#24

#1 - Dealnews.com

Online Bargain Tracker (free) Many sites keep track of bargains for you, but Dealnews does more than just provide you with a link. It'll even let you know whether today's deal is better than last week's.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,122931,pg,5,00.asp

#2 Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5

E-Mail Application (free) Excellent junk-mail filtering and efficient address gathering make Thunderbird the best e-mail application for your electronic correspondence, regardless of price. Look for a beta of version 2 this summer

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124364,00.asp

#3 Yahoo Mail (Beta)

Web-Based E-Mail (free) This limited beta offering rates as the best Web mail client we've seen. Its Ajax-based interface convincingly imitates Outlook Express, without carrying over that program's clutter.

http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/001938.html

#4 Avvenu

Remote File Access (free) Use this utility to set up your desktop PC as a simple file server that friends and family can access securely over the Internet. Avvenu is great for sharing digital photographs without going to the trouble of e-mailing them

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/001023.html

#5 Blogger

Blogging Service (free) It's not the most sophisticated blogging tool around, but it is free and easy to use. It works with Google's Hello to support no-cost photo hosting and posting, and you can upload pictures from your camera phone to your Blogger blog.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,124883,pg,12,00.asp

#6 Windows Live Local

Online Mapping (free) Offering attractive maps, with bird's-eye views of some locations, Microsoft's service comes across as almost a hybrid of Google Earth and Yahoo Maps (that's a good thing)

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,124884,pg,3,00.asp

#7 Apple iTunes

Digital Audio Software (free) Not just a conduit for files between Apple's Music Store and an iPod, iTunes is great even if just for your desktop. It's compatible with both Macs and Windows PCs

http://www.apple.com/itunes/

#8 Meebo (alpha)

Instant Messaging (free) When you're away from your own PC, you can still connect. Use this utility (still in alpha) in an Internet caf\0xE9 to access AIM, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, MSN, or Yahoo buddies by browser.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,123790,pg,7,00.asp

#9 Rhapsody

Online Music (free to $10 per month) After experiencing a rocky relaunch, the new Rhapsody service looks good. Now you can access it without desktop software (though you may want to use the client, since it works as your streaming service and plays songs from your MP3 library).

http://www.rhapsody.com/

#10 Qnext 2

P-to-P Communications (free) Not just for instant messaging, this Java-based suite supports IM, videoconferencing, VoIP, file sharing, music and photo sharing, and remote PC access (it won't wash your car or make you dinner, though).

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,123955,00.asp

from "desktop dave"

updated: 6-23-06