Our problem is that we'd never get anything done if we attempted to answer each question on each of the various threads started about this. We did answer your question on another thread about the search function. That answer and update is here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...25#post3909625

We did not think of posting it here because this seemed to be complaint thread about Google.

As well, it seems some have missed various posts about the board that indeed search can be utilized during this period by simply asking a moderator for help. We enabled them for search to help members which is really the purpose for moderators anyway and quite a few members have been able to get help this way.

On the other thread, you'll see comments from some of the more tech inclined members of the board that other Web sites have had problems with search - some disabling it for good and others now charging to reduce the server drain. While i'm not in the league of those members, I am very willing to accept their comments that search problems are not unique to FT and that among the larger boards it has become very expensive and an ongoing challenge. As noted in the other thread, we are introducing tow new servers, one to handle just search and the other to off-load graphic drain of use of smilies and other static graphics of the board itself. Those two servers are running $15K with the install and RAID. But we think if a few of our members will allow us to focus on this solution over the next week or two, everyone will be happy.

And really, we have a lot in common with our thoughts... "[Google] is not the best approach." We never intended it to be, but it seemed better than nothing.