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Google has a gaggle
of useful options

IN my last column, I sung the praises of Google's many search options and tools. As much as I described a few weeks ago, there are a lot more neat features that I didn't even get to.

In this column I'd like to provide more ways that Google makes your computer life more convenient.

» Calculator: The thing I like about Google's built-in calculator is that you can enter numbers -- such as 5 x 5 -- and get the answer, or you can write out units of measure and conversions and physical constants and solve problems.

For example if you write out "one quarter cup in tablespoons" in the search box and hit the enter key, you will get "4 US tablespoons."

Is that cool or what?

» Definitions: Need a quickie definition for a word or phrase? All you do is type the word "define," add a space, and then the word or phrase you want defined. If there's a definition that Google has seen on the Web, it will retrieve it and display it.

I tried this with "Crabs in the Barrel" and it worked. With "Birds of a feather" I got the high-tech definition but not the colloquial one. Go figure.

» Phonebook: Want an instant phone directory? To find a listing for a person or a business, simply type the name into the Google search box, along with the city and state. You can also type in the name and zip code.

You can also enter the phone number with area code. Google will also return a complete business listing. If your query results in business and residential listings, both categories will be listed for your convenience.

» Site search: Let's say you're on a Web site that doesn't have a built-in search engine and you want to do some specific searching. All you do is add the word "site" followed by a colon, which enables you to restrict your search to a specific site.

For example, to find information about Fiji's capital of Suva on Fijiguide.com site, enter: "Suva site:www.fijiguide.com."

» Stock Quotes: For those of you with an interest in investing, and you want a search for stock and mutual fund data, all you do is enter one or more NYSE, Nasdaq, Amex, or mutual fund ticker symbols or the name of the company traded on one of the stock indices.

Generally Google recognizes your query and returns a link that leads directly to stock and mutual fund info from big-league financial information providers.

I typed in BOH and FHB and did get some financial data on Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank, but it was buried.

If you type in more widely held companies, such as Intel or Sun Microsystems you're likely to get better results.

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