Michael Rubin

SLM 521

6/26/2004

 

PURPOSE

 

My Purpose of this lesson was to list and rank several search engines in a variety of categories.  These categories are Meta search engines, General search engines, News search engines, Educational search engines, as well as Shopping search engines.   I have listed and discussed two of my favorite in each category as well as listing a few others that I feel also would help.   I also have listed and discussed the website that I feel is the worst in each category.

 

MY FINDINGS

 

META SEARCH ENGINES

              

 

BEST

 

 

Vivisimo

www.vivisimo.com - I really liked this website because it was very fast compared to some of the other Meta search engines such as www.mamma.com .    Vivisimo not only comes back with the results that you have searched for, but on the left hand side of the page, it also provides an area for cluster results.   This area shows some keywords that would help narrow down your search.   For instance, when looking up the Baltimore Orioles, Vivisimo returns results and links to web pages that you may go to, but it also provides cluster results such as tickets, fan, Baltimore Orioles team, and some others.   The selling point for Vivisimo in my opinion is that it allows the viewer the option to preview the website before actually clicking and going to it.   Another major plus about Vivisimo is that the viewer has the ability to choose which search engine they would like to use in the search (ie. Google, MSN, Lycos…etc) 

 

 

Dogpile

www.dogpile.com – This is also a very informative website.   Much like Vivisimo, Dogpile also was fast and provided helpful links.   One of the main differences from Vivisimo and Dogpile is that Dogpile allows the option to choose from two different versions to view the results.   The first option is to view by relevance, and the second is to view by each individual search engine.   Another interesting and helpful feature that I found on Dogpile was when you first log on to their page; it gives you the option to view some of the favorite searches of the day, or to use some of the interesting resources that they provide such as a web dictionary, maps, and to view weather, among many other options.   What I believe separates Vivisimo from Dogpile is that in Dogpile you do not have the ability to choose which search engines you want to be used.   The viewer is left to use whatever search engines Dogpile uses.  

 

 

WORST

 

Mamma

www.mamma.com – This website just came across as very dull.   I did not find the design to be eye popping or aesthetically pleasing.   Some of the results that were returned after doing a search for the Baltimore Orioles were unlike those returned by the likes of Dogpile and/or Vivisimo and were non relevant to what I was searching for.   I found Mamma to be a little confusing and hard to follow.   I also feel that it would be a good idea to have a preview link just as Vivisimo does, that way the reader has an idea if that is a website they want to go to, rather then wasting time and going there anyway.   

 

 

GENERAL SEARCH ENGINES

BEST

 

 

Google

www.google.com –After first glance at Google, the viewer may feel like it is a boring and plain website.   Google produces results on searches that are extremely relevant, and have possibly the biggest database of all of the general search engines.   Google also allows its viewers to choose to search from the web, images, different groups and news.   Google makes it very clear what its advertisements are and what its regular links are.   The advertisements are on the right hand side of the web page and the results are on the left hand side.   Google is easily one of the most effective search engines available.  

 

Yahoo

www.yahoo.com – Yahoo is a very helpful search engine that not only allows you to type in keywords to search for, but it also allows you to view its web site directory.   Yahoo provides an opportunity to personalize a page to adhere to your needs.   You can decide what kind of information you would like to have opened when you go to Yahoo.    Yahoo also allows its users a games section in which they can play interactively with others.  

 

WORST

 

American Online

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/index.jsp – One of the worst search engines that I found was American Online.   One of the good parts about American Online Search is that it allows the users to see a constant updating top searches.   The problem that I have with the American Online Search is the design.   It seems very confusing and unlike Google or Yahoo which are laid out and straight forward, it does not in my opinion provide results that are totally relevant.

 

 

NEWS SEARCH ENGINES

 

BEST

 

 

GOOGLE

http://news.google.com/ - Google news uses an incredible 4,500 news sources to allow its readers to have the best and most updated information that is available.   Not only does Google allow its users to do a search for specific news topics, but Google also allows users to click headlines and read further about them.   On its home page, Google gives the latest headlines in Sports, around the World, in the U.S., in entertainment, health, technology and business.   This section is very informative and allows the reader immediate news updates.   The only downfall was that some of the sources of the articles require you to be a member to read the articles.   For the most part, you are able to read the articles, and with all of the other options this website allows, it is clearly the best news search engine.

 

 

YAHOO

http://news.yahoo.com/ - One of the interesting things about Yahoo News is that it allows its users to create their individual news pages where they decide what news sources they want to use to receive their news.   Yahoo is extremely fast at bringing you the late breaking news almost as soon as it happens.   This page is very well organized which makes it very easy to read.   The user can chose from all of the major news sources such as Associated Press, USA Today and many others.  

 

 

WORST

 

DAYPOP

http://www.daypop.com/ - I found this website not to be very helpful.   It appears to me that it is not very user friendly, and I do not like the design of it, it is rather plain.   I found that this website took longer to load then many other websites that I visited.   I also found that this website did not always produce the most relevant results.   The websites such as Google and Yahoo news were eye catching and aesthetically pleasing, DAYPOP was neither of these.   This is the last website that I would use if I was searching for news.

 

 

EDUCATIONAL SEARCH ENGINES

 

BEST

 

 

YAHOO

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/ - This is an amazing website for children.   Not only does it provide educational activities and links, but it also provides children with the opportunity to play games.   Another interesting feature that Yahooligans does is that it allows children to “ask Earl” a question.   Not only does this website provide games and other education information, but the design and appeal of this website are also very inviting for children.  I found that Yahooligans is an extremely fast and reliable website.   Children are able to see what the popular movies and music are as well as anything else a child could be interested in.  

 

 

ASK JEEVES KIDS

http://www.ajkids.com/ - This is a branch off of the website Ask Jeeves.   Here, children can type in questions that they have and can receive an immediate response.   Ask Jeeves Kids also offers study tools in which students can choose from an array of topics from thesaurus to dictionary to math help.   The website is very colorful and eye catching.  

 

 I was unable to find any educational websites that I felt were not good, but I did also find another website that parents may feel comfortable about letting their children use and know that they were receive results that are child appropriate

 

 

 

SHOPPING SEARCH ENGINES

 

 

BEST

 

 

PRICE GRABBER

http://www.pricegrabber.com – This is an easy to read website that also allows viewers to search the many different categories that are available.   Price grabber uses a star system to determine the rating of not only the seller but also of the merchandise.   It is very user friendly and is a well designed website.   Price grabber has almost any product you could be looking for.   It is a great search engine to buy something you want at a cheaper price then you would find in stores.  

 

 

BIZRATE

http://www.bizrate.com – This site is very similar to that of pricegrabber.com.   Bizrate provides a very easy and user friendly website that also uses stars to show ratings of both merchandise and sellers.   Both of these websites will provide you with the price comparisons and allow you to choose which retailer you think is best.  

 

I also was unable to find any shopping websites that I thought were not beneficial.   Most of the shopping websites allow the user to search and compare prices, and anytime you can find the best buy it is a good thing so I think all of the websites are helpful.