The problem is that Google was only good in 1998 precisely because it was pre-Google. Now the web is SEO'd to hell and actively trying to prevent you from getting good search results.
A "new old Google" would only be good at searching the 1998 web, and if all you want is nostalgia, http://theoldnet.com is right there.
A "new old Google" would only be good at searching the 1998 web, and if all you want is nostalgia, http://theoldnet.com is right there.