I Recommend...
Software (Free)
- Mozilla Firefox - puts other web browsers to shame
- Mozilla Thunderbird - the best free email client around
- DVD Profiler - Powerful DVD tracking
- Real/Quicktime Alternatives - Play RealMedia/Quicktime clips without installing the full software
- 7-Zip - Must-have utility if you need to work with .zip files
Software (Commercial)
- Nero Burning ROM - The ultimate CD/DVD burning program
- CopyToDVD/CD - A cheap, but very capable CD/DVD burner
- AnyDVD - Bypasses region protection for DVD-ROM drives
- DigiGuide - The ultimate TV guide
- Dreamweaver - No other web development tool comes close
Websites
- BBC News - Still setting the standard for other news sites.
- Google News - Takes various stories from different pages - worth a look.
- CD Freaks - All you could possibly want to know about CD/DVD hardware and software. And then some.
- Television Without Pity - Missed an ep of your favourite American TV show? Try here to find out what happened. The episode summaries are written by fans of the show(s) concerned, but are done in a nice irreverant way! Be careful of reading too far ahead though!
- Widescreen.org - This movie has black bars! I want full-screen! This site explains with the help of stills from movies why black bars are there, and why you shouldn't be complaining about them.
- ScreenIt - Entertainment Reviews 'For Parents' A US-based site that lets you know if a movie has any sex/extreme violence etc. :-) Manages to be extremely detailed, while being completely non-judgemental! Also reviews CDs and DVDs.
- Slashdot - The widest variety of technological news on the Internet, if you can get past the biased summarys of the articles.
- Wikipedia - need to know something? Start here.
E-tailers
- Play.com - These folks sell both R1 and R2 DVDs. And Music CDs. And Games. And Gadgets. And Ringtones. And lots of other stuff. And very cheaply. On average every street in the UK gets a parcel from this company everyday. That says something about how popular they are. My company of choice for R2 discs.
- DVD.co.uk - Only R2 DVDs, but in general their prices match those of play.com, and recently have been even lower on some titles. But the site layout is not brilliant, and you have to enter your payment details for every order, which I dislike due to the amount I order! (some might like this, but I prefer a site to be able to remember them).
- hidefdvd.com - I get most of my R1 DVDs from this US company. Highly Recommended.
- CD-WOW - Sell CDs as well as R1/R2/R3 DVDs. Unmatched customer service, and again nice low prices. The only downside is a small product range compared to other stores. But they have most of the new releases, as well as a fair selection of the more popular older stuff. Again highly recommended.
- EzyDVD - My company of choice for R4 DVDs. Decent prices, and also customs-friendly.
- DVDPriceCheck - Searches hundreds of e-tailers all over the world to find the best price for any given disc. Includes the cost of international shipping in its calculations!
- DVDCompare - Compares DVD releases across the world, to quickly establish which disc you should order!
- Dabs - All sorts of computer hardware and software. Nice prices.
- Watford Electronics - Similar to Dabs.com. Even nicer prices, but they use an annoying delivery company.
- SVP Communications - Arguably the best suppliers for blank CDs and DVDs in the UK. They also sell related hardware.
- Amazon - Cheap books, cheap(ish) DVDs and CDs. Personally I avoid the CDs and DVDs, unless I'm looking to get the free shipping. One of the original webstores, and it shows.
Diversion / Time-wasters
- Like Jailbait? - I'm not gonna spoil this one - just make sure your speakers are turned ON, for the full effect
- Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division - Will you join the growing numbers calling for a ban to dihydrogen monoxide?
- Fark - The 'cream' of the weird web
- Heaven is hotter than hell - scientific proof!
- Hi-res photos of individual snowflakes
Got any good links? Let me know!