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Here are a list of recomended products. WebSwoon is particularly useful if you want to provide information about a Web site and display a small image of its contents. For example, if you're writing to others about a Web site, you can easily include a small image of the site. It's no secret that printers are less expensive than ever, to the point that they have become disposable. It's rarely cost-effective to repair a printer these days, assuming you can even find somebody who would be willing to repair it. But as printer costs plummet, the ink printers use continues to increase in price. Most printer manufacturers use printers as loss leaders and make their profit on ink-cartridge sales, which explains, in part, why you're probably replacing cartridges faster than ever. Inksaver 2.0 offers some relief from the sinking inking situation by allowing you to control the amount of ink used by your inkjet printer. InkSaver optimizes printer data so that your printer uses less ink, even when printing at your inkjet's highest resolution. Unlike printing in Draft mode, InkSaver allows you to adjust the amount of savings you would like to receive on a sliding scale from 0% (no savings) up to a maximum of 75% savings. This award-winning program is available for 15 days on a free trial basis, and it's $34.99 to purchase. It works with all inkjet printers, including HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, and others. If you're tired of throwing new ink cartridge$ at your printer, take InkSaver 2.0 for a test drive and see what you think. As the name implies, these are toys for Microsoft Word. WordToys provides more than 40 utilities that make Word a lot of fun and provide a number of enhancements to existing Word features, as well. You'll know which ones are enhanced because the standard Word icons are replaced with colorful ones. With WordToys, you can copy and paste in any format, adjust formatting to fit text within a certain limited space, sort paragraphs in any order, and more. You can try WordToys for 30 days free, and it's $20 to register. It works with Word 2000, 2002 and 2003 and Windows 2000 and XP, but not Windows 98 or ME. The stated objective here is to "build a searchable database of all fonts." Currently there are more than 800 fonts in the database, searchable by keyword, or you can use the Random Search button. Search results include the name of the font and a sample. Click a font search-result name and you'll be face to face with a more extensive sample, along with creation information, ratings, formats, and platforms. You'll also learn whether the font is free or commercial and you'll receive links to purchase or download the font. The Advanced Search feature provides 13 criteria to use in searching for fonts, including genre, age, tone, condition, shape -- or maybe they're asking about me. I'll have to take another look at that. Registration is required, but you are only asked to provide your email address and a name that will become your username. I selected "Tyrone." I don't know why, but it seemed like a nice name to choose. You will receive your password by return email. If you're really into unique or unusual fonts, the International Type Index is worth a visit. FlashGet is a free, award-winning, program that is best thought of as a download manager. If you've ever waited forever for files to download from a slow connection or if you've been cut off half-way through a download, let me introduce you to FlashGet. It splits downloading files into sections and downloads each section simultaneously, which makes more efficient use of bandwidth. It can also schedule downloads and even shut down your computer after a download has been completed. Additional information about the program and its capabilities is available on its Web site. FlashGet works with all versions of Windows and is a recipient of the ZDNet "Editor's Pick" award, so it's well worth taking a look at if you have a slower connection and want to put some zip in your downloads. This is a program that will allow you to back up your email data and settings from a variety of email programs including Microsoft Outlook (97, 98, 2000, XP), Outlook Express (5, 6), Eudora (5, 6), Netscape Messenger (6, 7) and Opera (6, 7). The main screen is very simple. There are four buttons to choose from, and all are self-explanatory: Backup, Restore, Schedule, Options. When you click the Backup button, you're presented with a list of supported programs. You can then choose what to backup, a backup folder location, and you can choose to protect your backup file with a password, if you wish. The software backs up the specified data into an .EBK file, which is a format that is unique to the Email Saver Xe 2.0 program. Double-click any .EBK file and the program will open and display the Restore screen. Note: You can only restore to the same version of email software used to create the backup. In other words, if you backup Outlook 5, you can't restore it into Outlook 6. When you press the Schedule button, you can choose the frequency, time of day, whether to overwrite the last backup, or to always keep a certain number of backups. Email Saver Xe is not compatible with Hotmail, MSN, or AOL. The program works with all versions of Windows and sells for $39.95, with unlimited free upgrades and email technical support for one year. A free 15-day trial is also available. Arguably the finest emergency data-recovery service in the world, these folks are the best of the best. While not inexpensive, if disaster strikes and you absolutely, positively have to recover data from your hard drive, these are the people to contact. Even celebrities like Jimmy Buffet, Keith Richards, and Sean Connery have used DriveSavers -- and if DriveSavers is good enough for James Bond, it's good enough for me. If nothing else, stop by the Drivesavers Web site and visit their Museum of Disk-asters and the Hall of Fame. I hope you never need to call them, but DriveSavers.com is standing by, just in case you do. Clear up cluttered Desktops, store frequently used shortcuts and folders in individual "cabinets" that slide (graphically) in and out from the sides of your monitor. This is a very clever product, though certainly not a life-and-death "must have." Click HERE to view some Filing Cabinets screen shots. You can try it for free for 30 days and if you decide to keep it, it's $19.95 to purchase. File Cabinets works with all versions of Windows. Have you ever wanted to capture an entire screen, such as your complete Desktop, or a dialog box, or perhaps just a portion of what appears on screen? With ScreenPrint32, you can do just that and save the image to disk or paste the saved image directly into a document or email. This can come in handy when you're attempting to communicate with any tech support personnel to share exactly what you're seeing on screen. You can also print the saved image and add your own headers and footers to provide additional information. Runs under all versions of Windows from 98 to XP, and registration is free for home users. Special thanks to R.W. of Colorado for mentioning this excellent program. PowerToys for Windows PowerToys are free, add-on programs that extend the functionality of Windows. One very popular PowerToy is TweakUI. Be advised, however, that even though PowerToys are available through the Microsoft Web site, they are not part of Windows, nor are they supported by Microsoft, so if you have questions about PowerToys, Microsoft won't be able to help you. In fact, Microsoft can be so aloof if you choose to use TweakUI, that if you ever cross paths with Bill Gates, don't be surprised if he pretends not to know you. MicroSnubs notwithstanding, PowerToys have been used by millions of users without any problems. Click HERE for information about PowerToys (Tweak UI) for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000. Click HERE to learn more about TweakUI for Windows XP. Textalyser: Improve Your Writing Textalyser is an online text analysis tool that provides detailed statistics about text pasted into its Web-based form. It will also analyze Web sites if the URL is provided. Statistical information provided includes the total word count, number of different words, readability factor, number of characters, average syllables per word, number of sentences, average sentence length (in words); maximum sentence length, as well as a word frequency chart so you can determine if you're using any words too frequently. I ran an issue of my weekly newsletter through the Textalyser and it revealed 1,863 different words, 251 sentences, 1.55 average syllables per word, with an average sentence length of 12.99 words. (I feel so much better knowing that.) If you're tired of the old, hum-drum, Windows digital time display, with ClocX you can install an analog clock, complete with minute and second hands. Using Clocx's options, you can even determine the level of transparency you prefer, so you can see what's underneath the clock, on your Windows Desktop. Support for the clock is primarily provided on the Clocx Web site by clicking the Forum link and posting your question. If you do decide to try Clocx, plan to spend some time in the Forum reading other users' questions, problems they may have encountered, and how those problems were resolved. Clocx is free, though donations are appreciated. The Windows Key is the key with the little Windows "flag" logo, usually located between the CTRL and ALT keys on the keyboard. From time to time in my newsletter I've shared a number of Windows Key shortcuts, such as Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box or Windows Key + F to launch a Windows Find or Search. WinKey lets you create up to 200 different keystroke combinations you can use to open your favorite programs, folders, files, and even Web pages. Unfortunately, there is no support for this free program, so if you decide to give it a try, you're pretty much on your own. During the period that I tested WinKey, however, I found that it worked very well and was easy to use. If you use Outlook (not Outlook Express), the Nelson Email Organizer (NEO) is a program that is truly reflective of its name: It organizes email. It was not designed to replace Outlook, nor does it store Outlook messages. Instead, it organizes email by storing pointers (links) to messages, making your use of email more productive and efficient. Using Outlook, most users create message folders to store email, then use a variety of Outlook-restricted views and Outlook's limited search capability to find messages within specific folders. NEO creates multiple