EmailBest Reviewed
Search Engines
- Best search engine overall Google *Est. $0
- Best alternative search engine Yahoo! Search *Est. $0
- Search engine for direct answers, customization Windows Live Search *Est. $0
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- Expert sites listed first
- Suggests relevant search terms
- Provides direct answers to many queries
- Not as fast or thorough as Google
- Results not as relevant as competitors
April 2009. Back in 2006, reviewers considered Ask.com, formerly AskJeeves.com, the most-improved search engine. But according to more recent reviews, it has lost ground to Windows Live Search since then. Both search engines provide direct answers to many queries, but Ask.com doesn't stand out in the most recent comparison tests for relevancy of results. Unless you want a direct answer to a factual question, reviews recommend starting your Internet research at Google.
We found the best reviews of search engines at library research sites, including University of California, Berkeley Library and InfoPeople.org. We also found recent comparison tests quite useful, at Dolores Labs, SearchEngineLand.com, Laptop Magazine and StraightUpSearch.com.
Our Sources
1. University of California, Berkeley Library
Back in 2006, Ask.com was the third search engine recommended by experts at the UC Berkeley Library, for use (along with Yahoo! Search) as a supplement to top-ranked Google. Since then, Ask.com has been supplanted by Exalead.
Review: Recommended Search Engines, University of California, Berkeley Library, Feb. 2009
This site designed for librarians recommends Ask.com as one of the three best search engines, with special praise for the way it ranks sites and suggests relevant search terms.
Review: Best Search Tools Chart, Joe Barker, Sept. 2008
3. Dolores Labs
Based on results of 500 random queries, testers find the results at Ask.com significantly less relevant than those at Google, Yahoo! Search and Live.com.
Review: Search Engine Relevance -- an Empirical Test, Brendan O'Connor, Apr. 3, 2008
This recent comparison review praises Ask.com for providing direct answers to a query for "oscar winners," while both Google and Yahoo! Search just provide links to the information. Live.com also provides a direct answer, but it puts a sponsored listing above it.
Review: And the Oscar for Best Search Engine for Oscar Winners Goes to É Microsoft Live & Ask.com, Danny Sullivan, Feb. 23, 2009
Ask.com loses points to Live.com, based on a comparison of results from the search query "Olympics" (highly relevant at the time of this review). Ask.com provides relevant results, but Live.com provides even more information and makes it very easy to access.
Review: Search Engines Compete for Olympic Audience, "Alex", Aug. 15, 2008
