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Now that all the year-end capital equipment purchases have been booked and all the holiday gifts opened, why not take a few minutes to share what you've learned about that new desktop, notebook, camera, wireless hub, or other gear that you bought or received?

That's the idea behind the latest feature at PCWorld.com. In cooperation with our friends at PriceGrabber.com, we've added a feature that lets you rate products and see how others rate them (see a sample).

The new user ratings supplement the test reports and expert opinion that PC World has long provided. And they complement the vendor ratings that were introduced last year to help you see--when you scan our comparative price listings--which merchants deliver good service. (Surprise, surprise: The ones with the lowest prices don't always score best.)

User product ratings add a new dimension, however. For example, Executive Producer Andrew Eisner was about to pounce on a motherboard and processor combo for just $200 recently until he checked the reviews. "Fortunately, one person alerted me to some potential problems," says Eisner. "I may still buy it, but at least I'll be going in forewarned."

To rate a product, click the Product Finder tab at the top of any PCWorld.com page, locate your product in the listings, and then click on Rate this Product (see the sample input page linked above). You'll need to register if you haven't already done so. But once registered, you can also use the product-tracking feature to get an alert if an item drops below a specified price.

In another development, those of you who use America Online may be pleased to know that you can now reach PC World directly on AOL, and you'll soon find it on AOL.com (the service's Web site), CompuServe, and ICQ.com. Since November, PC World has provided news, reviews, and how-to articles for AOL's Computer Center, including streamlined versions of our Top 100 charts and Buying Guides for many types of PC and electronics equipment. Check it out at AOL keyword pcworld or by clicking the Reviews button in the Computer Center. And as always, feel free to send me your comments at kevin_mckean@pcworld.com.

Tell Us What You Think: Rate this issue--you could win $500. You'll need your subscriber number from the mailing label to take this survey online. The site explains official rules and how non-subscribers can enter. It's open from January 3 through January 31, 2002.

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