World Wide Web Searching for Dummies [Paperback]

Brad Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 1997 | Series: For Dummies

This is an explanation of how to actually find what you want on the Web by using popular search engines like Yahoo, InfoSee, Altavista, Lycos, and Web Crawler. Searches for common topics, such as sports, health, travel and education are explained in expanded detail. The book also includes instructions for Web searching on popular commercial on-line services America Online, CompuServe and Microsoft Network. Readers should also enjoy tips on getting optimum performance from a Web browsing program and instructions for downloading and unzipping files you find on the Web.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you've ever found yourself at a Web search engine wondering who the heck Boolean is and why he's bothering you when you're trying to get your research done, welcome to the book that will change all of that. The "For Dummies" series is almost uniformly excellent--despite the title. They claim to be "a reference for the rest of us"--the rest of us apparently includes people who need clear and simple language that is alternately reassuring, amusing and helpful. This approach to teaching people how to manage the information glut on the Web starts with some of the basics of searching, including how to define and use keywords, what the main Web directories offer, and more about the Boolean search criteria. The book then covers major search directories and engines such as Yahoo!, Lycos, Excite, OpenText, AltaVista, Infoseek, Hotbot and DejaNews. Each of these directories has slightly different ways to define and refine searches, and this is a terrific round-up of how each of them operates. Hill then presents a discussion of how to search in various subject matter areas such as health, education, culture, news, entertainment, finances, sports and kid's interests. He also explores how to search for shareware or freeware files and how to do people-searching. The book closes with the traditional Dummies Part of Tens, including Ten Interesting Web Directories, Ten Reference Sites, Ten Tips for Fast Searching and Ten Great Web Magazines and Newspapers. The book includes a CD-ROM with software.

From the Back Cover

Whether you're a beginner or experienced on the World Wide Web, it can seem too huge to handle. World Wide Web Searching For Dummies® shows you how to tame the Web through your computer and quickly helps you find things you didn't even know existed! You won't waste your time wading through all the junk you don't care about. This book shows you how to go straight to the good stuff! Surf through the big directories, use keywords like a pro, and go on search expeditions to find everything you need.

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Turn the World Wide Web into a tool you can use
• Become an expert at using search keywords
• Locate friends and family through the Web
• Search and find the sites you need without stress
• Locate educational sites on the World Wide Web
• Download shareware and freeware of all kinds
• Get current news stories and events delivered to your e-mail address
• Stay on top of the latest sports news
• Plus special chapters for CompuServe and America Online subscribers!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Hungry Minds Inc; 2nd Bk&CD edition (July 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764502646
• ISBN-13: 978-0764502644
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,440,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a nonfiction writer. In a typical year I write about a half-million words for publication in various media and genres. My book authorship is mostly of the how-to variety; I've penned (word-processed, actually) several "...For Dummies" titles, one "Complete Idiots Guide to..." book, and a number of non-series titles. Over the years I've written hundreds of columns and articles for magazines and Web publications. Currently I'm a lead blogger at Weblogs, Inc, where I manage a small writing staff and oversee several blogs. I have posted well over 3,000 blog entries at Weblogs, Inc. (Even I find that hard to fathom). At the time of this writing, my most recently completed book is "Blogging For Dummies," which will be out in January, 2006.

A typical day consists of ... well, writing. I sit down, check e-mail and IM messages, and start out blogging for a couple of hours to sharpen my brain for the day. If a book is in progress, chances are good that a ferocious deadline is nipping at my heels; most of my books are written in short, concentrated bursts (weeks, not months). When two or more projects collide I am reminded of the motto at an espresso bar near my home: "Sleep is for the weak."