Reader Mail
Subject: Effective Use of Search EnginesMetacrawler is the 454 Chevy big block of search engines. I find it hard to believe that an entire article about search engines fails to mention the Metacrawler site. (www.metacrawler.com) Why waste any time searching several engines when one searches ALL OF THEM, as well as newsgroups and other hard-to-locate web resources?
Daniel E. Willson
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Dear Daniel,
We agree that Metacrawler is a useful search tool and it is memtioned in the online research article in this issue entitled "Jump Start Your Online Research." The previous article, "Effective Use of Search Engines" was an overview article targeted only at particular search engines and how to use them, so a mention of meta-search engines was not appropriate in that context. In answer to your question as to why one would spend the time to search several search engines, we will point out that Metacrawler, as useful as it is, cannot match the capabilities of the individual source search engines when doing an advanced search. Also, by using only meta-search engines you may miss out on sites contained in the website review sections that many of the major search engines provide. Thanks for writing!
--The Editors
Subject: Search Engines
Hello, I enjoyed your article on search engines. But didn't you forget a few? (I find these are the best)Mamma.com, Inference.com/infind, Savvy Search.
Joni
Colorado
Dear Joni,
We agree that those particular search engines you mention can be useful. Most people grow accustomed to one or two of the search engines which they find the easiest to use for their methods of searching. Mamma.com searches through several of the main search engines discussed in the May, 1998 IWJ article. The drawback in using meta-search engines, as discussed above, is what you gain in speed of searching you may lose in depth and detail on advanced searches. Savvy Search is another meta-search engine. Metasearch and DogPile are also effective meta-search engines. You might want to give them a try if you're looking for something in a hurry. Thanks for writing!
--The Editors
Subject: The Magazine
I would just like to say thank you for such a wonderful writers' journal. Each month is filled with fascinating insights -- I have been particularly enjoying the articles by Alex Keegan.
Valerie Leveson
South Africa
vle@star.co.za
Dear Valerie,
Thank you for kind comments! And you are most welcome!
--The Editors
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