Customer Reviews

Search Engines for the World Wide Web (Visual QuickStart Guide)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

     The Internet is a world wide network of people, computers, cables, servers, and repositories of stored information. For many online members the use of the Internet can appear to be a formidable challenge. A considerable amount of information is available at their fingertips. Fortunately they have a number of ways to intelligently access this information for purposes of fun, pleasure, research, and employment. They may use word-of-mouth, printed and online Internet directories, and special online search tools to find the information they need in a timely manner.

     Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner have written Search Engines for the World Wide Web to offer members of the online community with valuable insight on how to make more productive use of the most popular and powerful search engines in use today. Search engines have been designed to allow users to enter specific search criteria such as names, dates, places, titles, ISBN numbers, data strings, and so on, to turn up a number of matching entries. The authors provide detailed information about the most commonly used search engines, including AltaVista, Deja News, Excite, Hotbot, Infoseek, Lycos, and Yahoo. They will provide readers with the knowledge they need to select and use the ones that are right for them!

     Readers are walked through the use of each search engine in a concise and straightforward manner. Often ignored advanced search features are covered so that readers can appreciate the full potential use of each powerful search tool they have access to. Screenshots of each search engine site and fill-in form are provided to make data entry a relatively easy process. The authors discuss a number of basic search tool methods, tips, and techniques readers will find useful as well. A chapter covering 25 specialized search engines and a fold-out quick reference guide at the back of the book provides quick access to useful online information.

     Readers should appreciate the fact that this book deals exclusively with the use of search engines. There is no need for them to thumb through larger books to find the specific information they are looking for. The material in this book has been clearly presented. Readers will have no trouble at all following the instruction provided. The use of this book will result in a more effective and disciplined use of the information superhighway for whatever purpose they have in mind. Brush up on your own search skills. Make use of this book today! Highly recommended!

I spend quite a bit of time (much more than I should) doing web searches, due to the amount of hits I get when I look for a particular subject. This book helps to make web searches much less time-consuming and more efficient. One thing I learned early on in this book is that "not all search egnines are created equal," that some engines are better suited to specific searches than others.

I also liked the chapter of the book that discussed "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Web searchers." Among them being to "use the best tool for the job" (the best search engine for your specific search as there as numerous specific search engiens available), choosing unique keywords, and to use multiple search engines (to increase your chances of finding what you want, especially if your search involves a seemingly obscure topic). Sometimes "metasearch engines" can be helpful as well.

The book concentrates on what it considers the "Big Six Search Engines:" AltaVista, Google, HotBot, Lycos, Northern Light, and Yahoo. Each of these engines have specific chapters devoted to them which explain in step by step instructions how to do a basic search and advanced search to narrow your specific search. There are also "quick-reference tables" for basic and advanced searches for each of these engines.

Subsequent chapters touch upon other search engines, like Excite, Nestcape Search, and "specialized engines, like Deja (now owned by Google), Topica, and a Business search engine called Zip2. The last chapter discusses still more specialized search engines. I never knew so many of them existed!

A very informative book for anyone who "surfs the Web" looking for specific information.

you will find this book extremely helfpul, even if an experienced user of web search engines . . . glosbrenner delivers--again!!!

Search engine is a must for WEB Surfers as students, professionals, net fanatics. The INTERNET World is really a WIDE WIDE WORLD (WWW) and it's hard to find the sites of your interest. Well the easiest answer, use the search engines. The authors give a detailed and descriptive instructions on how to use the search engine and manipulate every aspect of the items/categories to be search to give the most accurate result. Easy and systematic way of using the search engine is what this book all about using Visual Examples throughout the book. If you are planning to buy Web Browser Guides ... DONT !!! Buy this book first, to get most out of the INTERNET. Dont buy those HARD AND TIRED to READ BOOKS ! Buy books that's easy to SEE (VISUALLY) with all detailed description.

A week is a year on the web. A minute is a decade on the internet. A book is your old friend to give inspiration.