google.com (google.com)

Member Name: thole09

Product:	google.com
Date:	05/10/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Numerous search functions, generally good results

Disadvantages: May require more specific search requests

Google is an Internet search engine owned by Google Inc. First launched in 1997, it has since grown to become the world's most popular choice in search engines. Its vast popularity includes being ranked as the number one website in both the United Kingdom and United States according to Alexa traffic research.

As with all search engines, the basic premise of the website is for seeking further information. Google boasts a sleek and simple to use interface with the Google logo heading the website and an input bar below said logo. Users enter a keyword and click the "Google Search" button which retrieves information from a remote database based on the query posed. Personal research has indicated Google offers the fastest search response out of all of the popular search engine choices. I found that each input term only required 0.2 seconds in terms of search and website load time. This indicates a very powerful server which is capable of handling numerous requests at once.

I have found my search experiences with Google to be both hit and miss. Google generally offers an acceptable range of possible websites relating to my search query, but these websites are often masked amongst other results which may not be fully related to my request. I often find myself inputting further keywords to narrow my search requests to more precise results which, most of the time, yield suitable content based on my request. There has been a few times when I have had to use another search engine to find content though these occasions are few and far between. One particularly useful feature I find Google to showcase is its ability to perform calculations from within the search bar. This is most useful with numeric conversions. For example, a user may input "what is 32 degrees Celsius in degrees Fahrenheit"and receive the calculation on the following search page.

Google is also not limited to specific text searches. Users may also find images, videos, maps, news and price comparisons by clicking the respective text hyperlink at the top of the page. These search aspects, much like the text search, require continual revising to find appropriate search content. Nonetheless, I have been able to find appropriate results with each of these parametres.

The popularity which accompanies this search engine is well deserved. While the user does need to use some general TLC when making his or her search, the content revealed is generally of a high standard and appropriate to the request made. I would have no problem recommending Google to those seeking a new search engine for daily use.

Summary: Thumbs up