Sometimes, it\u2019s easy to conclude that Google is the only game in town. More than 75% of Web searches worldwide are done using Google, and in SA the figure is believed to be more than 80%. Yet there are alternatives to Google, and some of them are not bad. Here\u2019s our selection:<\/p>\n
One of the best alternatives, but also one of the lesser known, is Amazon.com\u2019s A9 (a9.com). Its results are on a par with Google\u2019s, and it also has an excellent product search facility.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s Live Search (live.com) from Microsoft Live is a bit of a Google clone (Microsoft isn\u2019t exactly known for the originality of its products) and, frankly, its results are not as good as Google\u2019s (yet), but it\u2019s getting there fast. It\u2019s one worth watching.<\/p>\n
Believe it or not, the once-dominant search engine AltaVista (altavista.com) still exists. And it offers a better image search than Google, allowing you to specify the resolution of the pictures you are looking for.<\/p>\n
Ask.com (formerly Ask Jeeves) has developed a loyal following. In addition to keyword searches, it allows you to ask it questions in plain English, such as: \u201cWhy is the sky blue?\u201d<\/p>\n
If you enjoy things a little racy, why not check out Ms Dewey from Microsoft (msdewey.com)? The search site\u2019s sexy, Adobe Flash-based librarian won\u2019t find you results quickly, but she is enormous fun (if you have broadband).<\/p>\n