offline browsers redux -- something new to try

[Shirl Kennedy]

Today's "cool tool of the day" (http://www.cooltool.com/todaystool.html) is
something called SurfSaver (http://www.surfsaver.com/), by askSAM Systems,
which makes a freeform text database much beloeved by journalists, attorneys
and many other professionals who work with lotsa words.

>From the SurfSafer Web page:

"The Filing Cabinet for your Web Pages"

"SurfSaver lets you store Web pages directly from your browser into
searchable folders and integrates with Internet Explorer 4. Just right-click
on a Web page, choose "SurfSaver Save" and the page is saved to a folder.
Later, right-click and choose "SurfSaver Search", and you have the original
pages with their original formatting (including graphics!)"

<-----snip----->

"SurfSaver lets you store Web pages directly from your browser into
searchable folders. Once saved, you can quickly search and browse these
pages (even when you're not connected to the Internet). SurfSaver is the
ideal tool for anyone doing on-line research. It gives you a place to store
the information you collect, and saves you from the frustrations of trying
to retrace your footsteps to find a particular Web page. Just as important,
SurfSaver gives you a permanent archive of the information you collect. If
the original Web page changes or disappears, you'll still have the
information."

<-----snip----->

"SurfSaver is not a replacement for a browser; it enhances a browser. You
navigate the Internet just as you've always done. When you find a page you
wish to save, right click the mouse and choose the SurfSaver Save command.
The page is saved with text, graphics, and hypertext links. It's quick and
easy."

<-----snip----->

"The Web pages you save in SurfSaver are easy to find. You can list them
all, or you can search for specific pages. SurfSaver offers a wide variety
of searches including full-text, Boolean, proximity, date, and more. You
search the pages directly from your browser. Simply right click the mouse
and choose the SurfSaver Search command. The pages you retrieve will have
all of their original formatting (even graphics!)."

A free beta is downloadable from the SurfSaver home page (URL above).  Right
now, the current version runs only with Internet Explorer 4.x, although
versions are planned for IE 3.x and Netscape as well.  The full shipping
version will be out at the end of this month, with a price of $29.95...I
think that's if you download it off the Web.  It's ten bucks more for a
shrink-wrapped version.

I've downloaded a beta copy but haven't had the time to play with it yet --
possibly this weekend.  But based on the experiences I've had with askSAM
products and people over the years, I'm optimistic.  (A fellow I know who
was thinking of buying the askSAM database e-mailed the company and asked if
it would be suitable for storing a variety of scanned municipal codes and
ordinances.  He got an e-mail back from an askSAM honcho who said he would
be in the guy's area the following week, and would be glad to stop by and
talk about this with him.  The honcho brought a copy of the product,
installed and configured it for the guy and got him up and running with the
database -- at no charge, mind you -- and still calls back periodically to
see how it's working out.)

CNet has named SurfSaver an editor's choice.  (Review is at
http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/JustIn/Items/0,118,365,00.html .)

Oh, BTW, if you've ever thought you had a need for a freeform text database,
askSAM is the way to go (http://www.asksam.com/)  Nice interface, easy to
use, supports HTML, and also offers a Web publishing add-on now.


Shirl Kennedy (who has no financial/personal involvement with askSAM
Systems)
Internet Waves columnist -- Information Today
Best Bet Internet:  Reference and Research When You Don't Have Time to Mess
Around
http://www.ala.org/editions/openstacks/bestbet/index.html