Search wars - which is the best?

As Microsoft enters the internet search engine market, users find themselves overwhelmed with options. We compare the big players on five key areas.

Google The world's most popular internet search engine that works hard to hold on to its pole position MSN Microsoft's home-grown site is the new kid in town which it hopes will knock Google off top spot A9 Online retailer Amazon's search tool with results from within the books it sells and Google

Yahoo! Yahoo! supplied the technology for MSN's old search tool but the new version is a major rival Ask Jeeves The iconic butler who answers questions and searches the web has just had a makeover The verdict Having hitched a ride and road tested each search engine, how did they fare?

The test

• First a search for "raleigh" - chosen as it is a word with several meanings including the bike company, the US city, the expedition charity and the Elizabethan explorer.
• How fast? Although engines can be slowed down by problems in receiving networks, searches made within minutes can give a comparison.
• Then how did it look and could it tell us an Alsatian's IQ (reportedly 60 - whether this is true or not is irrelevant). Finally, the simple question - what is the time in Sydney?

Ask Jeeves

RELEVANCE

This was a shorter list with 3.27 million results but well organised. The city, the bikes and the explorer were all in the top five.

But what was great was the refined search down the right, which meant I was one click away from getting all the references to Sir Walter or the city or the charity or the bike company. Brilliant.

On other sites, you have to scan the list for your references or refine the search again. Not here.

SPEED

No speed is given, but not noticeably slower.

THE LOOK

Like Google and MSN, a good clean front page with sponsored sites on the results page.

The human touch with the butler gives it a strong brand.

THE OBSCURE FACT

What's the reported IQ of an Alsatian? It's 60, according to the fifth result.

THE QUESTION

What is the time in Sydney? 8.15pm

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