Computer

1.   Kim Komando has a weekly Radio talk show where she discusses everyday computer and internet problems and fixes. Click Here to search for a radio station near you. Also you can sign up for her daily and weekly computer tips. Highly recommended. We can all learn something from Ms. Komando's show and news letters. You can also download very useull shareware programs for your PC from her site.  click the banner above

2.    Always run Microsoft windows update to keep your computers files up to date. I recommend to set your computer up to automatically check and install critical update. Open your control panel and click on  "Automatic Updates"   icon and turn on automatic updates.

3.    c/net has a great Weekend Project section with video and audio instructions    on how to install a new graphic card, a new monitor, more memory, setup a wifi router, etc.  This is a great resource to learn how to setup hardware yourself.

4.    c/net has a nice Product Review section were you can research products. This is great to compare features of one product to another before you buy.

5.    Need a driver for a printer, scanner, etc. First search the companies website that made the product. If you still cannot locate it try searching www.driversguide.com

6.    How to use Windows XP from Microsoft

7.    Microsoft Download web site. Drivers, Games, DirectX, etc.

Internet

1.    Kim Komando has a great contract you can fill out with your kids (and print) to encourage Internet safety and very nice parent tips and web links to allot of very useful programs for kids .  click the banner above

2.    Test your internet security with Symantic online security check. 

3.    Firewall:  Always run a firewall if you use the Internet. ZoneAlarm has a great firewall that a home user can download for free or you can upgrade to a more advanced version.

4.    AddAware  Home users can download a free version of Addaware to clean your computer from internet add ware. You can also upgrade to a more advanced version.

5.    SpyBot  Home users can download a free version of SpyBot to clean your computer from internet spyware (i.e.  cookies). You can also upgrade to a more advanced version.

6.    AG Anti-Virus software for home users is FREE.

7.   All in one  Secret Maker  is a FREE banner blocker, pop up blocker, worm hunter, spam control, cookie eraser, history eraser program.

8.    MS Windows Defender is a FREE program to stop internet spyware from loading onto your computer that is always running in the background.

Email

Microsoft Hotmail

Yahoo Mail

GiMail     GI Mail is great for Military members who are deployed and a firewall prevnts you from accesing your normal email account. GI Mail is available to members of all military services. All previous and new users will be validated through the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS - ID card)

2.    Microsoft Phising Filter  Microsoft has a great anti-phising filter. You must download and install Microsoft's toolbar to use it. It will block you from clicking on hyperlinks in emails that people send to you who are not who they say they are in an attempt to get you to log in and give them your user names and passwords. (The New MS IE version 7 has a phising filter built into it.)

Internet Browsers

2.    MS Internet Explorer V6

3.    Firefox  Tab browsing, numerous plugins, etc.

4.    Free Kids Browsers that will restrict explicit websites?    KidRocket

Websites

1.    If you need a server to host your website check out Powweb. They offer great services and excellent reliability.   click the banner above

2.    If you need any Java, Perl, PHP, etc. scripts for you website checkout www.hotscripts.com

Productivity

1.    You can download a FREE alternative to MS Office. Open Office has a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, graphics, and database.  www.openoffice.org

2.    Adobe Reader  -  Free download to read adobe PDF files

3.    Quick Zip  is a FREE archiver that can compress and uncompress 14 diferent kinds of archives.  zip, rar, pak tar, etc.

4.    MS Office Templates  When using a MS office program instead of starting from scratch use a template. MS has 100's of free templates for calendars, finance, word, excel, power point, resumes, greeting cards, business cards, labels, etc.

Graphics

2.    Yahoo Images 

3.    Microsoft has a nice FREE Photo Story program that you can add your photos to, add a song in the back ground to play and even add your on voice narration to each slide if you wish. It will create a nice slide show.

4.    Hewlett Packard has a very nice Graphics Activity Center where you can add your pictures to previously created projects/templates and print out. Cards, calendars, labels, parties, picture frames, etc.

5.    Google has a FREE graphics program called Picasa that you can edit, organize, and backup your pictures.

6.    MS Gif Animator  You can create or edit animated gif files.

Maps

2.    ViaMichelin is a great mapping website that allows for Europe and US maps

3.    WorldAtlas provides for world mappingnorth america maps countries landforms rivers and information

Palm Software Development