indexes to each message so you can easily find any message in any folder, regardless of location. NEO refers to this capability as removing Outlook's "folder straight-jacket." I particularly liked NEO's tabbed interface, and NEO's message-threading feature permitted me to view entire discussions (called threads) instead of having to piecemeal a conversation together by going through the Sent messages folder. The bottom line on Nelson Email Organizer is that it's a first-class product for all Outlook users, from novice to email pro. NEO is available in several versions, starting at $39.95. It is not available for Outlook Express, nor is there an OE version on the drawing boards, according to NEO. AZZ Cardfile provides a convenient way to save all sorts of random information and permits fast retrieval in a format similar to a card file. You can also save anything copied from the Internet, including active links. Here's how it works: Start the program and choose a card title, using as many descriptive words as you like, then type in your own comments and notes as needed. The basic screen is the text of the currently highlighted title, with a column of all card titles appearing on the left, alphabetically arranged like -- well, like cards. To retrieve information, type in a sequence of letters that are likely to appear somewhere in your title. The column of cards will instantly shrink and display just those cards that have that combination of letters. Scrolling down the title column displays the full content of each card. More than one Cardfile of information can be created, such as one for recipes, one for phone numbers, one for lottery numbers, etc. But like InfoSelect, the real strength of this program is to be able to enter data into one file -- like a big virtual junk drawer -- and then easily retrieve anything from that file. You can try AZZ Cardfile for free and if you decide to keep it, it's only $12. (Are you listening, InfoSelect?) Is your data life in disorder? If so, take a look at InfoSelect, which is formally known as a PIM or Personal Information Manager, designed to make random information instantly retrievable. Whatever tidbits of information you have -- whether it's a random telephone number, an email address, computer tip, recipe, family trivia -- just toss it into InfoSelect and you'll always be able to find it. InfoSelect uses three commands, Note, Create Topic, and Search, so it couldn't be easier. Two versions of InfoSelect are available. The Purchase version is a whopping $250. Eek! Yes, it's a great program, but $250? I don't think so. The Purchase version provides you with the current version only and includes no additional major upgrades. Such a deal -- not! The Subscription version is more reasaonable $49.95 each year, plus it provides you with the current version and any major upgrades that occur during the year. If you're considering InfoSelect, I'd recommend the Subscription version as the best value, plus you'll always have the most current version available. Computer Security Test Sites Are you concerned about computer security, but aren't sure if you have the right programs to test what you should be testing? If so, visit the Security Testing page. Here you'll find a comprehensive set of links to Web sites that allow you to test the security of your computer. If you really want to give your computer a thorough security workout, check it out! A handy, free utility that can hold an unlimited number of text clippings which you can then paste in any Windows application. It can accommodate plain ASCII text, formatted text, and pictures, with an Undo and Clear feature for each clipboard. This easy-on-the-eyes utility works with Internet Explorer and allows you to increase on-screen type size up to 144pt. Once installed, it becomes part of your Internet Explorer toolbar so it's always conveniently at hand. Web Eyes doesn't just magnify type, it actually creates each letter from scratch so it's always wonderfully sharp and crisp. If you're entering a registration or serial number or credit card information on a Web site, you can magnify just that portion of a form so the numbers are easier to enter. With Web Eyes, you can also avoid scrolling documents. Just click the "Read Like a Book" icon, and on-screen documents and Web pages convert to a book format where you can turn the pages instead of scrolling. Very cool! The program weighs in at a scant 1.3MB (megabytes) and installs easily in minutes. It works with Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT and XP, and Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. You can try Web Eyes for free for 15 days, and it's $20 to purchase. Printasia photo paper by Ilford, produces the same look, weight, and feel of real photographs, direct from your inkjet printer. This quality paper is also available in photo greeting cards and CD/DVD labels, but my experience is limited to Printasia's Glossy and Satin papers. The packaging states, "Genuine look and feel of a real photograph." Being the skeptic that I am, I thought to myself, "Yeah, right; and I'm Ansel Adams." The truth is, Printasia paper made me feel a lot like Ansel Adams, particularly during the little-known "finger-in-front-of-the-lens" phase of his career. My photos on Printasia paper, as they emerged from my printer, weren't just ho-hum pictures printed on flimsy paper (my usual method). Printasia paper made my ho-hum photos look great. I particularly like the satin paper, which reduces fingerprints and glare, though both papers are fast drying and fade resistant. Printasia Photo Glossy and Photo Satin finishes are available in various sizes and can be purchased at CompUSA. There's even a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with the product. Are you migrating from AOL to another Internet Service Provider? If so, congratulations on a wise decision! If you're thinking about leaving AOL, but you're worried about AOL holding your messages, address book and Favorite Places hostage, worry no more! Thanks to the good folks at Connected Software, all you need is ePreserver to help you make the transition. With ePreserver, all it takes is five clicks -- that's right, FIVE CLICKS -- to bring your AOL email, address book and Favorite Places with you when you leave. ePreserver is a first-class program that I've recommended hundreds of times to my subscribers. It's a small program that's easy to download and install. It will automatically locate your AOL information -- even if you've already cancelled your AOL account -- and it's so easy to use, if you can download it, you can use it. Having recommended it hundreds of times, I'm not aware of a single person (or married, for that matter) who didn't have success using the program. But even if you ran into a problem, there's great Tech Support available through Connected Software and if all else fails, there's an unconditional money-back guarantee. "If it doesn't work, you don't pay." So what's not to like? ePreserver works with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP, and costs just $24.95 for a single license. Think of Soople as Google for Beginners. Soople offers direct access to Google's advanced search features in a straight-forward, easy-to-understand manner, combining them in one easy-to-use interface. Have you ever rented or taped a movie, only to realize a few minutes into it that you ve seen it before. I hate it when that happens! If you're a movie buff, MemVideo invites you to be your own movie reviewer and track what you've seen, or what tapes or DVDs you own, and provide your own ratings and commentary. You can access your privately stored information on the Internet or by mobile phone any time, from any location. If you love movies, this easy-to-use service is free of cost and advertisements, and its large database of videos is continually updated with user contributions. For spyware detection and removal. The top three anti-spyware programs are AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and SpySweeper. Having tried them all (and they're all excellent), my favorite is -- care to guess? That's right, SpySweeper. A free trial version is available and it's $29.95 to purchase. You'll receive unlimited updates for a year with the registered (paid) version. Updates are vitally important because an anti-spyware program can only check spyware that it's programmed to check for, and there are new spyware programs cropping up all the time. Voted "Editor's Choice" by PC Magazine, SpySweeper is easy to use. Click the Options button to select a few easy-to-understand preferences or update spyware definitions. Click "Sweep Now" to launch a scan. If you have an always-on connection to the Internet, under Options > Schedule, you can configure SpySweeper to run during the middle of the night, on a nightly basis, or scan manually. Other options include the Internet Explorer Home Page Shield to protect your browser from home-page hijackings, and the Tracking Cookie Shield, that removes tracking cookies when detected. For cleaning and repairing the Windows Registry. The Registry is a database used by Windows to store configuration information. It's a complex, volatile area that should not be edited without great care and an understanding of how the Registry functions. As you use your computer and as you install and remove programs, the Registry can become muddied with missing and invalid entries, corrupted hardware drivers, or disabled start-up programs. With Registry Mechanic, you can clean and repair Registry problems that are a frequent cause of Windows crashes, freeze-ups, and error messages. Tidying up the Registry can make Windows more stable and even help it run faster. Registry Mechanic is easy to use. Its three main buttons are Scan, Backup, and Settings. Scan, not surprisingly, initiates a scan of the Registry; Backup provides the ability to make a backup copy (recommended) of your Registry. Should a problem arise, you can easily restore a previous version of the Registry. Settings permits you to instruct the Registry Mechanic to automatically repair errors. Why you would want to run it without repairing errors is beyond me, but if you want to run it for its questionable entertainment value alone, you have that ability, as well. A trial version is available, but the trial version will only repair the first six errors detected. I'm not particularly enamored of the licensing of Registry Mechanic, however. It's $29.95 to purchase for use on one computer, it's $49.95 for two computers, $99.95 for five computers. Because so many home users have two computers today, a program of this type should be permitted to be