BEST TECH BUSINESS NEWS SITE:
The Industry Standard
"The Industry Standard" is an apt name for a site with
the Web's best Internet commentary. You can find in-depth news on the most promising
start-ups, the latest failures, and the newest high-tech trends. Every week, the site
profiles a prominent architect of the Internet economy.
ALSO: Inter@ctive Week Online is another good bookmark.
BEST PERSONAL-FINANCE HUB SITE:
Quicken.com (AOL Keyword: intuit)
We recently lauded Quicken for a nifty calculator that helps
determine your retirement needs. But there's much more to the site—and your
finances—than planning for the golden years. Quicken can help you handle paying
taxes, buying insurance, getting married, purchasing a home, having a baby, and paying for
your child's college education, among other monetary milestones. Users of Quicken software
can utilize the site's WebEntry feature to input transactions online and download them to
a home PC.
BEST GUIDE TO STARTING A BUSINESS:
U.S. Small Business Administration
You don't need an MBA to use the SBA. The site outlines
everything in plain English. Recent additions include more than three dozen forms that you
can submit online, plus tips on avoiding scams that target entrepreneurs.
BEST GUIDE TO STARTING A BUSINESS:
U.S. Small Business Administration
You don't need an MBA to use the SBA. The site outlines
everything in plain English. Recent additions include more than three dozen forms that you
can submit online, plus tips on avoiding scams that target entrepreneurs.
BEST JOB-HUNTING HUB SITE:
Monster.com
Since we chose it as last year's category winner, the Monster
Board has shortened its name to Monster.com, launched an attention-grabbing TV advertising
campaign, and nearly quintupled the number of employment opportunities in its database. It
now lists more than 248,000 jobs, although with more than 2 million curricula vitae in the
résumé bank, competition may be fierce. If you're freelance and want to stay that way,
try the auction-style Monster Talent Market, where employers can bid on your services.
ALSO: Recent college grads should also head for Jobtrak.com.
BEST SITE FOR RESEARCHING POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS:
Hoover's Online
With more than 14,000 company profiles, Hoover's Online is
peerless at providing concise, organized information. Type in a company name or ticker
symbol and retrieve more than enough fiscal data, executive biographies, and news reports
to get your foot through the door at human resources.
ALSO: Although its database is relatively small, Vault.com has sharp insight into corporate culture and hiring practices.
BEST ORIGINAL WEB PROGRAMMING SITE:
The Pseudo Online Network
As the network's tag line suggests, "TV you can't get on
TV" includes diverse and inventive programs that would never make it on prime
time—which is why we love having it on the Web. Among the current offerings: GO!
Poetry, a virtual slam; And Justice for BRAWL, which pits fans against
professional wrestlers; and DesiVibe, dedicated to Southeast Asian music fusion.
Why is this better than cable? Here, you can watch and listen while chatting with the
show's cast, as well as with other viewers.
ALSO: DEN: Digital Entertainment Network aims its streaming video programs (Frat Ratz, Fear of a Punk Planet) at the youth market
BEST MOVIE SITE:
The Internet Movie Database
The stellar IMDb is now part of the Amazon.com empire. So far,
that's been a good thing. It's faster and has more data than ever before: more than
170,000 titles, including movies, made-for-TV movies, direct-to-video movies, and
live-action video games. The filmographies cover more than 650,000 people, from actors to
stunt doubles, and are searchable in every possible way. No wonder Y-Life columnist
Roger Ebert recently selected the IMDb as Best Movie Site on the Web. Period.
ALSO: Film.com, another Ebert pick, is noteworthy for the quality of its movie reviews and the quantity of its live audio/video, including trailers, music scores, and interviews.
BEST CELEBRITY NEWS AND GOSSIP SITE:
E! Online
Here's a site that will tell you not only who's in bed with whom
but also who's gotten implants and who's a fashion "don't." E! Online is nothing
if not provocative ("Top 10 Sex Scenes") and occasionally tasteless: You can
send an e-mail postcard with Leo DiCaprio's "bare butt." But it's always fun. A
streamlined redesign makes it easy to access the latest scandals, and fans of music,
television, and movies each get a separate channel on the new E! Online Plus.
ALSO: Mr. Showbiz, now part of the Go Network, dishes up celeb gossip with a newsier edge.
