How to notify that a page is no longer available?

[shyla]

What is the best way to show the spiders and users that a page is no longer available? We have created a few new pages under the same topics and want that page to redirect to the new pages. We currently have <META HTTP-EQUIV=Refresh but what about a 301 redirect?
I know there's problems with 404's and SEO and I'm not sure about a 301?

[jatar_k]

Go with 301 which is "Permanently moved". That will get them to, ultimately, remove the old page and get the new.