Why I do this, I do this because I know what a frustrating thing using and owning a PC can be, so if I can I'd like to help out a fellow user. Keep the faith everyone :-) Sincerely the PC Geek This site was last updated 2/21/99 Now that I have added an Apple computer to my life you will notice a small, but existant list of Apple links. If you have some great links to share please contact me and let me know.
Basic outline of this page
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Internet related
4. Others
Hardware (PC)
Hardware (Modem)
Hardware (Printer)
Devices and the drivers that run them on the next Jerry Springer!! Just kidding
Software - shareware
Download.com (c|net) *
Gamespot (ZD Net)*
Gamecenter (c|net)
Chumbo (retail)
Buydirect (retail)
Surplus Auction (auction)
Outpost.com (Cyberian Outpost)
Macdownload (All Mac Software service of ZD Net)
* Indicates what I alone consider best of all
Internet
ISPs
America Online (AOL)- Offers the usual pricing plans $21.95 (unlimited) with up to 5 E-Mail boxes free personal web pages Which in all honesty if you have a little HTML experience I would reccommend you use Front Page or Composer. PPII is a very simple straight forward HTML good for beginers editor but doesn't offer some features that FP or Composer does) 56k & x2 access, tech support toll free. Compatible browser: MSIE PC/Mac
AOL Add-Ons
PROP- An AOL add-on for IMs & chats gives your text multicolor blending as well as many different text effects like wavy text. Works with Windows 95 & up & for AOL ver 4.0 only. PC
Fade-It & WavMan- Fade-It Works like PROP but only for chat & mail but, it does allow for blending of more colors as well as offers all of the same text effects. WavMan lets you play sound in chats.PC
Power Speech- Uses Microsoft's Text to Speech engine to speak words in chats and incoming IMs. The draw back is the voices are very stilted and hard to understand unlike MacinTalk or something similar. Also if you get in a room full of chat huggers and scrollers it will prove to be a hindrence not a helper. PC
AT&TŠ Worldnet Service- $19.95 for 150 hours. a month, 1 mailbox & free personal web pages 56k access tech support toll free. Compatible browsers: MSIE or Communicator PC/Mac
MSN (The Microsoft Network)- $19.95 unlimited 1 mailbox, 56k access. tech support not toll free! Compatible browsers: MSIE (of course!) PC
Prodigy- No data as of yet PC/Mac
Mindspring- various pricing plans 56k access, personal domain names (not free) and comes with Exicte Pal Compatible browsers: MSIE & Communicator. Make certain to read their service contract before signing up! PC
CompuServe-No comments I'm trying to rember the old creedo, if you can't say something nice, say nothing. PC
Earthlink- 19.95 standard unlimited service, 1 mail box, 6MB webspace, Personal Startpage 3.0 and a weekly newsletter PC/Mac
NetZero- I can't believe I'm putting this here, NetZero is a supposedly free ISP that can afford to give free service through and I qoute "abtrousive" pop-up comercials. PC
The List- Is a site that has info about every ISP big, small, local or worldwide
Browsers
It seems that everyone has to take some side in the battle royale between the big bad browsers here are their sites so, do some research & declare your alliance!
Microsoft Internet Explorer™ (MSIE)*- For the purpose of this comparison we will use the newest versions of both browsers. MSIE 4 & Communicator 4 are basically identical when put through their paces. Though Communicator 4 does have Shockwave plug-in it's self it still doesn't have The Director or Real Player both of which are standard equipment of MSIE 4.
MSIE 5 preview- I had a chance to use the developers preview briefly and it has it's up and down's. an offline browsing pack has been added. The toolbar has been cleaned up a little. Downloading of files seems to have actualy become more complex :-( FP now works with DHTML & other codes that I don't even pretend to understand. I take my HTML cut & paste thanks! Over all I personally will stick with 4 for now. The biggest downer is The acitve setup, usually runs from 2 & a half to 3 hrs. requires a "live" connection to the internet for the whole process.
Netscape Communicator 4™- So it doesn't have plug ins. It does have something well worth giving up plug-ins for, The latest versions of Communicator 4.5, 4.6 so on do come pre-packed with Netscape AOL Instant Messenger. Other than these things they're the same they both have publishing programs, they both have "channels" a waste of memory on both parts in my opinion. Mail programs & such also included
Plug-ins
Macromedia's Shockrave™- Spice up you net surfing with animations, music, cartoons like my personal favorites The Peanuts and more! A note to users of MSIE 4™ you don't need to download anything you're all set, it's preinstalled Real Player™ included A note to users of Netscape Communicator 4.x you have Shockwave it's self but, not the director & not RealPlayer
Real Networks- Makers of the RealPlayer™
Windows Media Player- A jack of all trades player almost, Plays all common types of sound 7 video formats, WAVS ,QTs, MPEGs, & Real Player 4 audio & video files. Integrates with IE's favorites folder add favorite clips for easy access. The current beta version (5.2) is now available. It also comes bundled with MSIE 5
Free stuff
Free E-Mail
Juno- free non online E-mail needs some sort of Mail program.
Yahoo mail- free web based E-mail with the basics. This service is also offered by most other search engines.
Alta Vista E-Mail- Another search engine based E-Mail only with some cool features (fees apply) thanks to I Name. You can get a personalized address (not free).
Hotmail*- Now owned by Microsoft
Pagers (IMs)
ICQ*- An IM service that does so much more like let you exchange files, hold net meetings (with appropriate software installed) and even launch a game of Quake
AOL Instant Messenger (Close second due to it's noticible speed compared to ICQ)- Gives up a lot of features to ICQ but makes up for it in speed
Ding!- No data as of yet
Yahoo pager- Does more than just IMs
Powwow- Offers comunity forums for people with common interests
iChat- no data yet
Free web hosting
Geocities*- Offers guestbooks, counters, chat rooms, & more plus it allows HTTP uploading for the less than proficient webmaster. The downside is that there are too many slow loading pop-up commercials for things you won't be interested in!
XOOM- Free services like above however no HTTP uploads & too much spamming!!
Fortune City- I have no data
The Globe- Offers free e-mail as well as homepages
Search engines
Infoseek (2nd choice)
Free net gaming
Banner exchange services
Other stuff
Screensaver.com- A great selection of screensavers from comedy parodies to movie promos.
Themeworld- Great themes for your desktop requires Win 95 Plus! or Win 98 as well as WinZip.
Utilities
Cybermedia- Makes crash protection software and other utilities for you to sample
Norton*- makers of Crash Guard and other programs
Network associates- Formerly McAfee makers of VirusScan & other utilities
HEEEEEELLLLLLPPPP
At some point or another we all need computer help, lets face it. It's as likely to happen as unwanted in-laws stoppingin town for a few days :-( Well here are some websites that might be able to offer you some help
Computers.com (For help in picking out the computer thats perfect for you)
Macworld (You guessed it! Help for Macs!!)
Builder.com (For us self-abusive types who tinker with web pages:-) )
File Extensions- When you just can't figure out what that file is and you really gotta know here's your place
Linux.org- Help for the Unix offshoot OS that is quickly becoming popular among users and PC manufacturers.
Adobe Systems™- Get help and browse the products made by Adobe
Well I wish you the best of luck & hope you can find the answers you're after
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