BEST MUSIC REFERENCE SITE:
All Music Guide
This guide has always been a deep and sprawling resource for
researching stuff about music. Now it has a new, snappier look, which is no less organized
for the amount of data it contains: info on more than 400,000 albums, 35,000 artists, and
850 music styles.
ALSO: We prize UBL.com: The Ultimate Band List for its direct access to artists and labels, and IUMA, the Internet Underground Music Archive, for its showcasing of unknown bands.
BEST MUSIC REFERENCE SITE:
All Music Guide
This guide has always been a deep and sprawling resource for
researching stuff about music. Now it has a new, snappier look, which is no less organized
for the amount of data it contains: info on more than 400,000 albums, 35,000 artists, and
850 music styles.
ALSO: We prize UBL.com: The Ultimate Band List for its direct access to artists and labels, and IUMA, the Internet Underground Music Archive, for its showcasing of unknown bands.
BEST NET RADIO NETWORK SITE:
Yahoo! Broadcast
Broadcast.com, the site that hosted the Net's first-ever live
commercial radio station (and sporting event and stockholders' meeting), has merged with
Yahoo! It now has a directory-like interface with which to browse its offerings.
Convenient pull-down menus help you find the broadcast you seek, whether it's one of the
448 radio stations, 65 TV stations, 1,600 audiobooks, or any of the numerous Webcasts
available only on the Net every day.
BEST NET RADIO STATION SITE:
Bringthenoise.com
Hard-core. Uncensored. Raw. No, we're not talking about Jerry
Springer outtakes. We're talking about what Internet radio, exempt from FCC regulation,
can be. Bring the Noise DJs, like Chuck D of Public Enemy fame, host six different shows,
six days a week, bringing listeners the hottest in hip-hop, old school, and underground
music. Unsigned artists, submit your demos and see if you make the cut.
ALSO: TalkSpot features hundreds of hours of programming.
BEST MP3 SEARCH ENGINE SITE:
Scour
This all-around great search engine for multimedia content on
the Web has an ever-expanding list of downloadable music partners. Find tracks by browsing
topics or perusing lists of the most (and least) popular downloads.
BEST CULTURAL EVENTS FINDER SITE:
CultureFinder.com
The premier place to seek and buy tickets for fine arts now
offers more than 300,000 performances sponsored by 2,000-plus arts organizations across
the country. Sign up for free weekly TicketTips for 16 major cities, which subscribers
receive three days before they're posted online.
BEST PLACE TO BUY EVENT TICKETS SITE:
Ticketmaster Online
Whatever you want to see—a rap group, circus, basketball game,
or ballet—Ticketmaster Online is the, um, ticket. Find and purchase tickets in your
price range or preferred seating area, and have them delivered or waiting at the box
office. The My Ticketmaster feature even lets you experience the view from your seat
before you buy.
BEST SITE TO BUY BOOKS:
Amazon.com
With the launch of its megamall of zShops, Amazon is selling a lot
more than books these days. How about some white-water rafting equipment to go with that
copy of Deliverance? Despite the crowding on its virtual shelves, Amazon remains
the best place to buy new books, with deeper discounts (up to 50 percent off), more titles
(more than 4 million), and fast delivery.
ALSO: For used, out-of-print, and rare titles, check the well-stocked shelves at Powell's Books, or access the worldwide network of dealers at Alibris.
BEST SITE TO BUY BOOKS:
Amazon.com
With the launch of its megamall of zShops, Amazon is selling a lot
more than books these days. How about some white-water rafting equipment to go with that
copy of Deliverance? Despite the crowding on its virtual shelves, Amazon remains
the best place to buy new books, with deeper discounts (up to 50 percent off), more titles
(more than 4 million), and fast delivery.
ALSO: For used, out-of-print, and rare titles, check the well-stocked shelves at Powell's Books, or access the worldwide network of dealers at Alibris.
BEST SITE TO SHOP FOR ELECTRONICS:
CompareNet
Whether you're in the market for a digital camcorder or just a plain
old cordless phone, CompareNet should be your first stop. Do your homework with searchable and
sortable product information, reviews, side-by-side comparisons, and user ratings courtesy
of Deja.com, then jump to a retail partner site when you're ready to buy.
ALSO: Chain discounter CircuitCity.com has some of the lowest prices around.
