The first search engine I found out about was Dogpile, which is actually a Meta search engine. A Meta search engine uses several regular search engines, like Google and Yahoo, to make a search. For quite a while Dogpile was pretty much the only search engine I used. My favorite now is Yahoo. Search engines are very useful when you are trying to find stuff on the web. You can find pretty much anything with a search engine, and there are many to choose from. Some of the most common on the web are Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, Lycos, About, Ask, and MSN. Usually a search engine will let you specify just what you’re looking for with tabs like Web, Images, and Video. Just type the name of whatever you what to find in the search box at the top of the page. If you were looking for cats, type cats press the Search button, and you will get a list of results that were found. If you want to find pictures of cats, click on the Images tab above the search box, type cats, and press the Search button again. You will get a page full of cat pictures that were found.
Search engines don’t always work perfectly. Sometimes you get results that are completely different than what you were looking for. You can also easily come across very offensive material. But at least some search engines, like Yahoo, filter your results. You can adjust the filter to your tastes.
There’s more to search engines than merely searching though. Usually they have categories of different topics on pages accessible through the main search engine page. For example, you can find information about movies on the movie page. You can find and play games, look up maps, find cars, read news, look at personals, or even shop online. Some search engines, such as Yahoo and Google, also have e-mail services.
I use search engines every day. I like to use the Images tab to find pictures of everything between roses to Tori Amos. I use the Local tab to find phone numbers to places in town, like a pizza parlor or Target. Sometimes I use Ask.com to find the answers to general questions I have. Search engines are like the Index to the web.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
My Experience with Computers
My first experience with computers happened when I was in elementary school. This was in the 1980’s, and the computers were old Apples, not iMacs. They weren’t as impressive as today’s computers, but they were still very interesting to me. We would play games like Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, and Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego.
I was first introduced to fairly modern home PCs from my uncle up in Phoenix. It was in the mid 90’s, and his computer was pretty sophisticated for the time. That’s the first time I saw a Flight Simulator game as well.
I wanted a computer for a long time, but since they went for about $1,000.00 I was 19 before we finally got one. The first one we had was an old used one. It wasn’t much, but better than nothing. Only a few months later, around the end of 1999, my mom was able to get a new Gateway, I think with credit. That was a pretty nice computer. I learned how to type on that, and met my first e-pal. But a few months later it was lost in a fire.
It was half a year later before we could replace it. This time we got a Dell. That PC served us well for years. My mom bought an eMachines in 2005, and I inherited the old Dell. Finally in 2006 I replaced the old Dell with a new, fairly state-of-the-art Dell, and gave my friend Teri the old one. I’m typing on the new one right now.
There was a time I didn’t even know what a computer was. But now they are an essential part of my life. I can write to friends, check the weather, or see when a movie is coming on at the theater. I’ve bought tickets to music concerts, reserved hotel rooms, and used online maps to find my way around. Not to mention games on disc or the Internet I’ve played, or DVD’s I’ve watched on my computer. A few months ago I was able to buy an MP3 player. With my computer’s help I now have more than 1,500 songs I can easily take places with me. I also use Word to write things occasionally.
Even though I’ve had computers in the house now for about 7 years, I still know very little about them. I have plans to learn more. In fact I am currently trying to learn HTML. It’s going pretty slow. :-) In addition to HTML I’d like to learn some basic computer stuff, Paint Shop Pro 8, as well as computer programming. I hope to one day be able to design my own RPG video games. I already have some cool game ideas. Well, it will take a while.
I was first introduced to fairly modern home PCs from my uncle up in Phoenix. It was in the mid 90’s, and his computer was pretty sophisticated for the time. That’s the first time I saw a Flight Simulator game as well.
I wanted a computer for a long time, but since they went for about $1,000.00 I was 19 before we finally got one. The first one we had was an old used one. It wasn’t much, but better than nothing. Only a few months later, around the end of 1999, my mom was able to get a new Gateway, I think with credit. That was a pretty nice computer. I learned how to type on that, and met my first e-pal. But a few months later it was lost in a fire.
It was half a year later before we could replace it. This time we got a Dell. That PC served us well for years. My mom bought an eMachines in 2005, and I inherited the old Dell. Finally in 2006 I replaced the old Dell with a new, fairly state-of-the-art Dell, and gave my friend Teri the old one. I’m typing on the new one right now.
There was a time I didn’t even know what a computer was. But now they are an essential part of my life. I can write to friends, check the weather, or see when a movie is coming on at the theater. I’ve bought tickets to music concerts, reserved hotel rooms, and used online maps to find my way around. Not to mention games on disc or the Internet I’ve played, or DVD’s I’ve watched on my computer. A few months ago I was able to buy an MP3 player. With my computer’s help I now have more than 1,500 songs I can easily take places with me. I also use Word to write things occasionally.
Even though I’ve had computers in the house now for about 7 years, I still know very little about them. I have plans to learn more. In fact I am currently trying to learn HTML. It’s going pretty slow. :-) In addition to HTML I’d like to learn some basic computer stuff, Paint Shop Pro 8, as well as computer programming. I hope to one day be able to design my own RPG video games. I already have some cool game ideas. Well, it will take a while.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
