First Impressions of Google's Facebook-killer, Google+

Rob Williams · 07-11-2011, 03:17 PM

I never thought I'd be writing about Google+, but here goes. You see, I'm not a huge fan of 'social networking', at least what I've experienced so far. It's not that I'm anti-social. In fact, I'm far from that. Upon first joining Facebook, however, I had plans to use it as a way to keep in touch with friends and colleagues that I couldn't generally keep in regular contact with. From a business perspective, there was also some potential there.

Read the rest of our post and then discuss it here!

OriginalJoeCool · 07-11-2011, 05:43 PM

I dislike Facebook for the same reasons as you, I guess. I would like to try out Google+ though, just to see what all the hullabaloo's about.

marfig · 07-11-2011, 05:50 PM

I do share a similar dislike for social networking. I think (after trying social network so many times) email, web forums, bugtrackers and Usenet will forever remain my means of interaction in the internet, while my blog will forever remain as my more passive attempt at "reaching out".

I just can't seem to adapt to the environment and general ambiance around social networking, so I don't see myself even giving G+ a try. It's not about UI or features. I'm more and more convinced it's simply about giving me something I don't want to do; social networking.

Optix · 07-11-2011, 07:34 PM

I don't like Facebook for the simple fact that people use it for attention or pity. Sure, there are people who use it for what it's meant for like staying in touch, making updates on a child or what not but for most it's just a way for them to feel special without actually doing anything.

I'll give Google+ a shot and by a shot I mean creating a basic account with no information available to anybody simply to compare the two so I can figure out which one I dislike more.

OriginalJoeCool · 07-11-2011, 07:36 PM

haha

. My gmail account is (edited) if you'd be so kind as to send an invite my way, Rob. I had noticed you weren't on Facebook often, and wondered why. I do like using Facebook to stay in touch with people I otherwise couldn't easily connect with, but yeah the drama is irritating.

MacMan · 07-11-2011, 07:36 PM

If you like Google +'s U.I, well it was designed by none other than Andy Hertzfield, the ex-Apple genius that designed most of the original Mac Classic U.I., and HyperCard which was very similar to WebOS. I didn't even know he was working at Google until Google + plus came out.

Kayden · 07-11-2011, 10:02 PM

I got an invite today for it and TBH I am not the impressed of course I don't much care for Facebook either, it's just there to talk to family who don't know any better. Social networking is fine but it feels like Google is more reactive then proactive anymore and all it is a catch up game at this point.

OriginalJoeCool · 07-11-2011, 10:12 PM

I'm wondering whether this is going to be a Facebook killer in the end or another Wave.

marfig · 07-11-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OriginalJoeCool

I'm wondering whether this is going to be a Facebook killer in the end or another Wave.

Bling!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacMan

If you like Google +'s U.I, well it was designed by none other than Andy Hertzfield, the ex-Apple genius that designed most of the original Mac Classic U.I., and HyperCard which was very similar to WebOS. I didn't even know he was working at Google until Google + plus came out.

The UI didn't work so well for gmail though. At least to me. I tested both "Preview" and "Preview (dense)" there and was far from impressed. Did give it a shot for a couple of hours knowing these things sometimes take time to get used to, but couldn't resist going back to "New Blue".

I can see how it may be beneficial on other places like a Social Networking UI. But for gmail... dunno.

bvpainter · 07-12-2011, 03:44 AM

as a keen user of Facebook I'd like to try Google+, so I'd be very pleased if you could send me an invite.

Doomsday · 07-12-2011, 06:15 AM

i'm alright with Facebook!

eunoia · 07-13-2011, 03:40 AM

Invite me.

eunoia · 07-13-2011, 05:12 PM

Thanks Rob! My first impression is that there's a lot of potential with Google+ if only because people like fresh starts and at least the illusion of control over their public persona. It'll be interesting to see how quickly they can roll out the service to a wider availability, this will be crucial.

Yangster · 07-13-2011, 07:47 PM

May I get an invite please? Thank you.

On_Wisconsin · 07-19-2011, 08:53 AM

I'd love to give Google+ a shot. Social networking has been fairly positive, compared to the regular ol Internet where the more I find out what's on it, the more I hate it (see: Trolls, idiots, rule 34...)