installed on a minimum of two computers, with additional, reduced-cost licenses available for purchases. I'm not holding my breath. MailWasher Pro for Spam Control As I write this, I have processed more than 25,000 email messages through MailWasher Pro (MWP) and I'm impressed. The more I use the program, the better it "learns" what mail I want to receive and what I don't want to see. Incoming mail is labeled as Friend, Possibly Legitimate, Possible Spam, Known Spam, and Blacklisted. Mail that is not automatically labeled, you assign a category, via check box. MWP will remember your designation so the next time that mail arrives, it will be automatically labeled. Blacklisted mail or known spam can be automatically marked for deletion and hidden from view so you never have to see it again, unless you want to. One feature I particularly like about MailWasher Pro is that you preview mail on your ISP's mail server as opposed to downloading it to your computer. By previewing mail on the server, you can get rid of spam and other email-borne headaches before they have a chance to take up residence on your PC. MWP matches your mail against known spam lists so mail known to be spam is automatically marked as such. Using MWP adds a step to the mail-checking process, but it's time well spent if your objective is to get a handle on spam. The mail-checking routine using MailWasher Pro consists of the following steps: Launch MailWasher Pro, click Check Mail. A list of mail residing on your ISP's server (or servers, if you have multiple accounts) is presented on screen. Designate the messages you want to receive, the ones you want to blacklist, what you want treated as spam in the future, etc. When you're done, click Process Mail. MailWasher Pro will delete all the spam and other messages you don't want from your ISP's mail server. Close MailWasher Pro, launch your usual mail program, and retrieve your mail as you normally would. Only the "good stuff" will be retrieved, making more efficient use of your time and keeping all the "bad stuff" away from you and off your computer. AVG Anti-virus 7.0, Professional Edition As a former McAfee and Norton AntiVirus user, I've made the switch to AVG AntiVirus, and I couldn't be happier with its ed performance, including frequency of updates, and its effectiveness. A freeware version is available, but it inserts an ad for itself at the bottom of all outgoing email, so if you want to avoid that, get the Professional Edition for $39.95. The program is easy to install and its Control Panel makes it simple to configure, or you can use it in its default configuration. Space-Hog Locator If you're curious about what's taking up the most space on your hard drive, a program called Scanner creates a unique, multi-level pie chart so you can quickly see what folders or files are taking up the most space on your drive. When you click on one of the folders, Scanner creates a new pie chart with subfolders and files displayed. Visit the Web site and click the thumbnail image of the scan result to see a larger version of the Scanner's concentric pie chart display. This isn't a program everybody will need, but it can come in handy if you're running out of space on a huge drive and aren't sure what's gobbling up all the gigs. I made the switch from Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox for one primary reason: I'm tired of the amount of spyware, adware, pop-ups and other nonsense that target the IE browser. Just as many email-borne viruses and worms target Outlook Express (one reason I use Eudora), it's equally easy to avoid spyware, adware, pop-ups -- at least for the time being -- by not using Internet Explorer. Mozilla is available as a suite of software (similar to Internet Explorer and Netscape) that includes an email program (Thunderbird) and Web page editor (Composer). My use is limited to the stand-alone browser called Firefox. Last, but not least, I like the stability of Firefox: The browser doesn't crash or freeze up, and it's almost impossible to pick up spyware while surfing. Since switching to Mozilla, though I'm still running SpySweeper as my anti-spyware program, it just doesn't find anything. When I was using Internet Explorer exclusively, SpySweeper was finding spyware almost daily. On the downside, Firefox is definitely not a perfect program. More than anything, it's a work-in-progress. Its onboard Help is pretty good, but I'd recommend purchasing the Firefox Guidebook from the Mozilla Web site store. Telephone support for the browser is available at $39.95 per incident at 1-888-586-4539, which I interpret as their less-than-subtle message: "Don't call us!" Whenever I need assistance, I use the on-board Help, the Mozilla FAQ or go to one of the many MozillaZine Forums. Bottom line: Mozilla Firefox is small, fast, and free, and that's a tough combination to beat. StickyNote creates 3-D virtual reminders on your Windows Desktop, making it easy to keep track of semi-important notes and reminders. In addition to positioning notes on the Desktop, StickyNote allows you to note-ify (har-har) friends and colleagues using the Internet. A note pops up on a friend's Desktop, as it appears on your PC. You can download a trial copy of StickyNote and explore it for 15 days. If you decide to keep it, it costs $19.95 to register. Click the link above to take a virtual tour of StickyNote. For Post-it loyalists who would prefer to stick with the original 3M classic yellow sticky note, those are also available for your computer in the form of Post-it Software Notes, Version 3.0 ($14.95). Click HERE for additional information. This is one of my favorite little utility programs that I use to type frequently used words and phrases. Once installed, it resides in the System Tray (below the time display). Click to launch it, then right-click to create a series of buttons, each one of which can contain words, phrases or numbers that you type frequently. All information resides on your computer, so it's safe and secure. Create buttons for your name, address, signature line, and even your credit card number. I use it to type in the first 12 digits of my credit card number, then I manually add the last four myself, just in case my PC is ever stolen or hacked. You can try TypeItIn free for 60 days and it's $19.95 to register. Handy Recovery is an easy-to-use program that will restore deleted files, whether accidentally deleted or as a result of a power failure or other unforeseen occurrence -- within reason, of course. With Handy Recovery you can browse the contents of your disk like you do with Windows Explorer, but you can also see deleted files and folders. Deleted files are marked with special icons so they're easy to spot, or you can use a one-click filter button to display only deleted files. Recovered files can be saved to any location such as a floppy disk, hard-drive folder, CD, or Zip drive. The program works with all versions of Windows and better still, it's free! Many programs today are much too aggressive and insert themselves in your StartUp folder without your knowledge, causing them to launch every time you restart your computer. Not only do these programs consume precious memory (RAM), but they can slow down your system's performance, and in the case of Trojans, spyware and adware, can keep those problematic pests alive long after you think you've removed them from your computer. I found a program that is sensational in its simplicity and will stand as a sentry, protecting your system from programs that attempt to insert themselves in your StartUp folder. The program is called StartupMonitor, written by a brilliant, young programmer named Mike Lin. StartupMonitor is easy to install and is invisible. It doesn't add any icons to your Desktop or System Tray. Its sole mission in life is to stand guard and notify you when any program attempts to register itself to run at system startup. When one is detected, a small pop-up appears, tells you what's trying to register itself, and you can then elect to permit it to be added to your system startup or not. StarupMonitor works with all versions of Windows except Windows 95. It's only 60KB in size, so it's a tiny one. StartupMonitor is free, though donations to Mike's "Tip Jar" jar are encouarged. There are many programs available for online journalists -- individuals who enjoy keeping a journal or diary...or possible evidence. Diary Defender can be used by the whole family because each person can have their own password-protected diary within the one program. Besides multi-user functionality, it features a simple user interface that can accommodate graphics. It also has an integrated spell-checker. (You wouldn't want to misspell anything in your diary, would you?) Click HERE to view screenshots of Diary Defender. DD (as it's known to its friends) is free, though donations are cheerfully accepted. ActiveWords is a little program that you can use to automate just about anything you do with your computer, reducing the number of mouse clicks or keystrokes down to a few letters followed by the press of the F8 (or other) key. For example, you can launch Microsoft Word by typing in the word "Word" or launch Outlook Express by typing in "OE." You can also use it to insert text you type frequently or to navigate to a particular Web page. You can try ActiveWords free for 15 days and purchase it for $49.95. Visit the Web site for complete information and interactive demonstrations. This ingenious site permits you to create your own logo by selecting format, image size, font size and style, alignment, background colors, textures, and a host of other characteristics. After designing your logo, click the "Submit" button, and within seconds your graphical logo appears. Right-click the logo, select "Save Image As," and save it to your computer to use as you deem appropriate. If you sit in front of your computer for long periods of time, it's not healthy. Most experts recommend that you get up and move around at least once every 30 minutes. But keeping tabs on the time can be difficult. WorkRave is a free utility that allows you to create break prompts at regularly scheduled intervals. While testing the program, I had it prompt me every 30 minutes and it worked like a charm. If you're like most Internet users, you have oodles (term of art) of Favorites, and though you know that some of the links haven't been updated in years, you don't want to spend the next six weeks manually clicking each bookmarked site to determine if you should use it or lose it. Using Freshwatch, with one click of the mouse, it will visit all your Web sites and let you know which ones have fresh content. Freshwatch