Welcome to yet another new regular column. This I hope will be your monthly insight in to where [or maybe where not] to go while surfing the Internet on these dark winter nights.
Wierd & wacky or just plain old information, you'll just have to read it each month to find where I end up, let me take you by the mouse and see where we end up
Ok this month I thought I'd start with the Internet Search Engine. The search engine is your key to information. While at college in '93 I discovered that the Internet was my greatest friend when having to do theory work on a wide range of subjects I was studying at the time. From 'A' level Biology and English Literature to the Diploma in Leisure Management, the Internet proved very helpful, as the student's resource rooms and Libraries were always full. It was like I had my own resource centre on my Mac, just log-on and download.
One drawback at the time was slow and clumsy search engines [high phone bills]. These days it's a different story [still high phone bills]. You can now pinpoint your topics with greater accuracy from an ever growing and wide-ranging bag of engines, suited to your needs. Here are a few to get you on the move.
1. Yahoo!
http://www.yahoo.com
The Ferrari of online search engines. If you're into Power Refined searches then this 'IS' the engine for you. Ask it anything it'll find it for you. Yahoo also offers a wide-ranging clutch of online facilities from their site such as free email.
2. AltaVista
http://www.altavista.com
My own personal choice of search engine, not always the fastest or fanciest but still great at its job. You can search by phrase or key words and add a more advanced power search if you really have to get stuck in.
Good simple interface with very easy to follow instructions [they have to be, I use it].
3. Infoseek
http://guide.infoseek.com
A well respected site for finding the information you seek the most. Customisable searches and news tracking make for a well-rounded site. Powerful but at time painfully slow.
4. Lycos
http://www.lycos.com
If you're in a rush and need a good one shot attack at the information you desire most, give this a blast at finding it for you.
5. Excite
http://www.excite.com
An average search facility but I find the screen full of junk at time, ads everywhere slowing the search down. Try it you might see what I mean.
If there were an award for the most simple to use 'Ask Jeeves' would get it.
http://www.askjeeves.com
Go there and ask it plain English questions you'll see the power it has with everyday terms.
Also not forgetting:
HotBot
http://www.hotbot.com
New on the scene a few years ago but it's quickly developing into a powerful tool when you're trying to find that information. Bit of a wacky interface but it grows on your eyes [honest].
WebCrawler
Good interface and practical features, still lacks the punch of Alta and Yahoo.
http://www.webcrawler.com
Next month all the information you need to take over the world [well nearly].
