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1. Introduction

Michael recommends

Before you go on your search, bear in mind that not all information on the Internet is 100% accurate. Be sure you understand how to evaluate website content.

While browsers are beginning to support typing search keywords directly on the URL location line, I caution against this practice, since even with the same browser, you may get results from a rotating group of 'partner' search engines. This is also true on some portal sites.

I prefer to specifically select the search engine based on the search I'm going to perform. See Why you need a Search strategy for more on the importance of selecting the 'right' search engine for the task at hand.

Desktop

For desktop reference:

Research-It! - Your one-stop reference desk (http://www.iTools.com/).
Dictionaries, translators, quotations, geographical tools, shipping/mailing tools, discussion groups, and more.

whatis.com - Definitions and more... (http://www.whatis.com/)
My favorite place for technical definitions. Each definition has other key terms already hyperlinked, so you are never left scratching your head wondering about words in the definition. The site is also a source of basic 'tutorial' information about web related topics.

Card index

Catalog sites

Catalog site search engine staff build indices based on summary information provided for selected pages by the website owner. This can include keywords the website owner has asked to be matched with. Update frequency unspecified.

Yahoo Even if you think you know.... Yahoo: How-To (http://www.yahoo.com/)

LookSmart (http://www.looksmart.com/)

DMOZ: Open Directory Project (http://www.dmoz.org/)
The Open Directory is a self-regulating republic where volunteer net-citizen experts collect their recommendations and those of others, without including noise and misinformation. note: DMOZ is also available as Google's Web Directory.

Every word

Full text search sites

Search indices are built automatically based on the results retrieved by 'robots' -- programs which access all the pages on a site. Update frequency varies from weekly to several months.

AltaVista (http://www.digital.altavista.com) or (http://www.av.com) Offers 'focused searches' (files tabs: Products, News, Discussion Groups, The Web, Images, MP3/Audio, Video, directory), suggested 'related searches' categories, language settings, as well of a family filter (with password) to reduce objectionable content. (http://www.digital.altavista.com)

Google (http://www.google.com/) This relatively new search engine is quickly gaining a strong following. Ranking is based on popularity, i.e. how often are pages referenced on other pages. Google also licenses the DMOZ directory for category searches.

HotBot (http://www.hotbot.com/) Form-based search parameters means Boolean knowledge is unnecessary.

Northern Light Search (http://www.Northernlight.com/)

1 x many

Mega search sites

These search sites take your query and simultaneously pass it to multiple search engines. They gather the various results, process/organize, and pass them on to you.

Dogpile (http://www.dogpile.com/) Dogpile syntax

MetaFind (http://www.metafind.com/)

Yahoo 'all-in-one' search engine list. http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/(wrap) World_Wide_Web/Searching_the_Web/Search_Engines_and_Directories/(wrap) All_in_One_Search_Pages/

USENET

Finding and searching discussion group(s)

Google's DejaNews archive -- news and discussion group archive (http://groups.google.com/googlegroups/deja_announcement.html)

TOPICA - mailing lists (acquired many of the original Liszt.com lists)

Geeky stuff

Technology topics

If you are looking for product reviews, comparisons, experiences, searching the entire Web will return many extraneous hits. Narrow your search by using local search engines provided by trade journals. All have site specific search engines to help you find their recent articles.

ZDNet (http://www.zdnet.com/) (Inter@ctiveWeek, PC Computing, PC Magazine, PCWeek)

CMP Net (http://www.cmp.com/) (BYTE, InformationWeek, InternetWeek, Netguide, WebTools, and more)

C|NET (http://www.cnet.com/)

IDG (http://www.idg.com/) (Computerworld, Network World, PC World, Macworld, Channel World, and more)

Yahoo computer magazine list (http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/(wrap) News_and_Media/Magazines/)

Duh!

When you're just not sure where to look...

Search Engines -- Beaucoup! 2,000+ and counting.... (http://www.beaucoup.com/)

The Library of Congress Online Catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov/)

The Search Page (http://www.accesscom.com/~ziegler/search.html)

The Matrix (http://www.ambrosiasw.com/~fprefect/matrix/)

SearchBug (http://www.searchbug.com/)

Don't be shy, even if all you say is "Hi!".