Comparing Internet search engines

Search engines are sophisticated utilities designed expressly to find information on the global Internet. An expensive combination of high-speed computer networks and specialized software, they are usually created by large corporations and occasionally by universities. They are freely available to anyone with Internet access, and there are no search restrictions. With more than 150 search engines available, choosing the right one (or ones) is important. As with most products, no single engine is best for all searches and all users all the time. After comparing 50 of the most popular and powerful engines, I narrowed the field down to the four I found most useful: Alta Vista, Deja News, Excite and Yahoo.