is loaded with user-friendly features, but the best way to be introduced to Freshwatch is by watching its online demo. It only takes a few minutes as it presents its key features and shows you how to use the program. If you decide to try it, a free 30-day trial is available, after which it's $34.95 to register. Have we become so complacent in our everyday computing that we accept as a given the fact that all Windows' folder icons are manila-ish yellow? If you're as deeply troubled by that as I am, and you would like to change folder colors, here's a software program that can help. You can colorize an unlimited number of folders and color-code important files, for example, by making them red; work-related folders blue, financial folders green, etc. The effect of colorizing folders is not only visible in Windows Explorer but throughout your entire system. You can also create warnings to prevent somebody from accidentally deleting one of your colorized folders, and little text descriptions of folders that appear when you place your cursor over a colorized folder. PIXresizer is a free photo-resizing program that can be used to create email-friendly versions of your images in reduced file sizes. When an image is converted to a smaller size, the reduced-size files are saved in a separate folder, so original images are not mixed in with resized ones. Original images are not affected in any way by the resizing operation. This program, by ScanSoft, quickly and easily converts Adobe PDF files into Microsoft Word documents, and keeps all formatting and graphics intact. PDF Converter is launched from within Word or other Microsoft program, and creates your PDF file as a formatted Word document. From within Word, you would click File > Open to instantly create a Word file from a PDF. The PDF File Converter is $49.99 (at publication), but worth every penny if you have occasion to work with or need to edit PDF documents. If you enjoy reading about medication contraindications or looking at pictures of pills, as I do, have I got great news for you! drugs.com added the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) to their drugs database, so you can now locate information on more than 26,000 drugs and medications. Oh, happy day! From the Drugs.com home page, you can browse alphabetically or search by keyword. A search for "migraine" found a total of 366 results, with 221 being from the PDR alone. It's enough to give you a headache. Additional categories include consumer information, PDR professional information, a conditions guide, and news and related articles. Several unusual search options appear across the top of the Drugs.com home page that include an interactions checker, pill identifier, and an image search. In theory, a window should open to the same size it was at the time it was closed. In the real world, it doesn't always work that way. When Windows forgets and a program or document window opens to a smaller size than desired, you can give Windows' memory a nudge by manually resizing the uncooperative window. Simply drag its edges, stretching a diminutive window to as close to its maximized size as possible. Then close the window by clicking the "X" in the upper right-hand corner, and reopen it. It will remember its previous size and will open maximized thereafter -- or until it forgets again, which ever comes first. If that doesn't work, however, and you're beginning to feel that life has no meaning without maximized windows, try this free utility that works with all versions of Windows and will automatically resize any window. Keep this handy-dandy free utility on your Desktop or minimized on your Taskbar. When you get ready to forward an email, maximize EmailStripper, copy the body of the email into it, click the "Strip It" button to remove the >>> marks, then copy and paste the cleaned-up text into a new email and send it. Presto cleano! Spector secretly takes up to 60 snapshots of your computer screen every hour, just like a surveillance camera. The photos are then saved to a hidden location on the computer's hard drive. Spector can record chat room conversations, instant messages, email sent and received, Web sites visited, programs used, keystrokes typed, everything your little scamps or scoundrels do on the PC. You can check the computer a few hours or even weeks later and see what kind of monkey business - if, in fact, monkeys have business - has been going on. Normally $99.95, Spector is having a "Honey-of-course-I-trust-you" sale for $69.95. The program is available for immediate download so you can be snooping within minutes! Spector is compatible with all versions of Windows. When you click a .doc file and Windows launches Word to display the contents of that file or launches Paint to display a .jpg file, it does so through a process known as file association. Files of a particular type are associated with programs that are required to open them. Sometimes it can be difficult to change file associations or undo file association changes that occur as a result of installing new software that takes it upon itself to change your pre-existing file associations. Associate This ($20), can help restore file associations. The program runs in the background like your virus-checking software. When file extensions are changed, Associate This records that information, notifies you, and thoughtfully provides the option of changing things back to the way they were. Cable Digital Video Recording (DVR) If you have cable television service, your cable provider may offer (or may soon offer) digital video recording (DVR) service. DVR allows you to save approximately 80 hours of television programming on a hard drive in the DVR set-top device. This device replaces your existing cable box. The service offers more advanced recording and playback options than a VCR, including the ability to pause and rewind "live" TV at any time. You can also watch a recorded program while simultaneously recording two additional programs, thereby eliminating any sliver of free time not previously consumed by your computer. With DVR, you can record a single episode of a program or all future episodes of a show, and even watch two programs at the same time with the integrated Picture in Picture (PIP) feature. My favorite feature is the three-speed fast-forward control. Commercials? What are commercials? The cost for this service is $10 to $15 per month, per television, and includes the set-top box which contains the hard drive. SnagIt is an award-winning screen-capture program that allows you to save screen content, such as images, text and video, to the Windows clipboard, email, printer, and even the Web. You can capture small portions of screen content as well as larger screens that require scrolling. This is a marked improvement over Windows' PrintScreen function that can only capture what appears on a single screen, but nothing outside the screen's borders. The integrated SnagIt Studio allows you to cut, crop, edit, or annotate captured images. Be sure to take the excellent and informative SnagIt Video Tour before purchasing. With the Google toolbar you can launch a Google search from any location, thus avoiding visits to the Google home page. Other features include PageRank, which reveals the ranking of any Web page displayed by Google, and the ability to highlight search terms as they appear on a search results page. The Pop-up Blocker works great and even keeps a running total of how many pop-ups it's blocked. The Google Toolbar is for use with Internet Explorer only. As long-time subscribers know, I road test hundreds of software programs each year in my never-ending quest to find the best applications that are the easiest to use - not necessarily in that order. Because I have the attention span of a comatose turnip, I like programs that are visually appealing, intuitive, and that permit me to click my brains out within seconds of installation. One such program just rode into CyberTown is a new Web browser named iRider. iRider presents one of the most common-sense approaches to Web surfing that I have encountered. It uses your existing Internet Explorer Favorites folder, so right off the bat there's no need to import your bookmarked sites. Hot dog! Take a look at the video tutorial on the iRider Web site for a visual overview of the program. Then, take it for a free 21-day trial run (it's $29.95 to register -- and worth every penny). Dogpile ranks results from many search programs -- including Google, AlltheWeb, Yahoo, AltaVista, Teoma, and About -- using a formula that analyzes the popularity of each engine, the number of click-throughs a site receives from Dogpile, how many other engines a site is listed in, and its various rankings. I recently had the opportunity to test an unusual product called Alert Bookmarks, which installs a retractable bookmarks toolbar that stays hidden until you need it. Your favorite Web site addresses are then stored in convenient, drop-down menus within the toolbar. To add additional sites, visit a Web page, click the "Add" icon, and the Web page address is remembered. To revisit an added site, click its name as it appears in the drop-down menu, and the program will send the address to whatever browser you're using. Alert Bookmarks can hold up to 140,000 bookmarks, but if you've got that many bookmarks, you really need to get out more. The name "Alert Bookmarks" is not quite accurate because this product isn't just for Web-site bookmarks. It can also catalog email addresses, sound files, graphics, video and other Web-based resources. Click HERE to view screen shots of the program. While I wouldn't place Alert Bookmarks in the "must have" category of software utilities, it's an interesting product that provides an original and novel approach to cataloging favorite Web sites. Unfortunately, it's not available as free- or shareware. It costs $29.95. No, I'm not abandoning Google, which remains my favorite search engine, but Turbo 10 is an interesting alternative that works a bit differently than most search utilities. Turbo 10 scours the deepest recesses of the Internet that most traditional search engines do not explore. When you enter keywords, Turbo looks up ten sites and highlights your search keywords. On the left side you'll see a list of topical clusters -- which any good dermatologist should be able to clear up in one or two visits. If the search results displayed don't meet your expectations, you can click words contained in the topical cluster list and receive additional results. Beneath the TCL (topical cluster list) is the relevance and speed bar. Click the arrows to increase or decrease relevance and