07-11-2011, 03:17 PM	#1
Rob Williams Editor-in-Chief Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 13,231	First Impressions of Google's Facebook-killer, Google+ I never thought I'd be writing about Google+, but here goes. You see, I'm not a huge fan of 'social networking', at least what I've experienced so far. It's not that I'm anti-social. In fact, I'm far from that. Upon first joining Facebook, however, I had plans to use it as a way to keep in touch with friends and colleagues that I couldn't generally keep in regular contact with. From a business perspective, there was also some potential there. Read the rest of our post and then discuss it here! __________________ Intel Core i7-990X EE @ 3.43GHz, GIGABYTE X58A-UD5, Kingston 12GB DDR3-1333, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD, WD VR 1TB, WD 2TB, Seagate 2TB, LG BD-ROM, ASUS DVD-RW, Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H60 Cooler Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.10, 3.7 Kernel) "Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter <Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.

07-11-2011, 05:43 PM	#2
OriginalJoeCool Tech Monkey Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 616	I dislike Facebook for the same reasons as you, I guess. I would like to try out Google+ though, just to see what all the hullabaloo's about. __________________ Last.fm Raptr "Man could hold the universe in his palm, if only he could learn to unclench his fist."

07-11-2011, 05:50 PM	#3
marfig No ROM battery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 783	I do share a similar dislike for social networking. I think (after trying social network so many times) email, web forums, bugtrackers and Usenet will forever remain my means of interaction in the internet, while my blog will forever remain as my more passive attempt at "reaching out". I just can't seem to adapt to the environment and general ambiance around social networking, so I don't see myself even giving G+ a try. It's not about UI or features. I'm more and more convinced it's simply about giving me something I don't want to do; social networking. __________________ NOX COOLBAY Side Window Black; NOX Apex 600w Modular; ASUS P7P55D-E Socket 1156, Sata 6Gb/s & USB 3.0; Intel Quad Core i5 760 2.80 Ghz @ 3.60 Ghz, 8 Mb de cache; Gskill Ripjaws 4 Gb DDR3 1600 Mhz CL8 Dual Channel; ASUS GEFORCE GTX 560 TI DC II 1024MB GDDR5; Samsung 1 Tb 32 Mb SpinPoint F3; NEC 24x Sata black Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2; 2x Samsung SyncMaster S43NW 8000:1 (1440x900) Logitech K120 Keyboard and Logitech Performance Mouse MX

07-11-2011, 07:36 PM	#5
OriginalJoeCool Tech Monkey Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 616	haha . My gmail account is (edited) if you'd be so kind as to send an invite my way, Rob. I had noticed you weren't on Facebook often, and wondered why. I do like using Facebook to stay in touch with people I otherwise couldn't easily connect with, but yeah the drama is irritating. __________________ Last.fm Raptr "Man could hold the universe in his palm, if only he could learn to unclench his fist." Last edited by Rob Williams; 07-11-2011 at 08:40 PM. Reason: Invite sent.

07-11-2011, 07:36 PM	#6
MacMan Partition Master Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 432	If you like Google +'s U.I, well it was designed by none other than Andy Hertzfield, the ex-Apple genius that designed most of the original Mac Classic U.I., and HyperCard which was very similar to WebOS. I didn't even know he was working at Google until Google + plus came out. __________________ http://www.my2cents4theday.blogspot.com/ M a c OS X!

07-11-2011, 10:02 PM	#7
Kayden Techgage Staff Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CA Posts: 709	I got an invite today for it and TBH I am not the impressed of course I don't much care for Facebook either, it's just there to talk to family who don't know any better. Social networking is fine but it feels like Google is more reactive then proactive anymore and all it is a catch up game at this point. __________________ Koolance PC4-1036BK Liquid Cooled Aluminum Full Tower Case (Upgraded to displace 1320watt of heat) - Koolance 360 ver 1.2 CPU Water Block - PrimoChill ICE Non-Conductive Fluid - Asus P6X58D Premium - Intel I7 950 - Evga GTX580 FTW Hydro Copper 2 x2 in SLI - Tt SMART M1200W PSU - Mushkin Enhanced Radioactive 12GB 1600 XMP - Klipsch 5.1 THX Cert Speakers - Sata II OCZ Vertex 4 128GB, Kingston 120GB SV300, WD 2TB, 320GB & 1TB - Cyborg RAT 7 MMO Mouse - Logitech G19 - Logitech G13 Gameboard - 1-over-3 Viewsonic's VA2448M-LED 24-Inch for Nvidia Surround - Ergotech Triple Horizontal LCD Monitor Arm Desk Stand

07-11-2011, 10:12 PM	#8
OriginalJoeCool Tech Monkey Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 616	I'm wondering whether this is going to be a Facebook killer in the end or another Wave. __________________ Last.fm Raptr "Man could hold the universe in his palm, if only he could learn to unclench his fist." Last edited by OriginalJoeCool; 07-11-2011 at 10:27 PM.

