Internet 101: Tools and Useful Sites

If you are new to computers and the Internet, in a few days I will put up a two page guide to getting started online, Internet 101. It includes all the steps I took and many I learned about and has brief paragraphs on how to buy a computer, what to buy next, ISPs [ Internet Service Providers ], safe Internetting [ virus scanners, firewalls, spy ware prevention and removal, etc. ] and more.

Today's note is about some useful links / sites / urls I have found in 9 years of using the Internet. Let's begin with a history lesson. Click http://www.archive.org/index.php and you come to a site that has archived the Internet since 1996. It has over 85 billion pages. I just used it to access a small domain I once owned, http://www.snorfle.com/ . I could read some stories from 1999. The WAYBACKMACHINE is an astonishing resource.

Try http://tucows.com/ for the most comprehensive list of current software you can imagine. Most of the software is free, freeware, or for sale with a free trial, shareware. The ultimate collection of windows software, tucows has literally hundreds of programs that it rates and has for downloading. Excellent. They also host sites and more. For advanced users there is a current article on VoIP service providers.

You can also google [ http://www.google.com/ ] the query which I will explain for me is this, the query will be in quotes but do not include the quotes. I will leave extra space so you can copy / paste the search terms. So, the query to google is " software downloads " and you get dozens of other sites. Many are almost as comprehensive as tucows. I just like the way tucows is organized.
Another site I have gotten fine programs from is http://www.download.com/ . I like the front page of http://www.filehippo.com/ . You will see at a glance the most popular downloads. I am looking at about 7 that I use regularly. Filehippo is always among the first in line to get new programs and updates too.

There are hundreds of dictionary sort of sites. Just http://www.google.com/ " dictionary ".

These next two programs are for more visually minded searchers. The first two are visual search engine, http://www.quintura.com/ and http://www.webbrain.com/ while the third is a visual thesaurus http://www.visualthesaurus.com/ . The latter is not free but it is amazing and helpful for adults and children and well worth the modest fee.

Click this link http://toolbar.google.com/T4/index_xp.html for one of my very favorite programs [ pieces of software. ] I use this dozens of times a day. It is un-intrusive and oh so helpful. There is a search box leading to google searches as well as a pop up blocker and other parts. Read the page and DL [ download ] this right now, or else. : ^)

I am glad you were wondering about consumer reviews. Try http://consumersearch.com/ . This site reviews the reviews. Its a great place to begin shopping and I use it before I buy anything. I just got a new webcam based on a review and just love the little spy-eye on my monitor. There are other sites that have consumer reporting but I like http://consumersearch.com/ the best.
Two others I use are http://consumerguide.com/ and http://toptenreviews.com/ for software, hardware and movies.

There more targeted review sites too. Click http://www.tomshardware.com/ for, well, computer hardware. Excellent. Check out the current guide to multi-function printers under $150.

Another targeted site I like a lot is http://homeofficereports.com/ . It reviews computers, software and much more. Read their Rating Guide on the left, then click Reviews to get started. Professionals working from home should enjoy their other articles about business products and the rest of us can compare the reviews to the other site's opinions on which is the very best product for you. When I do this comparing, I will bring up a window with http://homeofficereports.com/ , http://consumersearch.com/ and one of the other sites. This is a fine way to shop for me. Maybe for you too.

One final site is for anyone wanting EXCELLENT and exhaustive reviews of current digital cameras, printers and photo-software, http://www.steves-digicams.com/ . I will have much more on photography later. I use http://www.steves-digicams.com/ at least weekly for digicam news and reviews. Check it out.

So this should give you some ideas about the terrific Internet tools available. Think about what you are seeking, sift through the links and find what YOU want. Just http://www.google.com/ it.