Related to the metasearch sites are so-called search utilities, programs that you run on your own computer, and that can search the Internet.

Most of them work like metasearch services, querying several online search engines when retrieving hits form the Net. This applies to Copernic for the PC, and Sherlock for the Macintosh.

These programs may be very useful for simple searching, but if you want to use more advanced query terms you should limit your search to one search service at a time. Search Engine Watch has more information on search programs like these.

Several search engines have now launched so called search toolbars, i.e. small programs that add an extra bar to your browser, which includes -- among other things -- a search field. The most popular one is the Google Toolbar.

There are also so called desktop search tools that combines access to search engine databases with an index covering the hard drive of your own computer. They certainly beat the search facilities provided by Windows! Copernic provides our favorite for the PC, followed by Google's Desktop Search. If you own a Mac, the Spotlight search tool will cover your needs -- and that one is already included in the OS!