Best Products of 2000

Best of the Net

Internet Tool Kit

Best ISP: EarthLink; 800/395-8425, www.earthlink.net

Best Modem: S3 Diamond SupraExpress 56e; 800/468-5846, www.diamondmm.com

Best Free Web Service: EFax; www.efax.com

Best Free E-mail: Yahoo Mail; mail.yahoo.com

Best Freeware: Zone Labs ZoneAlarm 2; 415/547-0050, www.zonelabs.com

Best Internet Utility: AskSam Systems SurfSaver Pro 2; 800/800-1997, www.surfsaver.com

With new Web sites popping up continually and broadband spreading like pennant fever countrywide, now's the time to upgrade your Internet tools. Whether free or not, these products and services make Web surfing sweeter.

To get online, try our favorite ISP, EarthLink, which boosted its cachet by acquiring the number-two national ISP, MindSpring. A new modem can perk up connections, too; we favor the S3 Diamond SupraExpress 56e ($100) for swift download speed and ease of installation.

EFax's free service uses a simple setup to receive e-mail, faxes, and voice mail in one in-box. Yahoo Mail, beyond its easy, no-cost e-mail interface, offers a wealth of features, including an outstanding contact manager. Another steal is Zone Labs' ZoneAlarm 2, a simple, effective, and free personal firewall that protects your PC on the Net.

For $30, AskSam Systems' SurfSaver Pro 2 will save Web pages on your hard drive for offline browsing and near-instantaneous searching. (There's also a free version, but it has advertisements.)

Web Sites

Best Web Portal: Yahoo.com

Best News and Information Site: CNN.com

Best Shopping Sites (tie): Amazon.com, EBay.com

Best Travel Site: Expedia.com

Best Recreational Site: Shockwave.com

Best Online Computer Store: PC Connection, 888/213-0260

Notwithstanding the continuing emergence of new Web sites and services trying to become contenders, most of our World Class picks have been around for years. Yahoo.com, the top portal, sustains its excellence as a search engine, e-mail provider, and auction house and continues to add new features such as next-generation wireless access.

Formerly known as CNN Interactive, Ted Turner's online dynasty goes by CNN.com these days. But like Turner's Atlanta Braves, it's still a powerhouse; in fact, we think it's the best source for news on the Web. (Full disclosure: PC World's parent company, International Data Group, provides most of the technology content for CNN.com.)

Both of our shopping site winners, Amazon.com and EBay.com, overcame injury-plagued seasons to capture a share of first place. Both endured their share of foul-ups this year--including denial-of-service attacks that rendered their sites unreachable for a few hours. Still, they continue to delight hordes of fans.

Dive into Expedia.com's vast wealth of travel planning information, and you will start longing for your current homestand to come to an end. Expedia.com hits a round-tripper by finding the lowest fares, handling all of your trip details as a one-stop shop, and being superfast.

If you just can't come up with the time to get away on vacation, Shockwave.com offers a wealth of entertainment when you're stuck at home. If the site's online radio stations and animated film shorts, including mini-episodes of South Park, don't grab you, its classic arcade games should fit the bill. Hop online for a couple of games of Joust or Defender, free of charge.

Finding the right place to buy your hardware and software can prove a little more difficult than tracking down MP3s. PC Connection paints the corners with its online store and print catalog, offering a terrific selection of computers, peripherals, and software--along with nice prices and overnight delivery. And even though the store does not offer online custom-configuration tools for PCs (yet), a quick call to its toll-free 24-hour sales line allows you to pick the components that you want on your team.