speed, which will narrow or expand the results list. There are some very nice customization features, including "My Collections," that enable you to create your own collections of search engines. Each collection can contain up to 10 individual search engines. To learn more, click HERE and take the My Collections tour. Top quality, reasonably priced, high-performance desktops, notebooks, and servers. RedSeven also repairs all brands of computers, and will install and maintain networks. Located in the Phoenix area (though they'll ship anywhere), RedSeven represents personal computer service at its finest. Instead of trying to sell you a computer, the good folks at RedSeven take the time to ask questions so they can understand your computing needs, then make appropriate recommendations. It's like having access to your own personal computer consultants! EasyOffice Premium is a viable alternative for users who either don't want or can't afford to use Microsoft Office. EasyOffice includes a number of Microsoft-equivalent programs, including SimpleWord, EasyWord, EasyPresentation, EasySpreadsheet, EasyBookkeeper, EasyCalculator, EasyContactManager, EasyZip, EasySpeaker, and EasyHelper. At installation, you have a choice of a minimal, full, or custom install. The full installation is 84MB, which sounds large, but it's still smaller than any version of Microsoft Office. EasyWord, the word processing part of the suite, can write both Microsoft Word and Adobe .PDF files. EasyWord Premium, contained in the paid version of EasyOffice, also includes mail merge, label and envelope printing, word count, automatic backup, and spell-check dictionaries in English and French. A full English dictionary and a thesaurus are also included with the program. EasyOffice Premium is compatible with many other programs and formats. Click HERE to review a complete listing. Several versions of EasyOffice are available, with the most full-featured being EasyOffice Premium. A freeware demo version is offered, and licensed versions start at $28. Click the Purchase link for complete purchasing information. This is a small utility program that I do not recommend installing unless you need it to resolve a specific problem. The purpose of the program is to let you see passwords that are hidden by asterisks. I've used it to help recover software passwords that I've forgotten, but that's about the only purpose it serves. The original home page for Behind-The-Asterisks is no longer functional, so the above link will take you to the Free Downloads Center. There you can enter your email address and you'll be sent a link from which you can download the program. It's a bit of a circuitous route to get to the program, but it does work. Alternatively, Asterisk Key is another password unmasker that translates ***** into the password you selected. The program is free and works with all versions of Windows. My best suggestion is to simply be aware that these programs exist. If you ever need to recover your password, they will be invaluable to you. But short of that, I wouldn't invest any time downloading and installing either of them until you really need them. This is a little program with a simple wizard-like interface that generates an HTML (Web-type) page that displays all or just selected links from your Internet Explorer Favorites folder. The links in the resulting page are grouped and sorted as they are in your Favorites folder. You can specify colors for links and backgrounds, titles, captions, etc., for your page. If privacy is a concern, you can also prevent certain folders from being listed. If you really get into it - though I'd urge restraint -- advanced users can edit the entire page template to customize it further. The resulting Web page can be used as a links page on your Web site, if you have one, or you can send it to a friend, or use it as a start-up page for your browser. Travelaxe for Best Hotel Prices Travelaxe is a free, downloadable program that simultaneously searches up to 20 travel and hotel Web sites to find the best hotel pricing and availability. It isn't a Web-based travel agency so you can't book rooms, but once you locate a hotel you're interested in, Travelaxe will connect you with the appropriate booking page so you can make your reservations. Travelaxe currently searches hotel rates in more than 600 cities, in 38 countries. Complete information, including a tour of the program, is available on the Web site. This is a handy utility, but only if you travel frequently or need to check and compare hotel rates often. For a Web-based (no software to download) alternative, try Hotels.com, currently monitoring 8,000 hotels in 350 cities. Easy Backup, Specialty Editions Eazy Backup, by AJSystems, is a handy backup utility that can be used to back up and restore data in most programs. Easy Backup, Premier Edition ($49.95) can backup My Documents, Internet Explorer files, Netscape, Outlook Express, Eudora, Incredimail, MSN 8, QuickBooks, Quicken, Microsoft Money, and others. Software-specific "specialty" editions of Easy Backup ($34.95), such as Easy Backup for Eudora, Easy Backup for Outlook, etc., are also available. Express Assist for Outlook Express, for example, allows you to view any message in the backup file without restoring it first - a big plus over other backup systems. It also allows you to search your backup file for specific messages, then retrieve them as text or Outlook Express (.EML) files. You can back up to disk or CD, and the integrated scheduler permits you to schedule backups at certain times of the day or on specific days of the week. A full-featured version of each program is available for a 15-day trial. Usernames and passwords are taking over the world. Despite advice to the contrary, most people tend to use one username and password because it's easier to remember than 74 different usernames and passwords. For security-minded individuals who do use multiple passwords, RoboForm is a secure form filler-outer and password-generator. If you need a password, RoboForm can generate a random string of characters such as "Ri#TkaBWoy%" with the click of a mouse. More importantly, the program will remember passwords for you -- which is a necessity if you're going to be using complex passwords. RoboForm can generate alpha (letters only), or alphanumeric (letters and numbers), or alphanumeric-plus-punctuation passwords. Roboform receives rave reviews from such highly respected sources as The Wall St. Journal, PC Magazine, TechTV, and now Mr. Modem. Could Roboform's future be any brighter? Lorem Ipsum Dummy Text Filler-Inner In the past, I've mentioned using Microsoft Word's ability to provide filler text if you need to see what a document layout is going to look like when filled with content. Just to refresh your recollection, at the start of a line (in Word), type the command "=rand(p,s)" (without the quotes), where "p" is the number of paragraphs you want and "s" is the number of sentences per paragraph. When you've replaced the "p" and "s" with numeric values, press Enter and Word will fill the designated space with, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Catchy. The Lorem Ipsum filler-inner is a bit more sophisticated in its filler text selection and offers a few additional capabilities. All you have to do is select the number of paragraphs, words, bytes, or lists needed, and Lorem does the rest. The site provides a bit of information about the Latin text itself and its history, so you can feel good about utilizing slightly more literate material than the banal "The quick brown fox..." CyberScrub is an excellent computer security utility that eliminates data so it is virtually impossible to recover. The only 100 percent, absolutely, positively effective method is physical destruction of the hard drive; however, if your neighbors see you in the garage, pummeling your hard drive with a hammer, it may raise suspicions. CyberScrub also destroys all evidence of online activity and it will go back in time (after installation) and erase "previously deleted" data and files. I found CyberScrub easy to use, particularly because it integrates into Windows so you can drag files and folders using Windows Explorer and drop them into CyberScrub, or you can erase them directly from Explorer or My Computer, with a single mouse click. CyberScrub Standard costs $39.95 and works with all versions of Windows. A "Professional" version is also available for $49.95, which provides a few additional settings. Most computer users will be fine with the Standard version. When you're serious about data destruction or covering your tracks -- without drawing attention from the neighbors -- take a look at CyberScrub. An excellent resource for printer supplies, including refilled or recharged ink cartridges and toner for ink jet printers, laser printers, fax machines, and photocopiers, as well as specialty products like photo and glossy ink jet papers. Inksell.com received the highest "Customer Certified" ranking for online ink suppliers by BizRate.com. This is an easy-to-use program designed to automatically back up your data to any type of storage media including, CD-R, CD-RW, Zip and Jaz disks, hard drives and floppy disks. For CD-RW devices, an "automatic media rotation" feature is included, which is a fancy name for a feature that tells you when a CD is full and needs to be replaced. If you are looking for a simple-yet-powerful backup solution that runs on all versions of Windows, take a look at Handy Backup. Try it for free for 30 days and if you decide to keep it, a single-user license costs $30. Spyware, adware, scumware and malware, are programs that hide on your computer and perform dastardly deeds without your knowledge. Spybot Search and Destroy will check out your system and even clear the history from many popular programs. Once installed on your computer, you'll need to update Spybot so it can search for the most recently discovered spyware programs. Click Online > Search for Updates. Select the updates and click Download Updates. Once your updates are installed, click the Spybot S & D (Search and Destroy) tab, then click "Check for Problems." Spybot will search your system and list all potential spyware, as well as any other potentially incriminating information, such as your browsing history, and will let you back it up or remove it entirely. If you do decide to try Spybot, be sure to read about it first. There is a wealth of information available about the program, how it functions, and how to interpret its reports, on the Spybot Web site. Pay particular attention to the "Getting Started" and "FAQ" sections. Spybot's default configuration will