Module 4 - Downloading tools /plug-ins task

I am always a bit skeptical when downloading unknown programs, I have never experienced any "bad" coming from a download, but without much knowledge of who you are downloading from it can be cause for concern. I generally try download from the same site www.twocows.com, they are well known and I have had no trouble with their supplied downloads.

Tools for using the web
As I have used PDF, media players and flash often, I downloaded bookmark buddy for Windows (from Twocows - as the bookmark buddy site look at little home grown). I also downloaded the search manager Copernic Meta for PC and Pagesucker for windows (great name!!)

It surprises me that when you download many programs it expects you to know how to use them, some come with no notes or help options. Generally they are not too difficult to understand, but I sometimes wonder if I am using downloaded programs effectively. For example, I accidently downloaded Copernic Desktop Search 2.0, I tried to play around with it but it was never able to locate any files, even when I knew they were there. Instead of spending a while trying to figure it out - I simply uninstalled it.

Bookmark buddy
I use both IE and firefox browsers some things are better displayed in one or the other. The has lead to favourites being stored in one but not the other and when I search for a bookmarked site, only to find it is bookmarked in the other browser, it is frustrating. The bookmark buddy can aid in avoid that. As you can schedule a visit it also means those sites that I save to my bookmarks with the intention of looking at them later, may actually get visited!

Pagesucker
I began "sucking" a site that I often frequent, when I opened some of the sucked files using firefox, I was presented with pages of gobleygook, however when opening in IE the pages presented, however everything was aligned to the left and layout stripped.

On sucking a different smaller site I acheive a successful result.

Whilst I didn't read the full 73 page PDF instruction manual, I was happy it was there, in case I ever need to use this technology. (not sure I will to be honest!).

Copernic Meta for PC
For search I generally jump on my favourite search engine without a second thought, so I was happy to learn of this little program that allows search across multiple engines. I was bugged that I couldn't select google as an engine.

Search Engine Task
1. Choose your most commonly used internet search engine and do a search for the words: advanced internet users. - record the first hit and number of hits in your learning log.

Search engine : Google.com.au

First hit: Advanced Internet users tutuorial.....www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
Number of hits : about 80,800,000

2. Using copernic or similar set it up to search at least three search engines (including one that will search the 'deep web') and repeat exactly the same search. - record the number of hits in your learning log, and compare to your first seach. What differences did you notice? Why? Which search, on first glance gave you the most promising results?

Using Copernic including search engines such as AOL, all the web, MSN, Netscape and Yahoo, strangely enough delievery the same first result as Google has. Advanced Internet users tutuorial.....www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/

The Copernic search only retrieved 33 matches. At first glance the Google search delivers a greater number of results however only the top 3 are relavant to our search query. The Copernic search deliverly less total results however the description of the top 5 displays sites that would qualify for delivering a successful result to our search query.

Save at least the first 5 hits of both searches: (sorry for the quality of the screen grabs)

Google

Copernic