I am getting fed up with Google - are there better search engines?

[KatyMac]

All I seem to get are other sites with lists of sites I could visit - I'm not sure what they are called but they are things like Bizrates or Twenga or stuff like that & it's so boring

All I want is a list of sites to look at not pages of sites listing sites (iyswim)

So what else can I use?

[DrillBit]

this any help

www.exalead.com/search/

[sheena1]

google crome lol its great

[CruelAndUnusualParenting]

I've not found anything better than Google yet.

The major players are Google, Yahoo and Microsoft (live.com). Ask.com and Teoma are also out there. I don't know if the old Altavista search engine still survives?

[nannynick]

Over the past 15 odd years, I've used various search engines. Back in the old days, AltaVista used to be good. However the king of search in my view now is certainly Google.

Do you know how to use Google?
Google can be very powerful in searching for particular kinds of information... I used it a lot for finding Childcare Law type stuff.

Google is best when used in PHRASE MATCH mode.
You put the phrase (it does need to be two or more words) within quotes. So something like: "Childcare Act 2006"
Also you can use the NEGATIVE sign to exclude words.
You can also limit search to specific file types - filetype:pdf - for example to limit to PDF documents.
You can also limit search to a specific domain, handy if needing to search for documents on a government site.

Google Advanced Search Help - it is worth learning some of the various advanced search methods... the ones I've listed above are the one's I used the most.

[ABetaDad]

Have you tried www.cuil.com

Simple layout and search function like Google but nicer presentation of results. they say they have a more ethical approach to advertising and saving search data.

[nannynick]

cuil.com looks interesting... like the layout.

Note: don't mistype the URL! culi.com is not something you want to visit.

[LadyPinkofPinkerton]

I always use Yahoo, I like that there is an option for UK only pages

[UnquietDad]

I like Google. It rarely disappoints.

I still can't get over the way that, while my PC takes several minutes to scan my hard-disk for a particular file, Google can look at a "space" several million times bigger in a second and find what I want.

[EachPeachPearMum]

Lycos was quite good in those days too, for 'social' things. Og course, there was no google then....

[CruelAndUnusualParenting]

Google also has an option for UK only pages, if you go to google.co.uk.

If you know what you're doing you can search particular subdomains, e.g. "site:ac.uk cookery" will search only in the ac.uk subdomain.

[KatyMac]

So maybe I'm doing it wrong

How do you not get a list of where you can buy, what you are searching for, from?

[mloo]

Google actively tries to make those sorts of pages, the ones that are just lists of sites, low priority; Google gives lotsa weight to pages with original content, instead.

So I'm surprised KatyMac is having so much trouble.

Usually I can avoid the wrong sorts of pages by just looking at the URL (website address) before clicking on it. The name is often a give-away (avoid Kelkoo, for instance).

[KatyMac]

but I get the first 3 or so pages with kelkoo or twenga or ebay

[nannynick]

Can you give us an example of a product you are searching for?

[KatyMac]

my cream & green plastic shed from keter

I have tried numerous permutations

[nannynick]

keter shed - certainly some results are from kelkoo, ciao etc.

Do you mean the box thing? Keter Garden Shed with Lid Lifters

[KatyMac]

Thanks Nick - I have finally found it here

I just need to work out how to buy it

btw they are the sort of pages I get all the time

[KatyMac]

Sorry Nick I meant

"Thanks Nick - I you have finally found it"

[nannynick]

Ah, you are looking for the manufacturer, rather than retailers... is that right?

Keter is based in Israel. Keter UK can be contacted at:
Keter (UK) Ltd
Unit 4 Woodgate Business Park
Clapgate Lane
Birmingham
B32 3DB
They will only deal with Trade enquiries, so no help to you as a consumer.

Google search
which located Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association: Keter

OutStanding Solutions appears to be the main product info website.
UK retails who stock some of their products:
Argos, Asda, B&Q, Costco, Focus, Homebase, Makro, Wickes

[nannynick]

Looks like OutStanding will deal with spare parts - if you need to replace something.

[KatyMac]

no - but most of the retailers don't have the model I want (at least not the local branches)

[nannynick]

I think Google was assuming that you were looking for places that sold the product. As the product is sold by Argos, many other sites link to the Argos listing... thus all the price comparison sites coming up.

[KatyMac]

Well I am but Argos don't sell the one I want

[nannynick]

Dare I ask which one specifically you are looking for?

[KatyMac]

This one