work fine, so there isn't any significant tweaking that needs to occur. It's very easy to use as there are only three buttons (with explanations) when you launch the program: Check for Problems, Recovery, Search for Updates. Spybot is free, but a $10 donation is requested if you decide to use it. It's an excellent product, well worth the $10 donation. This $19.95 product lets a notebook user comfortably work with a portable mouse while sitting in a chair -- the user, not the mouse. The pad and its hanging side panels fit over the arm of a chair, like a saddle on a horse. The rubber mousepad is covered with a cotton and polyester fabric. Plastic beads provide just the right amount of weight to make it stay put. Front loops provide the ability to secure a mouse cable, if needed. The pad measures 17 x 6 inches and weighs 1 pound. Its side panels have pockets roomy enough to stash pens, a remote control, or light snacks. On most Windows computers, a full screen of data can be placed on the Windows clipboard by pressing the PrintScreen (PrntScrn) key. You then have to retrieve the image using Paint (Start > Programs > Accessories) or another graphics editing program. There are a number of limitations associated with this type of PrintScreen capture, not the least of which is the inability to capture only specific portions of a Web page. The Gadwin PrintScreen allows you to capture an entire screen or a fraction thereof. The Destination tab lets you print out the capture instantly, save it to a file or e-mail it. There are six different image formats to choose from, and each one can be easily resized without the need for additional graphics editing software. The Gadwin PrintScreen is free and works with all versions of Windows. Try it. You'll be Gad you did. Testing AdsGone on a few densely pop-upulated Web sites, this program gobbled up more than 200 pop-ups within a couple of hours. It not only stops pop-ups, it also addresses pop-unders, and those annoying, animated "Flash" ads. If there are any ads that you want to permit -- and I can't imagine why you would -- you can designate the ones you would prefer to let through. AdsGone logs and maintains statistics of its activity and works with any Internet connection. A free 21-day trial is available or it costs $19.95 to register, with a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied. Mr. Modem's tried-and-true, low-tech approach to pop-up stopping is to press ALT + F4 as soon as one appears. As fast as other pop-ups appear, just keeping pressing ALT + F4 and you can stop pop-ups dead in their tracks. If you prefer a software solution, give AdsGone a try. PrintFolder is a simple utility you can use to print a list of files and folders -- a feature sorely missing in Windows Explorer (in case Mr. Gates is reading). The pint-sized PrintFolder doesn't try to do too many things and works from a right-click context menu. The 525KB PrintFolder download includes a README.TXT file, Windows setup and uninstall. PrintFolder can print files, subfolders or both, and it includes several other adjustable options. This utility isn't fancy, but it does the job both locally and on networks. Once installed, right-click any folder in Windows Explorer and choose "PrintFolder," or select a folder with the browse button on the toolbar menu. Click the Options tab to set various program preferences, like maximum filename length, left margin, font size, invert text area colors and more. This program was developed to recover hard-drive space by deleting junk files that are no longer used. Though its support documentation is a bit on the skimpy side, this award-winning program is nevertheless user-friendly, and support is available via e-mail from the Web site. Select the drives you wish to clean, then scan your system for more than 50 types of junk files. When the list of suggested files is presented, if it meets with your approval, click the "Clean" button and stand back. You can scan for the types of files you want to remove as well as the ones you want to leave alone. For example, using the built-in Cookies Manager, you can select the cookie files to be deleted or select the cookies you don't want to remove. You can create filters by choosing from a myriad of pre-configured file extensions to look for, or custom configure your own using the built-in wizard. A free, limited-use trial version is available. The paid version is $29.95 and works with all versions of Windows. Hunkering over a notebook computer can be pain in the neck, literally. Behold, the Oysterdock. Slip your notebook computer into this ingenious device, then view your screen at eye level. This docking station only consumes a scant 9 x 13-inches of real estate, and includes a USB hub for adding external devices, plus Velcro straps for combating cable clutter. While it is handy, clever, and ultra cool, its $199 price moves this item out of the "impulse buy" category. Pre-orders are being accepted by Fight spam with Spamex! Spamex permits you to create disposable e-mail addresses that forward mail to your primary e-mail address without revealing your actual e-mail address. If you receive any unwanted e-mail through a disposable e-mail address, just turn it off and the unwanted mail sent to that address will stop. And if you only disclose a disposable e-mail address to one person or Web site, you can easily determine the source of the unwanted e-mail. Spamex is a browser-based service that works with Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, PC, Mac, Unix, AOL, Earthlink, Juno, Hotmail, Yahoo mail, Eudora, Outlook, Outlook Express, Pegasas, and more. You can try the service free for 30 days or subscribe for just $9.95 per year. For more information, visit the Spamex Web site and be sure to read the extensive FAQ. With this program, made for Internet Explorer, tell Pop-Down how many IE windows are permitted to be open at any one time. I generally use two, so configuring Pop-Down to limit IE windows to two prevents any additional windows from opening. For fun, you can have Pop-Down beep whenever it blocks a new window. Winner of PC Magazine's 5-Star Award, this gyroscopically controlled mouse allows you to control your computer from any comfortable position using natural hand movements. Whether you use it on your desk or in the air (like a remote-control television clicker) it will track the motion of your hand and move the cursor in unison. Works within a 25-foot range of the computer and comes with a rechargeable battery. It costs $79 and is available at Staples, Fry's, and finer mouse stores everywhere. When you need to complete invoices, expense requests, and other common forms, there's no need to create the forms from scratch. Instead, use any of the hundreds of professionally designed Word templates available for free at this Web site. iGo! specializes in products for the on-the-go computer user. I've been shopping with iGo! for years and have always found their products and service to be excellent. Whatever you're looking for, from extra notebook batteries, to mobile phone accessories, to portable hard drives, if it's related to mobile computing, you'll find it here. This Google-powered site's slogan says it all, "No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding." It also lists dozens of other no-no's including no e-mail solicitations. Signing up takes 30 seconds because My Way asks you virtually no questions. Even your name is optional. The only information it collects is your ZIP code. The home page is customizable, much like Yahoo!'s, with themes, personalized content, and a flexible layout where you can even add a personal photo. Worried that someone is keeping tabs on your browsing activity? Cover your URL trail with a single click with the award-winning Window Washer program. Sweep up those loose bits of data that may be accessible by clicking on the Start menu's Find, Documents, and Run options. Window Washer can also empty the Recycle Bin, the Temporary Internet Files folder, and the Web browser cache (stored pages) in Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, AOL, MSN, CompuServe and others. You can even set the program to run scheduled cleanings. Works with all versions of Windows from 95 through XP. Try it for free for 30 days; $30 to purchase. SpinRite is a hard-drive utility that can prevent crashes by isolating defective areas of your hard disk. Think of SpinRite as ScanDisk on steroids. Even if SpinRite isn't used until after a hard drive crash, it will reassemble all the pieces, recover your data, and miraculously put everything back together again. No need to run right out and purchases this product, keep it in mind in case your hard drive ever decides to head south. There are no perfect pop-up solutions and no software that will absolutely, positively eliminate all pop-ups. In fact, my favorite anti pop-up technique is still to press ALT + F4 as soon as a pop-up appears. In a split second you can shut down anything that -- well, pops up. If you're looking for something more proactive and aggressive than to thwart pop-ups, NoAds is a free alternative that's well worth taking a look at. Iomega makes great products. I've been using their Zip drives and disks for many years. If you're filling up your hard drive and need additional storage -- assuming you can't part with some of the things you've got stored on your hard drive that you'll probably never access again -- check out Iomega's line of external hard drives, with 40, 80 and 120GB (gigabytes) of storage. A smaller, portable 750MB Zip drive is also available. All drives are pre-formatted for PC (Mac versions are also available), and all connect quickly and easily to a USB port. There are few things more disheartening than discovering that your computer is not compatible with a new version of software you just installed. A possible exception might be installing a new version, only to discover that it takes up twice as much room as the prior version, and most of your favorite features were replaced, moved, or renamed. I hate it when that happens! Regardless of the situation, if you would like to return to the simplicity of an older version, but you no longer have the installation file, this Web site is a lifesaver. Here you'll find an archive of hundreds of old versions of software programs. If you have a DVD player, Netflix provides an easy and convenient way to keep that player busy. With no due dates and no late fees, you can select from thousands of movie titles. Your selections are delivered to you by U.S. mail, in a postage-paid return envelope. Keep your selections as long as you want. Then, when you've painted your face blue