One civilized reader is worth a thousand boneheads - Smart Set magazine, 1914
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Google admits no one feels lucky
SEARCH outfit Google admits that no one ever uses its "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, but it cannot dump it because there would "be an outcry" .
The button, which takes users directly to the top Web page matching their search query, is one of the few on the Spartan webpage. Its position is such Google could be earning shedloads of cash by replacing it with something that punters actually use.
According to the Washington Post, Google has known for ages that no one is "Feeling Lucky" but fears that there would be mass protests worldwide by Dirty Harry fans if it was killed off.
Marissa Mayer, vice president for search products and user experience said the daft button was part of Google's heritage and is part of what users really like about us.
In out of focus groups, Google users said that the "I'm Feeling Lucky" option "offers a touch of whimsy and reassurance that the company doesn't take itself too seriously".
In otherwords, Googlers want a company to have a product that looks clean but has a completely useless button to remind the world that it is still human.
More out of focus views here. µ
Tags: Google
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I just don't agree. I use it, I asked around the IT dep i work in and other people use it too.

And in firefox people write directly in the location bar when they "feel lucky".
I can understand if they took the button away, but I hope they don't take the function away. I am constantly using ALT+D then typing in my query and using "I'm feeling lucky' to get to my destination. One of the best features in Firefox I believe.
I've never actually used the button on the Google page but as the previous comment says Firefox does it automatically when you type a non-url into the location bar, and I can't recall a time it has ever taken me to the wrong place.

Of course, it's entirely possible that some people have no idea what the button does and avoid clicking on it. Perhaps it would have more clicks if they replaced it with a flashing "Congratulations!!! You are the 9,999,999th visitor to this site! Click this button to feel lucky!!!!" button instead, as the continued existence of such banner ads suggests plenty of people still click those...
It never occurred to me that the functionality of the "I'm feeling lucky" button is the same as typing in a non-url in the location bar. I was about to post that I don't use the button as I don't think it works, however it appears that I use it all the time, allbeit in a roundabout way. Ha.
congrats, and it's true :)

nice 1
It's obscure, but spammer scammers have started using "Feeling Lucky" as another Google redirector mechanism.

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?date=2007-09-21

So... if the only Google users "Feeling Lucky" are the illegitimate ones, why does Google feel the need to preserve this "feature"?
True it can sometimes save one click. But what if the first site is something compromising not related to what you asked for which got to the first place by manipulating Google index? In that case they can look out for some lawsuits along the lines of "hey I clicked on I'm feeling lucky and I got a virus and a shedload of pr0n popups!"
Just choose some relevant and not-too-common keywords and pay google their money, and a lot of lucky people will see your webpage when they use those keywords.