Heather Newman: These pages deserve a prize for usefulness

May 28, 2000

BY HEATHER NEWMAN
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

YOU CAN never have too many useful Web sites. In honor of the Webby Awards, which we published on this page last week, I'm hereby nominating my favorite Web pages for the newly created Heather's Heavenly Hosts award (which I just made up this minute):

Best search site for finding other Web pages:

Google (http://www.google.com/), hands down. OK, Webby and I agree on this one because it won an award for Technical Achievement. But I'm here to tell you, if you aren't using this ever-so-simple search site to find the best stuff on the Web, you're wasting time.

Type in your search terms and Google gives you two choices: Google Search or I'm Feeling Lucky. Google Search takes you to a standard results list. I'm Feeling Lucky takes you directly to the first site on the list.

If you're searching for something simple, such as a company's home page, hit I'm Feeling Lucky. It's that good.

Best search site for finding free and cheap software:

CNet's Download, at http://www.download.com/. Ratings by other Web surfers, a vast selection for a number of different types of computers, software categories that make sense, a sensitive key word search and popularity ratings based on download numbers make this a must-see.

Best site for finding free music:

Napster, at http://www.napster.com/. Get your quasi-legal tunes at this address before the courts shut it down. Just don't tell the recording industry associations I told you.

Best site for making yourself look smart:

The TechWeb Encyclopedia, at www.techweb.com/encyclopedia. Type in any computer term or acronym and it will give you a precise, clear, technically correct definition.

Best site for learning something new:

Learn2, at http://www.learn2.com/. It has step-by-step instructions on everything from darning a sock to upgrading your computer.

Best site for supporting a good cause:

Igive, at http://www.igive.com/. Shop for yourself, save a buck or two, and support your favorite charity, all at the same time.

Best site for your daily news fix:

QuickBrowse, at http://www.quickbrowse.com/. Pick your favorite Web sites and QuickBrowse will send a single e-mail to you each morning (or whenever you choose) with those pages tacked together, one after the other. Scroll through them quickly to read the headlines, or click through to the reports. All the links are live. Don't forget to put the Freep (http://www.freep.com/) on your list!

Best site for your daily entertainment calendar:

TV Tonight, at http://www.infobeat.com/. Tell it what you like to watch, from specific shows to sci-fi movies, and it'll send you a daily TV calendar with your picks highlighted.

Best medical reference:

RXMed, at http://www.rxmed.com/. Designed for doctors who want to track drug interactions, it will tell you the side effects and drug combination no-nos about thousands of medications.

Best site for finding a house:

Realtor.com, at http://www.realtor.com/, just for the sheer breadth of its listings.

Best site for finding a new car:

Priceline, at http://www.priceline.com/. But anyone who read last week's column on buying a car with Priceline could have guessed that.

Best site for finding a used car:

AutoTrader, at http://www.autotrader.com/. Choose your make, model, years, price range and how far away from your ZIP code you're willing to go. AutoTrader does the rest.

Got your own favorites? Nominate your favorite sites in these categories or others for Heather's Heavenly Hosts by Thursday at the e-mail address below. We'll publish your picks in a future issue.

HEATHER NEWMAN's new book, PC@Home, is available by calling 800-245-5082 or visiting www.freep.com/bookstore. Reach her at newman@freepress.com.

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