after seeing Braveheart for the 47th time and a family intervention is imminent, just drop the DVD in the mail and Netflix will send you your next choice. The cost for this service is $19.95/month. "The Magazine for Women Who Need Dough." Get it? Making bread... dough? (And yes, the pun is intended.) I love this publication! Though its focus is financial information for women, deep down I've always harbored private thoughts about becoming a... financial wizard, so there really something for everybody here. This is a fun, yet highly informative e-publication, beautifully presented in electronic format. I've taken up literary residence at MakingBreadMagazine, as well, so when you stop by and ultimately subscribe (come on, work with me here!), be sure to click the "Ask Mr. Modem" link and say hello! Internet speed tests abound, but Numion's "Your Speed" test is particularly noteworthy. It's fast and easy to use, and you don't have to download any software to try it out. Unlike other speed tests, Numion polls approximately 40 well-known Web sites (in your choice of geographical region), then presents an average surfing speed. This averaging provides a more accurate assessment of your data-transfer rate than a single, isolated test. While visiting Numion, try their "Stopwatch" feature. Type in a Web address, and a stopwatch will calculate how long it takes for the site to completely load. Have races with your friends! Here you'll find an assortment of software to help you organize your music, movie/DVD, MP3, book or comic book collection. I use the Music Collector for my CDs, LPs, and yes, even my beloved 45s. The software connects to the CDDB (CD Database) on the Internet, so all you have to do is put a CD in your CD-ROM drive and let Music Collector download complete information about tracks, artists, play times, etc. You don't have to type a thing! Try a demo version for 30 days and if you decide to keep it, it's $25 to purchase. About two years ago I was finishing up a book I was writing when I lost a full day's work due to a hard drive problem on my Windows 2000 computer. When I regained consciousness and the paramedics departed, I started searching for software that would repair my hard drive enough to permit me to retrieve my precious manuscript. I downloaded the free demo version of Restorer 2000 and within minutes I was presented with a directory tree of the contents of my hard drive. The free demo didn't provide the ability to actually recover the data. No, that would be too easy. It simply proved the data was accessible -- if I ponied up a few dollars. At that point, money was no object, so I paid $49 for the "pro" version, and an hour later my data was restored. Restorer 2000 only works with Windows 2000, NT and XP. If you use Outlook (not Outlook Express), the Nelson E-mail Organizer (NEO), is an e-mail add-on program that sorts messages easily and efficiently. Nelson automatically sorts messages by several criteria and places mail in easily accessible "tabs" located at the top of the window. Nelson even groups files by attachment type. Unfortunately, the Nelson E-mail Organizer doesn't work with Outlook Express and there doesn't appear to be any plan to release an Outlook Express version. Instead, Nelson advises Outlook Express users to upgrade to Outlook. The nerve! A free 30-day trial is available. Anti-Theft Card for Notebook Computers The heart and soul of this product is an ingenious motion detector embedded in an anti-theft device that slips into your notebook computer's PC card slot. Once activated, a voice shouting "Alert! Alert! Warning! Warning!" becomes progressively louder until one of two things happens. Either the thief abandons the notebook or the system breaks into an eardrum-splitting screech that is only slightly less disturbing than Yoko Ono's singing. The Caveo Anti-Theft System ($99) worked flawlessly in my tests, though if we ever meet, please be sure to speak loudly. Even though I wore earplugs while testing the system, this is one noisy little critter. And if you don't believe me, just ask my neighbors. If the name doesn't make you queasy, this is a handy utility that removes unwanted Internet cookies quickly and easily. You can delete cookies manually, of course, but Toss Your Cookies provides the ability to mark the cookies you don't want removed, as well. Using this feature, cookies that enhance your surfing experience at your favorite sites (greeting you by name, for example) can be retained. Toss Your Cookies will also remove your temporary Internet files and empty your Windows temporary file folder with just a click of a button. The program is free for the download, compliments of EasyCool Software. Microsoft Fee-Based Support One of the best-kept secrets in the often frustrating world of telephone technical support is Microsoft's fee-for-service support line at 800-936-5700. The cost is $35 per incident, but it's worth every penny if you really, REALLY get stuck. The folks manning the support line are the best in the business and will stay on the phone with you for hours in order to resolve your Microsoft-related problem. They will even walk you through a complete reinstallation of Windows, if necessary. AeroMerge (formerly TinyMerge) is a quasi-tiny program (300K) that allows you to combine multiple text files into a single document. Let's say you want to combine several files of personal or business notes or recipes. Merging each record into one file would normally require lots of copying and pasting. Using AeroMerge, you can select (by button or dragging) the names of the files you want to appear in a new merged file, arranged in your desired order of appearance. The program, which is free for the download, isn't something everybody will want or need, but it's nice to know it's available if you ever have a number of documents to combine. Use this handy service for change-of-address e-mail forwarding. It's particularly handy if you're changing ISPs. Simply fill out their "Change-of-Address" card, and any e-mail sent to your old address will be forwarded to your new address. The cost is $10 for one month, $25 for three months. This service works for most ISPs, including AOL. Complete information is available on the Web site. ZDNet recently conducted a review of national ISPs to determine which one provides the most cyber bang for the virtual buck. For the third year in a row, Earthlink's dial-up service won top honors based on reliability, ease of use, and customer support. I use Earthlink to connect to the Internet while traveling. With hundreds of local U.S. and International dial-up numbers, long-distance charges are a rarity. Monthly fees range from $10 to $22 per month, which are slightly less than the national average. This handy accessory provides a stable working surface and dissipates the heat generated by a laptop or notebook computer, preventing your thighs from burning up. Okay, so that's probably considered a feature in North Dakota in February, but it's definitely not cool in Phoenix in August. The Laptop Desk weighs in at less than a pound, and folded in half, fits into any shoulder or computer bag. When fully unfolded, the Laptop Desk provides room for even the largest notebook computer with space to spare, and that space is covered with rubber mousepad-like material. The Laptop Desk measures approximately 20" x 1" x ¼" thick, and costs $29.95. Be sure to check out the Laptop Desk UltraLite. It's 22" long, only 14.6 ounces, and has five typing positions. It's also "lite" in price at $19.95 after the $10 Instant Rebate offer. Last but not least, I wouldn't own another notebook computer without adding a set of Laptop Legs. These sturdy, easy-to-attach feet provide two levels of elevation to the back of a laptop computer resulting in improved typing ergonomics and increased cooling and ventilation. True confession: I used to prop up my laptop with an old piece of Styrofoam. Definitely not cool on many levels. Laptop Legs come four to a package for $24.95. This easy-to-use utility is a virtual file shredder that securely deletes files from your computer. While I wouldn't recommend this for everyday use -- deleting files by emptying the Recycle Bin is generally sufficient for most of us -- there may be occasions when you want to be absolutely, positively sure your data is vaporized and unrecoverable. Reformatting your hard drive is one way to ensure data destruction, but that also wipes out Windows. This program allows you to select individual files via right-click or drag-and-drop. The "System Clear" feature permits users of Internet Explorer to delete cookies, history, cache, temporary files, and typed URLs in one click. $29.95 by download, at time of publication; available on CD for an additional $12.95, plus shipping. Ezinkjets sells just about every type of printer cartridge imaginable, at considerable savings. When I first visited the site, I quickly located the cartridges I normally use and discovered their prices were cheap...VERY cheap. Investigating further, I learned that Ezinkjets doesn't charge for shipping (in the U.S.), plus there's a money-back, no-questions-asked guarantee. So what's not to like? Three grades of cartridges are available, though not all grades are available for all printers: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Compatible cartridges are made by a third party using the same standards as the OEM, but priced considerably less. These types of cartridges are sometimes referred to as "generics." Remanufactured cartridges are brand name cartridges that have been professionally cleaned and refilled with ink appropriate for that cartridge manufacturer. Genuine OEM cartridges are brand name cartridges made by the original printer company such as Hewlett-Packard, Canon, Brother, etc. Though I was a bit skeptical of remanufactured cartridges, the one I ordered for my HP printer was priced 60 percent less than the same OEM cartridge purchased retail. Four days later, my cartridge arrived via U.S. Mail. I popped it into my printer and like the Eveready Bunny, it kept on printing...and printing... and printing. Full capacity, crystal-clear printing, great price. What's not to like? If e-mail is an increasingly important part of your life, you might want to consider switching to an e-mail program that contains all the e-mail management tools you'll ever need. As an e-mail professional (my "Born to E-mail" tattoo proves it), this is one fantastic program that's been the choice of die-hard e-mailers for many years. Eudora sets the standard for all e-mail programs by providing outstanding tools to assist you creating mail boxes, transferring