Google Search Tips - Top 10 Advanced Things to Know

Already mastered the basics? Then you're ready to move on to:

Top Ten advanced things to know about Google Search:

1. While Google ignores common words such as where, entering where new york will also yield maps and hotel guides.
   
2. Quickly look up definitions -- define: rss will yield several explanations for Rich Site Summary (Or, get even more dictionary definitions via Dictionary.com)
3. You can find synonyms of words -- entering ~house will also yield pages with home on them.
   
4. Google will recognize some natural language expressions -- weather philadelphia, pa produces and up-to-date local weather report.
   
5. Using the lesser known “numrange” operator -- 2000..2005 (that’s two dots in between two numbers) will find pages with 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 in them.
   
6. Use Google for Q&A -- enter Population of USA and the answer 298,444,215 will be displayed in addition to page results.
   
7. Use an upper case OR for special searches - eagles win OR lose will find Philadelphia Eagles-related pages about wins, or those pages about losses . Lower-case won’t work in this situation, and would
   simply search for occurrences of the word “or”.
   
8. Find backlinks by using Google Blog Search or by using the link-operator, for example, link:blog.searchenginewatch.com
   
9. You can restrict your search to certain types of domains and servers -- apply site:.edu will yield apply pages on college and university "edu" domains. Also try Google Scholar, or use Google UncleSam, to limit your search to material from government sites.
   
10. Finding out who links to a Web page -- link:www.cnn.coom will yield a list of sites that link to the home page of CNN.
    
    ... and Web developers especially will want to know:
    
    
11. Some documents are not completely indexed by Google. Indexing of the text in Web pages stops after the first 101Kb (For PDF, it's 120Kb.)
    
12. Not every Google version offers all of Google's features. For example, using Google on the Washington Post site does not offer the cache or similar page options.
    
13. Limiting by date can be a problem. Date searching is reliable only when Google can consistently identify them as it does with Usenet message (Google Groups) and news (Google News).

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Windows: Upgrading to Vista; Using XP and Vista on the same PC (multiboot)

I'm using Windows XP Pro and have lots of design software applications installed that I use frequently -- many I've purchased myself. Our organization is moving everyone to Microsoft Vista in a few months and I've heard that some of my software might not work when that happens. How can I tell what software upgrades I'll need to purchase? Can I run Windows XP and Vista at the same time? - B.S.

There are some big questions to answer here, but you're not alone -- many people are trying to figure out if the move to Vista is right for them, or what they'll have to buy to get there. Know that if you plan on working in the Windows operating system over the next several years, you really have no choice but to upgrade. Microsoft will ultimately cease offering upgrades and support for older versions of Windows as time goes on. So, it's only a question of when you need to upgrade.

I'll assume that your organization will probably require or provide the edition of Vista you'll ultimately use, and may do the same with hardware. But if options are open to you, let's address the first question by going to the source -- Microsoft. Use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor tool to determine if your PC system is ready for the upgrade, then spend a few minutes deciding on which of the five editions is right for you by comparing the various options and features. Personal opinion: Windows Ultimate may be overkill for you current computer, your everyday needs, and your wallet.

Next, you'll have to do some research to plan for the software upgrades you'll likely need as you move to Vista. Sure, you could consult the Microsoft compatibility guides. But instead, I recommend visiting the web site of each software application you currently use. You may find free or minimally-priced Vista upgrades (or if you're really lucky, learn that an upgrade isn't needed). At the same time, try to decide if you really need all of your old software. For example, you may no longer need the application you use to play and burn DVD/CD discs and opt to use the improved Windows Media Player instead. Or, you may be able to get along with Vista's own clip tool and skip your next upgrade to TechSmith's Snag-It screen capture program.

The second question is both easy, and hard. Yes, you can configure your computer to run "either" XP or Vista on the same machine (called a dual or multiboot). But, it may tax your your patience and technical abilities. The procedure to do this is beyond the scope of this column, but there are many well documented sources to consult if you want to pursue this. I recommend browsing some of the better documented approaches from TechRepublic , PC Magazine, and APC Magazine. Of course, you can always bring your system to a consultant and hire them to do the work. In either case, you should consider the future. Someday you will outgrow this situation and will have some additional technical work ahead of you to undo this dual boot approach.

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