Fans of Linux, Microsoft and Macs used to be able to search for information about those topics on Google using specialized search tools that narrowed the results to a focused set of highly relevant Web sites.

Earlier this week, however, it was discovered that Google has pulled the plug on many such specialized search portals--including Google.com/linux, Google.com/microsoft, Google.com/mac and Google.com/bsd--redirecting users to Google.com/webhp instead.

Also eliminated by Google were Google.com/unclesam and USGov.Google.com for government-specific information searches.

"We are no longer offering specialized search services at google.com/linux, google.com/microsoft, google.com/bsd, google.com/mac, google.com/about and google.com/unclesam," Google confirmed in a statement provided to Search Engine Roundtable.

"These services were established many years ago to offer search across a limited index of the Web, which in the past was a better way to find this information. For example, google.com/linux was designed to help people find information from message boards and blogs about the Linux operating system," Google explained.