile, Yahoo, Excite and Ask Jeeves. The results were similar. Although Dogpile was the first I started (using multiple windows) it was the third to load.
Features All the sites had similar basic categories -Dogpile had fewer than some. Dogpile, Yahoo and Excite all have radio functions so you can listen as you surf. All have free email. MSN and Yahoo also offer instant messaging. Dogpile has a joke of the day-each of the others have some similar areas (quote for the day etc.) All link to major online shopping sources.
Look Dogpile is set up in a simple straightforward manner. The Yahoo home page is the simplest to follow. Excite and MSN have a busier appearance.
Personalization Dogpile doesn’t appear to have any personalization. I have customized pages set up for each of the others. They all have options for what information you want on your primary page-news, sports, stocks, TV listings, local weather. At MSN, Yahoo and Excite there are options for setting up personal calendars and address books. Excite has a link to Blue Mountain Arts for greetings. You can also customize the order in which these appear and the colors of the pages.
Bottom line -for me-Dogpile is ok but I have found much better. I can come online, check the weather, be reminded of my brother’s birthday, send him an e-card and be on top of the overnight news all at once with any of the other three sites.