Maximizing Web Searches with Google

Whats so special about Google ?

The Google search engine is aptly named after the mathematical term, “googol,” which is the number 10 raised to the power 100 (10100), written out as the numeral 1 followed by 100
zeros. Google has won dozens of awards and accolades for its superior capabilities. The home
page has a very small file size, making it quick to load—even on a dial-up connection—and a
simple interface, which makes it a very user-friendly search engine not bogged down by advertisements and other unwanted elements.

The Google home page, shown above, gives you direct access to five main features: Web, Images, Groups, Directory, and News. The default Web section is where you would perform a general Internet search. The home page also has three special options: advanced search, preferences, and language tools.

Advanced Search. Most of Google’s specific searches (i.e., images, news, etc.) have an advanced search option, and each one varies slightly. This option allows you to set some additional criteria, including languages, filtering of explicit material (SafeSearch), specification of filetype (perhaps you’re looking for a PDF or an Excel spreadsheet rather than a web page), and date of publication.

Preferences. In this section, you can select from a few preferences that you would like Google to remember each time you use it on the same computer. You can:
Select what language you would like Google tips and messages appear in (try Elmer Fudd, Klingon, or Bork! Bork! Bork—the Swedish Chef—for a laugh);

Select what languages or countries of origin you would like to have included in your search results;

Permanently turn on SafeSearch;
Specify the number of search results you would like to appear on each page;
and even ask Google to open all search results in a new browser window (very convenient if you find yourself clicking on many links to find just the right resource).

Language Tools. This page offers you a direct search of pages from a specific country or in a particular language, a text translator for Latinate languages, and a way to translate an entire webpage.