Know-How Exchange : Other

I'm usually looking for something specific so I would put success rate at over 90%. It's generally "data" than "how to" stuff.

I could probably do better with a meta SE, but I stick with Google for some reason.

Michael

Something I've always wondered, what ever happened to search within searches??? I think that's a feature extremely essential.

Well my biggest problem with searching, is how at times I'd take forever to find something 'cause when I type in what I'm looking for, I could get the first 100 searched pages not related specifically to what I'm looking for but contains the keyword.

What would really help so much especially with search engines is having a feature of categorization before actually hosting a site, Example if it were a site for Music, you'd place it under the category of music, then you have subs, like "downloads" , "shopping CDs"... e.t.c.
That way it'd sure save us a lot of time searching 'cause simply if you search for Camera Stores, you only get the related sites directly to Camera Stores ONLY and not the thousand of other garbage.

It's pretty unfair how sites are rated, I believe that you should devise a new technique of identifying web categorization. I mean sometimes I'd have to scroll down 4 - 5 pages down to get a really useful site under what I searched for, which would be probably the best out of the current list.

Search techniques should not only be scanned for meta and word content , they should be classed for topics and as well highest number of hits on site.

Off that, I think an option filter for arranging highest hits to lowested hits would be great.

Well good luck hope my input helps.

- Shady

Have a visit to www.googleguide.com you will find most of what you need the learn how to use google effectivily.
And there are plenty of books to help you, like Google hacks.

I use a combination of THINKING about what the words i need to find and some Firefox plugins like Google Preview, and Customize Google. Also other seach sites like Dogpile, yahoo, NEVER MSN.

I also use search engines that are specific for the topic at hand.

I find what i am looking for 90% of the time.

I use Google for general web searches and the advanced search features to cut the crap.

I find that by using the correct technical terms for what I’m looking for tends to give me the answers quickly as the information I’m seeking can be esoteric. Even if its not, using a term which is unlikely to be in common usage will give me a site which will act as both a core referral for a further search via some links or suggest to me some alternative search terms which will add to my results.

I’d say that I get there 90%+ but I’ve never really kept stock.

I never ask the thing a question, but the kids do on ASK or Jeeves or whatever it’s called these days, usually to good effect.

When I’m looking for something really obscure, I tend to utilise the specialist academic search sites. A membership is necessary, but often this can be arranged for free.

For instance, I’ve researched an entire community of people to market specialist drug-development instrumentation and software to by plugging 12 syllable scientific research terms into Medline or SilverPlatter. You need to know your subject, but “Dopamine neuro-transmitter inhibition modelling through mammalian activity analysis” gave me everyone in the world who might have wanted to buy $30,000 worth of kit to make their research a lot easier. And help find a cure for Alzheimer’s

Steve Alker
Unimax Solutions