Computer info links

Updates.com -- If you've ever bought software or hardware (and who of us hasn't?) then you should add this site your "visit often" list. It provides patches and updates for software along with the latest drivers for computer hardware. They also have a service that will search your PC for software that is in need of updating.

How Stuff Works
Simply put, this is an amazing site! In their computer category, you'll find information on the inner-workings of Web pages, the Internet, modems, computer programs and a host of other things. But computers aren't their only focus. Get the low-down on everything from how cell-phones work to how bathroom scales work. This is a site not to be missed!

What's In That Box?
This is a great beginner's site for someone who really wants to know what's going on inside the computer. You'll learn about chips, video, disk drives, modems and soundcards. Graphics throughout the site help illustrate the in-depth, but easy to read, information.

Data Fellows Virus Information Centre
This is a fantastic source of information about computer viruses. You'll find the latest news about new viruses, a description of all currently known viruses and even screen shots illustrating some of the ways viruses will make themselves known to you.

Computer Virus Myths
Just about all of us have received an e-mail warning about some virus that can destroy our hard-drive or cause some other serious problem. The trouble is, some of these warnings are hoaxes. Before alerting your friends, take a peek at this site and get the real story.

Windrivers.com
Need device drivers for your computer or peripherals? Chances are Windrivers will have what you need. And if you need help installing drivers, they have instructions for that as well.

ZD Journal Tips
This is the companion site for the various printed Ziff-Davis journals. You'll find tips for Windows, the Mac, FrontPage, Photoshop, Outlook and a host of other software programs.

ZD Help Channel
Another Ziff-Davis site that goes more in-depth with helpful advice for Windows, the Mac, Linux, hardware, applications and games.

Call For Help
Our Ziff-Davis hat-trick ends with Call For Help, the daily TV show on ZDTV. This site contains an archive of answers to basic computer problems that are asked on the show. They also have a daily Mac tip.

E-mail topics
Subscribe to extensive mailing lists about computers and other topics.

New computer programs
A list of new computer programs out on the market.

Tom's Hardware Page
Great resource for hardware junkies. Hardcore info, though. New users will faint with overload.

Webopedia
Great definitions for thousands of computer words. Find out what the jargon means. Good links with each definition.

FOLDOC
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing has hundreds of technical definitions. Not so polished as Webopedia, but very useful all the same.

NetLingo: The Internet Language Dictionary
One of the useful features of this site is a window that you can keep open on your desktop that contains all the words in their dictionary. As you're surfing the Web and encounter a computer-related word you don't know, go to your "desktop dictionary" for a quick definition.

Unofficial Smiley Dictionary
If things like :) and :( cause a puzzled look on your part, the Smiley Dictionary can help. You'll find the meanings of the most common smileys and definitions for smileys that are a bit on the strange side.

Chatter's Jargon Dictionary
If you've spent any time in Chat rooms, you may have seen people use shortcuts such as BRB or LOL. If you're curious what they mean and want to save yourself some keystrokes in future Chat sessions, the Chatter's Jargon Dictionary is for you.

Acronym Finder
If acronyms like SCSI make you as confused as can be,
head over to the Acronym Finder site ASAP!

Yahoo! Computers
Not a very sexy page, but there are some useful bits and pieces on this attempt to humor the computer user. The product guide is worth a look.

Care and Feeding of elderly computers
This UK page explains how to maintain geriatric computers. Some of them you've never heard of.

Help site
Links to hundreds of computer help resources and FAQs.

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