Sarasota PC Monitor
Internet Search Toolbox
A Software Review
by John Mackey*
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.This software package contains two advanced tools for searching the Internet. The first, Copernic 2001 Plus, allows you to access many independent search engines with a single query. You contact all of them at the same time and combine their responses. The resulting information is nicely presented, with the most relevant data first and with duplicate "hits" removed. The second tool, Copernic Shopper Plus, allows you to simultaneously search many online stores to obtain their price and current availability status for your desired item. Again, the results are effectively presented, including store ratings provided by an independent source.
Most of us have used a search engine provided by a single search engine, such as Google http://www.google.com or Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com. Sometimes we have tried several sites, using exactly the same search criterion, and usually we obtained different results from each. The next step up in efficiency is to search multiple sites with a single command. These tools are called meta-search engines. There are several free versions of these, such as Dogpile http://www.dogpile.com, http://Ixquick www.ixquick.com and the free version of Copernic (Copernic 2001 Basic - http://www.copernic.com.
Wait - why purchase Copernic 2001 Plus if you can get Copernic 2001 Basic for free? The basic version offers 7 search categories (The Web, Newsgroups, EMail Addresses, etc.). About 80 information sources are available for access. The Plus version provides over 90 search categories and has more than 1000 search engines and directories to select from. I have used the free version for a long time as my primary Internet search tool, with very satisfactory results. Now that I have acquired the Internet Search Toolbox, I have much more flexibility and many more options available for my Web searches.
Copernic 2001 Plus provides many useful features. The search results are evaluated and then are presented according to their relevancy. You can limit the number of responses from each source when necessary. You can easily download and install additional search engines to expand the program's coverage. You can allow the program to add its icon onto the browser toolbar, so that this powerful program is a click away when you are working on the Internet. It even has the ability to translate foreign language text into English. As a minor advantage, I appreciate the absence of banner ads cluttering my results screen.
In the past, I have often located sites via a search and then found they were not actually available for various reasons. With Copernic 2001 Plus, you can direct the program to check and then eliminate such sites from its list. Also, You can easily save your various search results and return to each of them in the future. These saved searches can be organized into folders, and the data can be updated in the future with a single keystroke. These files can then be searched for keywords to help you quickly refine your search.
The other program included in the Toolbox is Copernic Shopper Plus. This is a specialized search program that finds the current price and availability for an item from each of many stores, provides links to product reviews relating to your item and source evaluation. Results are presented in a useful format, and the links can be listed in order by price. Each line shows the item, the price, the current availability, the manufacturer, the store's independent evaluation (0 to 3 stars), a link to the store's Website and a link to evaluations of the product you are checking.
The shopping searches are by category (such as Computer Hardware, Software, Electronics, Music, Gifts, Sports, etc.). However, there are only 13 categories, so data is not available for some things I am interested in pricing. Probably future updates will expand this list. There is also a list of Hot Deals available that shows current specials for many major suppliers.
Both programs were easy to install, and both are easy to use, with intuitive window layouts and good help access. However, the only manual provided with the package is a Quick Reference Guide that is merely an extensive list of all the things you can do with the software. It seems to be more of a sales pitch than a user manual.
After using this program, I feel that it is worthwhile for individuals who perform extensive Internet searches. For others, I suggest trying the free versions first.
The Internet Search Toolbox lists at $39.95 and is available on-line for $34.99 http://www.macmillansoftware.com. The software publisher is Copernic, a Canadian company (418-527-0528). I have not seen this Toolbox in our local stores. For more information, or to download the free version, visit the Website at www.copernic.com.
*The author of this review, John Mackey, leads the Absolute Beginners Forum on meeting nights. He has worked with personal computers since 1975, when he helped to establish the Chesapeake Microcomputer Club in Maryland.
Copyright 2002. This article is from the April 2002 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/
The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,300+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.
See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.