Multi Searching - will it take over?

Are solus search engines becoming small cogs?

[peewhy]

Even top search engines fail us at times and we find results elsewhere.

The trend for multi-search engines is growing. We have:

Firststopwebsearch
Copernic
searchrocket
ferretsoft
widesource

and no doubt a few more will come to light.

Some are free, others are free with limits and the rest charge.

Do they save time and get results - or do they encourage us to mooch around?

Will milti-search tools become the standard way of searching?

Who has experience with these tools, which is the best?

[tigger]

I've never used any but I know a few clients have Copernic installed, although when I've asked them they say they prefer Google, I know crazy, but thats clients for you :)

[peewhy]

I have a client that downloaded Copernic Agent, I think he lost the plot with it in the end. Because it gives you an option to integrate with IE, if you choose that, it replaces the search panel with Copernic version. It also has a non-US and UK specific search facility.

Here's the glitch, the free version doesn't include Google! but searches Yahoo, ATW, AV, MSN and Dmoz. The UK version will also search the likes of BBC.

I don't think it is as friendly as it could be for the average searcher.

[tigger]

I'll put money on it most are using the free one as well

[peewhy]

Yep... the one one without Google!

I wonder what the poiltics are, did they not want Google in their gang, did Google not want to play or .... did they think that if Google is out of reach in the freebie, people will pay for the upgrade.

[papamaku]

The trend for multi-search engines is growing

Sorry, but I totally disagree.

Based of course on personal experience and that of friends/colleagues, I do not know anyone who uses any of the services you mentioned any more. Maybe back in the mid nineties when people were experimenting a lot more. But now most just stick to the main big boys.

maku

[jeremy goodrich]

Agreed with papamaku -> there is zero data I've seen, here or elsewhere, to support the claim of "trend is growing..." where people use the 'lessor known' search providers.

Most webmasters I've talked to (here) first heard about the engines we discuss in this forum on a regular basis at WebmasterWorld, in this forum, and have not seen these mentioned elsewhere.

Few of them, such as vivisimo & kartoo, get mentioned in mainstream press, but then I read all the "geeky" search engine articles I can get my hands on.

Is there a study / piece of research / or similar to back up your initial statement, peewhy, or were you just trying to encourage some thoughtful discourse?

[peewhy]

But now most just stick to the main big boys.

I wonder whether you have looked at these systems? I would have considered Google,Yahoo, ATW, AV, MSN and Dmoz as among the big boys.

Few of them, such as vivisimo & kartoo, get mentioned in mainstream press, but then I read all the "geeky" search engine articles I can get my hands on.

Perhaps you should get out more :)

Is there a study / piece of research / or similar to back up your initial statement, peewhy, or were you just trying to encourage some thoughtful discourse?

Back up my orgininal statement?
If there is one unit, and then another, and then another .... it desn't take a geek to work out that the trend is growing - tomorrow there could even be another one!

Why do you need evidence? because you personally are not aware - it doesn't mean the rest of the planet is also unaware or indeed do not use them.

Have you seen the value of Copernic? - someone pays!

>>>you also said ..."or were you just trying to encourage some thoughtful discourse?"
forum (noun) - a public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion.

I feel jeremy_goodrich is being confrontational rather than joining in the spirit of the thread, which was:

Do they save time and get results - or do they encourage us to mooch around?

Will milti-search tools become the standard way of searching?

Who has experience with these tools, which is the best?

I take it you personally think not :)