About
About returns three sets of results per query. One set of matches from the About directory, one from the Web at large (provided by Inktomi and Sprinks), and one from About partner sites. Although the directory, which incorporates original editorial content, is the site's strength, its limited search language makes it an indirect means of searching the Web that is most effective for general queries. For more complex searches, try another engine.
With About, for example, you can't use wildcards or ampersands, nor can you limit searches to a particular domain or personalize the search interface.
If your search involves a general subject or a relatively major organization -- the "Federated States of Micronesia," for instance -- you get a good selection of relevant sites, particularly if you use the About directory. But with more specific searches, such as Carnivore, looking for the FBI e-mail surveillance tool or natural-language searches, the engine fails. About also has problems finding specific home pages. These weaknesses are disappointing, but the site's excellent directory makes bookmarking it worthwhile all the same.
Direct Link: About
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