07-12-2011, 03:44 AM	#10
bvpainter Obliviot Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1	as a keen user of Facebook I'd like to try Google+, so I'd be very pleased if you could send me an invite.

07-12-2011, 06:15 AM	#11
Doomsday Tech Junkie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: KHI, PAK Posts: 1,539	i'm alright with Facebook! __________________ PSU: Corsair AX850 - Case: Cooler Master HAF X - CPU:Core i7-2600k - Cooler: Cooler Master V6 GT - Motherboard: Asus Z68 Maximus IV Extreme Z - Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8 GB-1600Mhz - GPU: AMD MSI R6970 Lightning - HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB, Seagate 2TB Barracuda Green - SSD: Intel 520 Series 120GB - K/B: Razer Lycosa Mirror - Mouse: Logitech G700 - MouseMat: Steel Series 4HD - LCD: Samsung 2333SW 23" - Speakers: Creative Inspire M4500 4.1 - Headset: Logitech G35 7.1 "Do not look at a man's prayers nor his fasts, rather, measure him by how well he deals with others, the compassion he shows his fellow man, his wisdom and his integrity" - Umar Ibn Al-Khattab

07-13-2011, 03:40 AM	#12
eunoia Partition Master Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Outside Poker Flat Posts: 305	Invite me. __________________ Cooler Master HAF X - Thermaltake Toughpower W0178RU 850W - Gigabyte G1.Assassin - Intel Core i7 930 - Noctua NH-U12P SE2 - Kingston HyperX Red 1600 3X4GB - XFX 6850 - 2 X SAMSUNG DVD SH-S223L - WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB - WD Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB - Acer AL2216W - Tt eSports Challenger - Logitech MX 620 - Win 7 Pro x64

07-13-2011, 05:12 PM	#13
eunoia Partition Master Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Outside Poker Flat Posts: 305	Thanks Rob! My first impression is that there's a lot of potential with Google+ if only because people like fresh starts and at least the illusion of control over their public persona. It'll be interesting to see how quickly they can roll out the service to a wider availability, this will be crucial. __________________ Cooler Master HAF X - Thermaltake Toughpower W0178RU 850W - Gigabyte G1.Assassin - Intel Core i7 930 - Noctua NH-U12P SE2 - Kingston HyperX Red 1600 3X4GB - XFX 6850 - 2 X SAMSUNG DVD SH-S223L - WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB - WD Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB - Acer AL2216W - Tt eSports Challenger - Logitech MX 620 - Win 7 Pro x64

07-13-2011, 07:47 PM	#14
Yangster Obliviot Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California. Posts: 45	May I get an invite please? Thank you.

07-19-2011, 08:53 AM	#15
On_Wisconsin Coastermaker Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 233	I'd love to give Google+ a shot. Social networking has been fairly positive, compared to the regular ol Internet where the more I find out what's on it, the more I hate it (see: Trolls, idiots, rule 34...) __________________ ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" and Samsung 226BW dual monitor setup, Logitech x-540 speakers

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Google Makes 'Google Fiber' Official	Rob Williams	General Technology	11	07-29-2012 11:21 PM
Google Rolls Out 'Google Wallet' to Sprint's Nexus S 4G Customers	Rob Williams	Mobile & Small Form-Factor Computing	0	09-20-2011 04:18 AM
Is Facebook Wrong in the Facebook vs. Google+ Battle?	Rob Williams	General Technology	13	08-22-2011 10:09 AM
Facebook killer?	madstork91	Reader-Submitted News	1	08-28-2010 04:44 PM
Google's Chrome - Browser Done Right?	Rob Williams	General Software	7	09-06-2008 02:45 PM