e-mail, checking mail on multiple accounts, deploying filters, creating stationery (form letters), editing received e-mail, cleaning up headers before forwarding, assigning sounds and colors to messages from specific individuals, and much more. Eudora also provides ongoing statistical information about your e-mail usage, including specifics and averages for the number of messages sent and received, as well as how many hours per day you're devoting to e-mail. Talk about depressing! If you're having trouble remembering passwords for the different Web sites you visit, try Password Safe. This free service is easy to use and permits you to store an unlimited number of usernames and passwords, with links to each particular site. So instead of navigating to a Web site and trying to remember your username and password, you can go to Password Safe first, select the site you would like to visit and review your username and password at the same time. There are certainly more secure programs available for keeping passwords, but for run-of-the-mill storage and ease of access, this free service is definitely worth taking a look at. This is an unusual program that displays information about incoming e-mail in scrolling ticker-tape fashion, providing the sender, subject, date, and time of each e-mail. Click the ticker at any time to open your e-mail program and read your messages. Setting up this program is easy because it uses the information from your existing e-mail program. You can monitor up to six e-mail accounts. TickerMyMail works with all versions of Windows, from 95 to XP and costs $9.90. You can download a free, fully-functional, 14-day trial version from the Web site. This device, which is intended to be carried on a key chain, has five buttons and a tiny LCD screen. You access your passwords by pressing a secret combination of the device's five buttons, and then scroll through your passwords. The device itself cannot be hacked without destroying the data it contains. You can enter your own passwords similar to the way you enter text on a cell phone. Because it's a "stand-alone" device, it works instantly with any system and requires no software installation. Originally developed for the U.S. military and national security applications, this is an excellent password manager, though at $69.95, it's a bit pricey. Still, if you do have need for a password management system that does a first-class job of generating and retaining passwords, is light-weight, mobile and easy to use, take a look at Ebp-Lite. VeloTrend's BikeBrain is a new class of bicycle computer that incorporates graphical displays, real-time directions, real-time speed graphs, an altitude profile of your route, and speed logging for post-ride upload and analysis, into a hand-held and handlebar mounted computer. It is designed for use with both Palm and Handspring Visor personal organizers. This $99 device is perfect for the environmentally friendly, geek on the go. This isn't a service that will appeal to everybody, but with prices starting as low as $29.95 per month, this service is ideal for the traveler or anybody who would like to receive their U.S. Mail via e-mail. Every morning, a bonded (not to be confused with "out on bond") PaperlessPOBox courier picks up your mail from the post office, scanned and e-mailed to you. The base rate of $29.95 per month includes 500 scanned, black and white images. Color is $39.95 per month. For an additional $4.95 per month, only First Class mail will be scanned, reducing the amount of scanned junk mail you'll receive. This unusual service is one that the U.S. Postal Service is observing closely. Who knows, some day it may be an option offered by the USPS. "Neither rain, nor snow, nor heat, nor gloom of disconnected modem stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed e-rounds." Tired of being disconnected while reading an article, writing e-mail or downloading a program? This popular utility prevents "time-outs" and disconnects for dial-up Internet connections, including AOL. It can even resume broken connections by simulating the Internet activity of a "real" person -- which presumably involves ranting and cursing when a connection is dropped. Stay Connected is compatible with AOL, CompuServe, NetZero, MSN, Juno, Prodigy and AT&T WorldNet and others, and works with all versions of Windows, including XP. You can try it free for 30 days; $19.95 to register. Though most free, online storage services have disappeared from the face of the Internet, one of the best will still let you try out their service for free. They used to provide 20MB of storage for free, but those days are gone. Once you register on the site, you'll receive one megabyte of free online storage. Whoopie! One megabyte isn't very much, but it does provide the opportunity for you to see how the service works. Additional storage space is available starting at $9.95/month for 250MB. No software is required to upload and download files to and from your private, password-protected area.
Want to know when e-mail you send is opened and read or how long your e-mail was opened and whether or not it gets forwarded to someone else? Would you like to send "self-destructing" e-mail that will delete itself before or after it's been read by the recipient? These are just a few of the many capabilties available to you once you register on the ReadNotify Web site. Because ReadNofiy isn't a software program, it's a Web-based service, so it works with virtually every e-mail program and Web-based e-mail service. Using ReadNotify is simple: You just compose your email the same way you always do, then before you click Send, add ".readnotify.com" to the end of the recipient's e-mail address. You can test drive ReadNotify for 10 e-mails or 14 days, whichever comes first. If you decide to continue with the service after trying it out, the Basic Subscription plan is $24 per year. James Bond would have loved this!
Have you ever been so consumed by surfing or reading e-mail that you lost track of the time? I do it constantly. Well, I should say I did it constantly. After a family intervention, it was decided that I needed help breaking away from the computer. I was advised to find a software program to help keep me aware of the time by announcing the hour, "It's 1:00 P.M." or "It's 2:00 A.M." Now that I think about it, I've never actually heard it say "It's 2:00 A.M," and hopefully, I'll never be at the computer at that hour. The last thing I need is another intervention. The name of the program that says the time is cleverly named Say the Time. In addition to keeping tabs on the time, this program will also announce the date, time, or both, at specified intervals, using a male or female voice. You can also customize your Taskbar's clock or change its look by using a variety of colors, textures and fonts, set multiple reminders with messages that appear on screen and much more. Say-the-Time will run under Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000 or XP. Download the program and try it for 30-days free. If you decide to keep it, the cost is just $19.95. The free Belarc Advisor is program that builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware. It runs on Windows 95/98/Me, NT, Windows 2000 and XP, and creates a local (on your computer) Web page that contains a list of all the hardware in and attached to your system, plus information about all installed software including license and version numbers. It does not report its findings back to the Belarc Advisor folks. Not only does the generated profile serve as a handy reference should you ever need to take your computer into a repair facility, but it's excellent for insurance purposes, as well. Print out your system's specs and put it in a safe place. If disaster in the form of a stolen or destroyed computer ever strikes, you'll have a comprehensive document memorializing your installed hardware and software. We're all subjected to far too many advertisements while we're surfing, but some advertisers press their luck and intrude upon our privacy by tracking our movements online. If you don't like it -- and I can't imagine anybody who does -- now you can do something about it. To reclaim some of your privacy, simply click the above link and complete the opt-out form provided by the Network Advertising Initiative. Check off a few boxes and click Submit to instruct several advertising organizations that you no longer want to be tracked. There's a utility program you can use to verify that you've successfully opted out, as well as information about each of the ad networks to help you make informed decisions about which ones you want to exclude.
USB File Transfer Cable Pronounced "sneaky mail" or (sneak e-mail) you can use this free service to generate disposable e-mail addresses. Your "sneakemail" address is really just an alias of your real e-mail address. Using this service allows you to fill in e-mail-based forms, register on Web sites, respond to confirmation messages, etc., without revealing your real address. This is a great way to avoid spammers or track where spammers are obtaining your e-mail address.
Tired of those pesky pop-up ads? Welcome to the club. This program is free and works with Netscape and Internet Explorer. A "Professional" version is also available ($29.95), that blocks pop-ups in AOL, MSN, Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera and Yahoo. Claiming 4.5 million users, this award-winning utility is one of the more popular pop-up blocking programs. Have you ever received a joke or other email that has been forwarded from one person to another, to another, to another...? Chances are the message ends up with each line starting with lots of >>>>>>>> marks. Message Cleaner will strip these extraneous characters, adjust word-wrapping, remove carriage returns, extra spaces and perform a host of other actions, all in an effort to tidy up your email. This program receives the coveted Mr. Modem "Five Squeal" rating. Message Cleaner can be downloaded and used for a 30-day free trial period, after which you are asked to register it. The cost? Under $10. The BRIGHTEST lights for their size in the WORLD! These little key chain lights offer reliable light for any situation. Yahoo! Internet Life magazine tested more than 100 e-tailers for its current Holiday Shopping Guide and Powell's was voted Best Book Site on the Web. Said Yahoo!: "For book browsing and buying, we'll stick with Powell's, which combines convenience and customer care with a passion for the written word." It's Mr. Modem's favorite book site, so be sure to visit Powell's for your online book purchases. And tell 'em Mr. Modem sent you! |