BEST SITE TO SHOP FOR COMPUTERS:
PC Connection
You'd think the Web would be an ideal place to buy computers, even for novices. But surprisingly few e-tailers give you the information you need to choose the system that's right for you. PC Connection is loaded with readable product descriptions, as well as suggestions for peripherals that detail exactly how they can improve a system. Most products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, although you may have to pay a restocking fee, and you can access free tech support online.
ALSO: Outpost
BEST SITE TO SHOP FOR A CAR:
MSN CarPoint
BEST SITE TO SHOP FOR A HOME:
MSN HomeAdvisor
For the first-time home buyer, MSN HomeAdvisor can make shopping for
a new abode seem like a walk in the park. Calculators help you determine how much house
you can afford and whether you'd be better off just renting. If you decide to buy, you can
locate listings in your price range, shop for a mortgage, and apply for a loan online.
ALSO: Realtor.com deserves a look for the sheer number of its listings: more than 1.3 million homes.
BEST CONSUMER ADVICE SITE:
Consumer World
Before you purchase a product or a service, spend a few minutes at Consumer World and save yourself the agony of buyer's remorse. Research rates and comparison shop till you drop, for everything—cars, travel, credit cards. Newly redesigned, the site links to many A-list resources, including CompareNet and the Better Business Bureau
ALSO:
Consumer ReportsBEST TRAVEL HUB SITE:
Biztravel.com
When we handed out our 1999 Gold Star travel awards, Biztravel won two. We rated it the Best Place to Book a Business Trip, because it handles corporate travel like a well-trained executive assistant. And it also won the Best Travel Hub, because the site is supreme, even if you're just taking the family on a trip to visit Aunt Minnie. Submit your preferences and Biztravel will book the best available trip, whether you're trying to save money or time, or hoping to maximize frequent-flier miles. And, unlike most travel sites, this one can actually multitask, locating hotel and car rental rates simultaneously while finding flights. Its recent acquisition by Rosenbluth International, a mammoth business travel company, promises even better deals for consumers and corporate travelers alike.
ALSO: Though airfares were not as competitive as Biztravel's, Expedia.com and Travelocity.com (now merged with Preview Travel) remain slick and popular hubs with plenty of bells and whistles.
BEST FOOD & DRINK HUB SITE:
Epicurious Food
Unless you aspire to be the next Jean-Georges Vongerichten, this site will serve swimmingly as your source for ideas on what to put in your mouth. Search the recipe file of 10,000 delicious concoctions culled from such sources as Gourmet and Bon Appétit, sample more than 3,500 entries in the Wine Dictionary, and sharpen your skills with cooking tips
ALSO: The Food Network has expert advice and recipes from the likes of Bobby Flay, Ming Tsai, and the ever-ebullient Emeril Lagasse.
BEST RESTAURANT GUIDE:
Zagat Survey
BEST OUTDOOR ADVENTURE GUIDE:
GORP: Great Outdoor Recreation Pages
When we review sites about hiking, cycling, or anything else you can do outdoors, we often turn to GORP -- and with good reason. This site is like having the collected wisdom of a thousand Boy Scouts at your fingertips. Find out how to tie flies for fishing, pitch a tent for camping, or mount a horse for riding. You can also read global guides to lush destinations where you can partake of these activities. And now that GORP has bolstered its travel department, you can actually book a place to stay there, too.
BEST LOW-FARE FINDER:
Bestfares.com Snooze You Lose Specials
If you're looking for airfare bargains, you'll find rock-bottom prices here. Dozens of deals are posted several times a day, such as coast-to-coast round-trips for as little as $238. Though you won't have to pay the $59.90 membership fee to take advantage of these offers, you will have to rush to the phone: You can't book these tickets online, and some prices last only a few days or even hours. It's also a bit mind-numbing to skim through the incredibly long list of specials, but that's a small price to pay for airfares discounted by as much as 90 percent.
BEST ROAD-TRIP MAPS:
Maps On Us
There's more than one way to get there from here. With Maps On Us, you can print out driving directions that suit your way (fastest, shortest, scenic). And you needn't know exactly where you want to go. One click will locate a nearby hospital, mall, or other landmark. But what makes this site better than the rest is that it lets you map out as many intermediate destinations as you wish‹and it can plan the most efficient way to hit all the stops.
ALSO: Mapquest is another great way to get from door to door the way you want (avoiding toll roads, for example). Directions are available in five languages, in case you want to assist a wandering
BEST HOUSE AND HOME HUB:
HomeArts
