ad info

 
CNN.com  technology > computing
    Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 
TECHNOLOGY
TOP STORIES

Consumer group: Online privacy protections fall short

Guide to a wired Super Bowl

Debate opens on making e-commerce law consistent

(MORE)

TOP STORIES

More than 11,000 killed in India quake

Mideast negotiators want to continue talks after Israeli elections

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

ENTERTAINMENT

HEALTH

TRAVEL

FOOD

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
*
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Review: Search-engine searcher delivers the goods

PC World

(IDG) -- I have a love/hate relationship with search engines, though it's skewed more towards hate recently. Most just don't work very well, primarily because their original mission -- finding links to relevant information -- has been supplanted by selling stuff.

But I think I've found a workable alternative: search-engine searchers (for more about search engines, see "How to stop searching and start finding," link below) My search tool of choice is Intelliseek's BullsEye 2, version 2.5. Originally for professional researchers, BullsEye 2 is simple to use and incredibly fast and accurate -- it sweeps through more than 800 search engines and sources to find answers.

MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE
IDG.net   IDG.net home page
  PC World home page
  How to stop searching and start finding
  Win the search engine lottery
  Search engines with a soul
  Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net
  E-Business World
  TechInformer
  Questions about computers? Let IDG.net's editors help you
  Subscribe to IDG.net's free daily newsletters
  Search IDG.net in 12 languages
  News Radio
  * Fusion audio primers
  * Computerworld Minute

Searching is a breeze. Type keywords into a box, wait seconds (your Internet connection matters here), and, voila, up comes a list, sorted by relevance. Click an entry you like, and the interface transforms into a browser that displays the Web page found. If you like the find, just Save, and refer to it at will.

My complaints about BullsEye 2 stem from the program's behavior once you open up a page in its browser. First, the results list disappears. To recover it, you must click on a Layout button -- this gets annoying.

Also, it's difficult to understand how to do a new search once you're in the browser area. You must click open a button labeled Refine, then check a radio button for either Web searching or searching within results. BullsEye 2 is free, as it's supported by advertising. But, with the payoff possible from this software and at this price, who cares?

Product information: Intelliseek BullsEye 2

Pro: Very powerful search abilities.
Con: Confusing interface elements.
Value: Strong tool to use for fast Web research.
Price: Free.
Link: Intelliseek Inc.




RELATED STORIES:
CNNdotCOM Tools: Search engines
August 11, 2000
Metasearch engines reel in results
May 15, 2000
AltaVista aims to speed consumer Web searches
May 5, 2000
Going ga-ga for Google
April 24, 2000
Win the search engine lottery
January 25, 2000

RELATED IDG.net STORIES:
How to stop searching and start finding
(PC World Online)
Win the search engine lottery
(PC World Online)
Search engines with a soul
(PC World Online)
This search engine sees what you mean
(PC World Online)
Looking for stuff in all the wrong places?
(PC World Online)
Search engines can't keep up with Web
(The Industry Standard)
The WholeWeb in your hands
(PC World Online)
Narrowing the search on the Web
(The Industry Standard)

RELATED SITES:
Intelliseek Inc.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

 Search   

Back to the top   © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.