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Browsers

Search and enjoy: 7 search toolbars reviewed

Want to research something fast? Install a search engine toolbar within your browser. Some even block pop-ups and spam and can securely remember your credit card number for future purchases. Best of all, they're free.

By Ben Patterson (November 22, 2004)

If you're still going to the Google or Yahoo home page to do Web searches, you're missing half the fun--and you're unnecessarily exerting your fingers. Toolbar plug-ins for Microsoft Internet Explorer--and now Firefox--make it easy and fast to look up Web references without having to type in another URL.

The latest search toolbars also run specific, targeted searches for news, weather, and stock quotes. They highlight search terms on a Web page so that you can find them in a snap. They also block annoying pop-up windows that keep littering your desktop, and some track your Web history, index and search your e-mail, translate Web pages, and keep track of your bookmarks--even when you're working on a different PC.

We tested seven toolbars from the biggest search engines on the Web: A9, AltaVista, Ask Jeeves, Google, HotBot, MSN, and Yahoo. We tried out their features, evaluated their design, and even tested their search hits and relevancy. Finally, we picked a winner: Yahoo. Compare each search bar's features below, then see our full search performance comparison.

	A9	AltaVista	Ask Jeeves	Google	HotBot	MSN	Yahoo
Rating	7.3	7	6.3	8.3	7	6.7	8.3
Works with
Internet Explorer	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
FireFox	X			X
Specific searches
Web	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Search current site	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Web history	X				X
Files					X
E-mail					X
News		X	X	X	***	X	X
Weather			X		***
Stock market			X	X	***	X	X
Images	X	X	X	X	***		X
Dictionary			X	X	X	X	X
White/Yellow Pages					***	X	X
Shopping	X		X	X	X	X	X
Scroll-through results	X		X*

Pop-up blocker	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Disable		X	X	X		X	X
Allow for a domain			X	X	X	X	X
View a blocked pop-up				X**			X

Highlight search results	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Other features
Post to a blog				X
Antispyware utility							X
Translate a page		X		X			X
View bookmarks from any PC	X						X
RSS feeds					X
Page info	X			X
* Can scroll through results on the Ask Jeeves frame above a Web page search result. Must Ctrl+click a link to see a blocked pop-up. * Can set up custom searches for these categories.

Chart information current as of the afternoon of October 27, 2004.

See our performance comparison

Read the CNET editor's take

HotBot

	A9's customizable results page is a definite plus, but the toolbar won't block pop-ups, and it skips features found on other search toolbars. CNET editor's take Check prices
	Nothing fancy here, just the basics. This is a good choice if all you want to do is search. CNET editor's take Check prices
	With Ask Jeeves, the novelty of zooming in on a Web page soon wears thin, as does seeing an annoying frame placed around every found Web page. CNET editor's take Check prices
	The Google search toolbar offers many solid options, along with stellar search results. CNET editor's take Check prices
	HotBot Spotty search performance hinders the HotBot Deskbar's other excellent set of features. CNET editor's take Check prices
	Surprisingly low result scores keep us from recommending this search toolbar. CNET editor's take Check prices
	Yahoo's search toolbar includes all sorts of bells and whistles, and it serves decent search results to boot. CNET editor's take Check prices