A Dean Phillips fan (her words, not mine) wrote me an e-mail asking, if I hate Google, DMOZ and Yahoo! so much, why don't I recommend an alternative search engine? I had to laugh, because I've been receiving a lot of those types of e-mails lately.

However, to set the record straight, I don't hate Google, DMOZ and Yahoo!. I really don't. Hate is such a ridiculous waste of energy. I do have problems with the way they conduct business--but hate them, no. My articles are merely an expression of my right to free speech. The same right we all have. It's just that I'm an extremely passionate person with an aggressive personality, and that comes through loud and clear in my writing.

Anyway, I thought about what my "fan" said in her e-mail, and decided, why not suggest an alternative search engine? Search.com is my choice.

As search engines go, Search.com has to be the best kept secret on the Internet. I discovered them about two years ago, and I've been using them ever since.

Search.com is a metasearch search engine. So, what's a metasearch search engine? Glad you asked. Let me explain. Most search engines simply compile results from a single database of web sites. A metasearch search engine actually compiles search results from a variety of sources. When you enter a query at Search.com, you actually submit your query to the top search engines on the Internet, and then merge the results eliminating any duplicates.

Search.com is owned by CNET Networks, Inc. CNET, www.cnet.com is the trusted source of information for millions of technology consumers around the world. Winner of countless awards, CNET provides expert and unbiased advice on technology products, and services to inform users and expedite purchasing.

Integrating an extensive directory of more than 200,000 computer, technology, and consumer electronics products with editorial content, downloads, trends, reviews and price comparisons, CNET gives users the most up-to-date and efficient shopping resources on the Web. CNET is also comprised of News.com, CNET.com, CNET Download.com, CNET Reviews, CNET Shopper.com, GameSpot.com,

Whew! Did I just sound like a commercial for these guys or what? Anyway, let me explain why I like Search.com so much. Being a metasearch search engine, it literally gives you the best of all worlds. It searches Google, Ask Jeeves, Business.com, Kanoodle, LookSmart, MSN, Open Directory, plus dozens of other leading search engines.

However, it's important to point out that they apply their own technology to these results to ensure that you get the absolute best results possible as fast as possible. Search.com also has some useful and fun features.

A feature I particularly like is you can actually preview web sites before you click on them, with their thumbnail option, by selecting "show thumbnails" or "hide thumbnails" on the search results page.

Another fun feature is you can personalize Search.com, by selecting one of five color schemes using the toolbar on the front page.

You can also narrow and fine-tune your search, by clicking on the tabs located above the search box. This will limit your search to Downloads, Shopping, Games, or "More" where you can research by topic.

Search.com also has customizable category searches where you can personally select the sources they search by using their customization feature accessible by clicking "advanced" under the search box or any link on the research by topic page.

Now, all of these things notwithstanding, I have to warn you, there is nothing aesthetically pleasing about Search.com. It's a very basic, plain looking search engine.

However, if you can get past the cosmetics issue, I think you'll find Search.com delivers some big time results!

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net