Personal Productivity - 2 Favorite Computer Time-Savers

Today I'll give you two free resources that can save you scads of time on the internet.

Google Toolbar
The autofill feature alone makes this one of my favorite tools [Fill out web forms with one click!], and it always amazes me how few people have this neat little tool installed. Even if you do, there's a new version that will allow you to access your toolbar from any computer, clip content as you browse the web, and customize your Toolbar with gadgets from your favorite sites. It's quick to install, unobtrusive, and, in 5 years, has never caused problems on my computer. There's a great 1 minute video describing the features on the same page where you can download the toolbar.

Del.icio.us
Remember going to the library to use the encyclopedia? I would get so caught up with reading other interesting entries that I would lose track of time. Author Fran Halpern calls this "research rapture". The instant availability of the Internet just compounds the problem. Luckily I discovered Del.icio.us, which allows me to bookmark and give topic tags to interesting sites with a click of my mouse. Here's why I find it more valuable than bookmarking: I can highlight a portion of text to remind me why I saved the site, I can access (and save) material from any computer, and I can share my picks with others. See how I share information I find interesting.

Your time is valuable, and I hope these two resources help you maximize it. Feel free to call me with any questions or comment on this post - I'd love to hear from you.