Using ZDNet, COMPUTERS.COM, CMPnet and IDG.net To Search For Computer-Related Information
© Paula Dragutsky
Do you need to find reviews of notebook computers or tips on using your website design software? General search engines may not be the best places to go. You're apt to find what you're looking for more quickly and easily using ZDNet, COMPUTERS.COM, CMPnet or IDG.net.
The sheer enormity of computer-related material on the Web is one reason that getting relevant results with general search engines may be difficult. In addition, computer-savvy website creators often try to "trick" search engines into getting their sites listed repeatedly in the beginning of results lists. Search engines do their best to combat this type of "spamming," but they're not always successful.
ZDNet, COMPUTER.COM, CMPnet and IDG.net are extensive, information-rich sites which can serve as specialized search engines for computer-related material. They search only items that they have indexed so your results won't include sales or promotional web pages.
ZDNet - THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SITE FOR COMPUTER INFORMATION
ZDNet (http://www.zdnet) contains an amazing breadth and depth of information about every aspect of computers. It's the site of Ziff-Davis, publisher of 18 computer-related magazines, including PC Magazine, Family PC, Computer Life, and Internet User. All of these magazines are searchable at ZDNet, and you can retrieve the full-text of every article. But this doesn't begin to describe what ZDNet offers.
The site is organized into subject channels covering product reviews and information, advice for hardware and software problems, information about the Internet, a wide variety of online courses, a marketplace for computer products, industry news, information about computer companies for investors, software downloads, computer games, material about the Mac, home computing, ZDNet message board and chat, computer careers and Ziff-Davis magazines.
How To Search ZDNet
ZDNet's search system is powerful and speedy. Its Basic Search mode supports the plus and minus operators and the asterisk for truncation. Drop-down menus allow you to restrict your search to news, reviews, commentary or tips, and to specific publications and channels.
In order to search for a phrase, you have to select More Options. There you'll be presented with additional menus, one of which will give you the choices of matching (finding) all words, any
word(s) or the phrase. You're also presented with menus which give you the ability to search within given date ranges, and to control the number and appearance of your results.
