Options
for Searching the Internet
Ed Ash
November
2001
Objective
Review a variety of Internet search tools
Enhance your effectiveness in finding what you want
List references for further reading
Introduction
The World Wide Web (WWW) contains billions of pages
Finding what you want is challenging
Web Search sites provide guidance
Search Site Options
Search "Engines"
Web Pages are indexed by internet "spiders" (or "robots")
Resulting database is very large (> 1 billion pages)
Excellent for searching for detailed subject matter
There are over 150 search engines (see reference 1)
Search Engine Examples:
http://www.google.com (Fast, relevant, complete, a leader)
Others: AltaVista, Hotbot, NorthernLight
General Guides for Entering Search Terms:
Entering multiple words in Google implies matching all words (e.g., A "and" B)
Enclose phrases in quotes
Use lower case
Be as specific as possible
Explore advanced menus (e.g., search specific site/domain)
Read Help screens
See Reference 1 for proper syntax of various search sites
Web Directory
Data is entered and categorized (as an outline) by humans
Database is smaller than a Search Engine (~1 million pages)
Use a Web Directory when exploring general topics (e.g., art, sports, law, medicine, etc)
Examples:
Yahoo: http://www.yahoo.com/
Look Smart: http://www.looksmart.com
Others: Lycos, Excite
Two ways to use a Web Directory:
Browse Mode
Progressively "Drill Down" outline categories
Search Mode:
Enclose Phrases in Quotes
Use + and - to demand inclusion/exclusion of specific words
"Advanced Search" includes more options
Use "Wild Cards": *, ?
Many sites combine a Web Directory with a Search engine
Metasearch Sites
Uses multiple search engines
Good for finding hard to locate facts when others can not
Examples:
Dog Pile: http://www.dogpile.com/
Metacrawler: http://www.metacrawler.com/
Freeality: http://www.freeality.com/
Special Metasearch Software
Examples:
Web Ferret: http://www.ferretsoft.com/netferret/index.html (free version)
Copernic: http://www.copernic.com/ (free)
Post Questions to Experts
Excellent for soliciting opinions of "experts" on special topics
Examples:
Ask Me: http://www.askme.com (free)
Abuzz: http://www.abuzz.com
Directories with Live "Guides"
Guides find the best links on desired subjects
Example:
About.com: http://www.about.com/
Mailing List Index
Subscribe to regular mailing lists on specialized topics
Examples:
Listz: http://www.liszt.com/
Public Mailing Lists: http://www.paml.net/
One List: http://www.onelist.com
Plain Language Search Engine
Advantage: Easy to use
Ask Jeeves: http://www.askjeeves.com
Specialty Searches
Examples of Specialized Search Sites (see reference 3):
http://search.support.microsoft.com/ (Microsoft Knowledge base)
http://www.tucows.com (Software)
http://www.altavista.com/sites/search/simage (Graphics, Images, Translation)
http://www.altavista.com/sites/search/saudio (Music, Audio))
http://www.whowhere.lycos.com (People Finder)
http://www.cyndislist.com/ (Genealogy)
http://www.medhunt.com/ (Medicine)
http://www.moreover.com/ (Current News)
http://www.mysimon.com/ (Shopping)
http://www.firstgov.gov/ (Government)
Newsgroup Search (Usenet groups)
There are over 40,000 specialized Newsgroups (Bulletin boards, "Usenet")
Newsgroups are superb for researching tough specialty (e.g., computer-related) problems
Individual newsgroups can be reviewed with Outlook Express
The leader for searching past newsgroup postings:
http://www.deja.com (Recently purchased by Google)
Portal Sites
Consumer-oriented, meant to be your home page or "Anchor Site"
Everything in one site, a "free AOL"
Customizable
Examples:
Yahoo: http://www.yahoo.com
Netscape: http://home.netscape.com/
Excite: http://www.excite.com
Snap: http://www.snap.com/
Lycos: http://www.lycos.com/
MSN: http://www.msn.com/
AOL: http://www.aol.com
Reference Sites
Kind of a web almanac
Examples:
Refdesk: http://www.refdesk.com/
Hot Sheet: http://www.hotsheet.com
Librarian's Index: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/InternetIndex/
Web Rings
A novel approach to specialized site collection
Similar sites linked together in a "Ring"
Directory toWeb Ring Sites:
The "Deep Web" (or "Invisible Web")
Searching databases on the web not accessible with conventional search engines
Conventional Search Engines only index static (i.e., .html) pages
As much as 500 times larger than the conventional web
Over 500 billion pages in dynamic pages
See reference 4 for a Deep Web Tutorial
A Deep Web Search Directory (90,000 searchable databases):
Peer-to-Peer Networks
Special software allows thousands of individual computers to be connected as a private network and share files
The contents of all network computers can be searched
A broadband connection (e.g., cable, DSL) almost essential
Examples
Gnutella: http://www.gnutella.wego.com
Drivers, documentation, shareware, music, art
Napster: http://www.napster.com
Primarily music
Temporarily offline with copyright problems
Searching Directly from Internet Explorer
Using the Address Bar:
See July 9, 2001 Beginner's SIG Notes
Using the Search Icon:
See July 9, 2001 Beginner's SIG Notes
Add Special Toolbars: e.g., Google
Comments
Many sites are hybrid mixtures of above types
Pick some favorite sites and learn how to use them
Read help sections
Use their advanced features
Try Google first
If first 20 hits don't yield results, try another search site
Bookmark your favorite search sites
Use your Browser Find Function to look for items within a Web page:
Edit, Find
References
Reference 1: Complete Guide to Search Engines:
http://www.searchenginewatch.com (complete listing, tips, guides)
Reference 2: How to choose the right search option:
Reference 3: Indices to Specialized Search Sites:
Reference 4: A Deep Web Tutorial:
Topic for Next Beginner's SIG
The Windows Recycle Bin