FirstStop WebSearch Visual V4.0
What's It Do?
It searches multiple search engines and Web sites
simultaneously, runs on any Windows desktop, provides random or sequential
viewing of results, sorts by columns, saves as XML or HTML files, and
keyword history searches. Eliminates the middleman or server by directly
accessing the search engines.
Does It Do What It Promises?
Reviewer 1. The program works well at
finding sites using key words for searching. Although the Web site says it
is incredibly fast, I find 30 seconds to open on an AMD 1000 CPU rather
long.
FirstStopWebSearch responds: The typical load time
for FirstStop WebSearch is anywhere from < 1 to 10 seconds. It does vary
based on the configuration of each computer system. For example: It takes
less then 10 seconds to open FirstStop WebSearch on an old Pentium 75
machine with 24 MB of RAM. We have not heard of a load time like the
reviewers' and we are very interested in learning more about the
configuration of the system being used.
Reviewer 2. Yes. FirstStop calls
WebSearch Visual "web searching that means business" and I can't argue
with that. It is a pretty impressive search agent.
Reviewer 3. Yes. The Website says
"it's incredibly fast desktop software that searches multiple search
engines and Websites simultaneously for a more comprehensive Internet
experience." But the real question is "Does anyone really need this?"
Reviewer 4. More or less. A lot of the
results are determined by how the various search engines interpret the
search parameters. With that in mind, you get a lot of results pretty
quickly.
Was It Easy To Install?
Reviewer 1. It installed quickly and
easily without any problems.
Reviewer 2. Yes, I had absolutely no
problems installing this program on Windows 98 or Windows XP, and it was
up and searching in no time.
Reviewer 3. Yes, with standard Windows
installer.
Reviewer 4. I had no problems. The
license key was unusual in that it was a registry key that had to be
merged. In my opinion, that is a risky way of doing things, but it worked
fine.
FirstStop Web Search responds: Our primary method of
sending FirstStop WebSearch doesn't require any additional registration.
The use of the registry key is provided as a convenience to our users of
our shareware version so that they can unlock the license of the copy they
have rather then having to re-download a licensed copy
Good points?
Reviewer 1. I like the feature of
being able to select which search engines I wish to use. It includes
several of my favorite ones. It was fast to find the results, once the
program is loaded.
Reviewer 2. Very simple to navigate,
very intuitive and easy to use. Delivers a mind-boggling amount of
information. I compared it to Copernic Agent, another search agent, and it
compared well, turning in more results consistently and very useful
results.
Reviewer 3. It can search multiple
search engines simultaneously and when selected, another browser window is
opened, pointing to the selected URL. No more having to back up to get to
your search page through the browser. You can view thumbnails of the
returned sites if you are a more visual person. Favorite sites can be
bookmarked within the application.
Reviewer 4. Well, actually it is maybe
too much of a good thing. There are so many search engines that, in order
to make sense from the searches, you really need to turn many of them off.
That said, however, I was able to find some information that I had been
looking for previously without success. There were enough results in front
of me, with some description, that I found the information I needed to
write a position paper that I had been working on for several years.
Weak points?
Reviewer 1. I find the program slow to load.
Reviewer 2. The sheer number of results can be a bit daunting
until you get used to wading through them, but no real problems.
Reviewer 3. Most people don't read directions and, while this
program can provide simple searches to many search engines, unless the
search terms are tailored to what you are looking for, the program will
still return many links that won't provide what you want. I also find the
"dump" of information not as valuable; for example, search results to the
same basic URL path returned by two different engines should be somehow
grouped or indented to visually show they are from the same site. Google
provides a similar look and feel.
Reviewer 4. I checked off "remove unreachable documents" but I
still get many "The page cannot be found" errors. What is that box
supposed to do? I tried to do a "verify" function but the software crashed
with a "blue screen of death" and needed to be restarted. Tech support was
very responsive but couldn't duplicate the problem.
FirstStop Web Search responds: The "remove
unreachable documents" feature is intended to be used after the "verify"
link function. Again, we are very interested in hearing more about the
particulars of this experience so we can refine this feature. We love this
kind of feedback. We work very hard to design FirstStop WebSearch so that
anyone can run the program and use it to it fullest. But it seems with
technology the more feature-rich you make it; the more difficult it is to
make it easy to use
The search parameters do not seem to do what they say. I try searching for
a phrase but get many, many hits on any one of the words in the phrase.
Out of 42 hits on one phrase, only one showed the entire phrase.
FirstStop Web Search responds: I'd like to say thank
you to this reviewer. This reviewer helped us to identify one vexing bug
that just appeared in this new release (version 4.0). The bug was with the
"phrase" search mode. It is now fixed. A new version 4.01 is available and
the readers of Neat Net Tricks and find the update at: http://www.FirstStopWebSearch.com/downloads.html
In addition all minor upgrades and bug fixes are free for our registered
users.
Importing search engines seems not to work. I followed the directions on
their Website and it just brings me back to that Website. I put the
provided URL into my browser and got a page of HTML code.
FirstStop Web Search responds: Based on the
reviewer's comments it appears that our import instructions found on our
Web site are not very clear. We will review the instruction found on our
Web site.
Other Comments?
Reviewer 1. The program gives a wide
cross section of Web sites from the search, allowing you to choose which
you wish to view.
Reviewer 2. This program is very
useful, especially for students and plain old information junkies. I
recommend it.
Reviewer 3. I question whether a program like this is valuable
to the casual searcher. I tend to Google most things and in most cases I
find what I need. I've tested this application with similar search terms
to see if the program has come up with something that I haven't easily
found with direct search engines. So far it hasn't.
FirstStop Web Search responds: You can do very
little with search results from a search engine. FirstStop WebSearch is
much more than a search engine, it's a tool that helps you with searches
and results: Add search sources of your choosing; create search categories
of your selected search sources; Summarize and analyze search results,;
Integrate the search process into software tools; manage search and
results; and, many other convenient features. If you consider the "Static"
search results of a search engine vs. the dynamic presentation and
features of FirstStop WebSearch, you will find the many possibilities and
great value it can provide. For many, just time savings for covering more
in less time is the number one feature. We have found in our surveys that
FirstStop WebSearch matches the real needs of 98% of the common Web
searcher. We found that the typical Web searcher has very little patience,
time, or need for complexity and their bottom line is they simply want it
now.
Reviewer 4. The registry key license
bothers me; a corrupt key has disastrous potential. Google wasn't included
in the default list but was available. Since it is the single best search
engine, or near to it, I would see it at the top of the list. This seems
like it could be a really good tool once all the functions work.
Will You Continue To Use It?
Reviewer 1. Yes.
Reviewer 2. Yes. I have a constant
need for information in my life, and WebSearch Visual provides it.
Reviewer 3. No.
Reviewer 4. I'd like to, but it does
have a lot of annoyances. It really needs to mature to be an everyday tool
for me.
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