Why did you advise me not to depend solely on the "search" button on Explorer or the "netsearch" on Netscape to access a search engine?

Whenever you choose a default search screen inside of Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator, you are looking at a proprietary screen for that browser. The search engines that appear here may well have paid to appear in a premium position. I recommend using the Exploring the Web page from VCU Libraries as a starting point, or even better, create your own page with links to search engines you prefer. The Internet Explorer search window offers you the option to "List All Search Engines." This listing, however, is not exhaustive; the language "all search engines" might well mislead users new to the Internet. On the Netscape Page, a "Try These" category under some of the major search engines points to commercial sites including amazon.com and musicblvd.com. You may well decide that the search pages in one or the other browser are quite useful. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't ever use them; be aware, however, that the companies behind the browsers are competing for your eyetime.  more