Search Engine
Index
A compilation of search engines that includes the Favourites, the Ancients, and the Upstarts, as well as things we really couldn't categorize. We're adding engines as we go along, so this is by no means complete. (What a surprise on the Net.)
The ratings go by how useful the engine/site was FOR ITS SEARCH CAPABILITIES/PURPOSE, not for looks, names, or architecture. We looked for those engines that allowed the most latitude for making your searches specific and complete, while providing you
with the quickest and most comprehensive returns. At Team Search Engine, when we're looking for something, it is frustrating to run around, sift through hits we'd rather not have to explore for what we need, or wait for an eternity before anything shows
(during which time the system crashes/RT takes over/patience runs
out).
If you've got an engine you feel is just awesome or see one you
think got a bad rap, please drop us a line. (We're always willing to take a
second look, but that doesn't guarantee the ratings improve.) We love to get mail (like anyone you might know?), and admit we are students who are rambling through Cyberspace.
Hope this list helps the intrepid traveler!
Resource Pages
Comprehensive, clear, and organized like the sock drawer your mom wished you had.
Provides great
services and ratings on HTML editors, etc. with links to all reviewed.
Some programs offer free trial periods, 30 days and more.
Multi-Thread the Needle
Designed by the
creator of WebCrawler, gives a list of engines searched and hits from
each.
New multi-thread on the block; going commercial (read:
pay money to use) at the end of 1995. Uses some of the biggest databases
available. Fill in registration form for free at present. Clean-running
engine.
Multi-thread with nice Expert Options fine-tuner. Also allows you to determine the number of Search Engines you want it to search. Cuts down on time spent if you don't want to run the gamut.
Unified Engines: Papa Lists
Heirarchical indexing allows you to specify which set of
engines you want to search. The search forms themselves are in the page,
so there's no need to link to the engine itself. Comprehensive and
neatly laid out.
Another table format, with engine queries laid out for you. We like the topical listing of subjects, which saves us time. Quick and clean.
Another table format, but this time for all those students like me who need different things like graduate s
chools, law schools, different papers, and other resources that take way too much time searching for in a larger engine database. Does what it says, but we'd like a bit more refining capability within the Sleuth's page. You can hyperlink directly to the
engine you want, though.
We liked this engine because of its format. It's kind of a unified, kind of a multithread...kind of really neat. They include a quick search (jus
t what the name implies, but not very specific), a most popular search ("based on download requests through the VSL in the last three weeks"), new arrivals (which allows you to view only those hits collected in the past you-specify-the-time), a power sear
ch (no not THE Power Search Engine, but one of the most refinable and query-specific tuners we have seen for both input and output), and an archive search with 60 archives to choose from (all laid out and clickable for up to 60 archive selections), with t
he same degree of fine-tuning for input and output. This is one engine marked for battle. We're keeping the link to this baby handy.
Unified engine in a table format. Quick engine times, and all engine queries are laid out, along with a few fine-tuning options.
Looking for Someone?
Neat engine, but they need to be members of Look Up! before it can find them for you. You do get your own Home Page with these guys, though. Extras, extras, extras.
In their own words: "Four11 is the Internet's largest White Page Directory with over 2 Million listings and 300,000 registered use
rs. Free Listing And Searching is supported by Web Page Services and PGP Services." Neat registry, you get to tell your interests. All free, natch.
The Well-Known and Widely-Used
Known also as Power Search, this engine has a large database. Multiple query boxes allow you to refine your search in greater and greater d
etail.
The original, done by U. Washington grad student. We're just green with envy. Fast and large, but not that great at refining your search. One of the places we go first when we know what we want and we know what it is listed as EXACTLY. Not for surfing
.
What can we say about this dearly beloved? Fast, fast, fast, allows you to refine, large database, and well-organized. However, it is busy because it is so dearly beloved, so it may be a bit of time before you get in. One of the fir
st places we go when we need something. Provides a range of hits for a certain topic. Surfers welcome.
Unclassified
Searches Usenet archives quickly, cleanly, and with some really nice specification options. What is Usenet? In its own words, "Usenet is
a world-wide distributed discussion system. It consists of a set of "newsgroups" with names that are classified hierarchically by subject. "Articles" or "messages" are "posted" to these newsgroups by people on computers with the appropriate software --
these articles are then broadcast to other interconnected computer systems via a wide variety of networks. Some newsgroups are "moderated"; in these newsgroups, the articles are first sent to a moderator for approval before appearing in the newsgroup. U
senet is available on a wide variety of computer systems and networks, but the bulk of modern Usenet traffic is transported over either the Internet or UUCP." Okay. We gotcha.
Beautiful page, put out by Native Americans. (The Home Page for this is another recommendation. All of the s
ections are dedicated to Native Americans, and this one is just thrilled. Need any info on goings on? Come here. The graphics in several sites are wonderful.) One of the only search engines we have found that allows you to select a "fuzzy logic" optio
n when searching. Refining capabilities rather good.
Better than we could tell you: "SIFT is a personalized Net information filtering service. Everyday SIFT gathers tens of thousands
of new articles appearing in USENET News groups, filters them against topics specified by you,
and prepares all hits into a single web page for you. SIFT is a free service, provided as a part of
the Stanford Digital Library Project." We love this engine. Provides you with up to date info on topics you want, allowing you to specify what keywords in certain topics you wish to avoid. You specify the amount of hits you can handle each day. Beauti
ful, beautiful.
Point Search's engine searches its Top 5% Index, which if you know Point Search, is a nice, elite category of sites on the Internet. T
hese guys look for the best. For complete Internet searching, however, it provides a link to Lycos.
The search engine itself didn't look that wonderful, but the database is rather extensive. It allows you to search Galaxy Pages, Gopher
Titles, and Telnet Resources as inclusive search sites. We liked the topics index on Galaxy's Home Page.
Pretty page, but the actual search eng
ine could use some work. Quickly downloadable Home Page, and offers a wide variety of functions on it. Nice place to surf, but not the first search engine we'd go to.
Leaving Us...Maybe?
Jump Station is closing down at the end of December, guys...it was an older engine (about 2 years), and better ones are available.
But the site is still interesting for references to WWWing, etc. The creator is heading for new horizons, and thinking of changing engines, so e-mail suggestions...
Down for the time being, and Rockwell has no word when it will be up again. Sorry, guys, but this one will have to wait. Usually a pretty good engine, t
hough.
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