The Goo, Goo, Googley Toolbar
by Gary Woods

Google, as you no doubt know if you've used the Internet at all is the coolest search engine on the planet. If it's not in Google, it probably doesn't exist. To enhance their users experience they created the Google Toolbar, which is free and can be downloaded at http://toolbar.google.com.

The first thing it does is to allow you to search Google without even going to the site. Just enter your search words in the box and search either Google or just the site you're currently viewing.

Another feature is what's called Google Page Rank. This little bar shows you the popularity of the site that you're currently viewing. It's a scale from 0 to 10 and reveals the ranking of that page.

Even if you don't use Google to search or want to know how popular a particular page is, the next feature alone is worth getting the Toolbar. The feature is a Popup Stopper. That's right, just by installing the Toolbar; most of those insipid Popups are a distant memory.

A feature I'm finding very useful is AutoFill. You can enter your contact information and anytime you get on a site that asks for your information you can just click AutoFill and it's done. You can even put in, although I don't recommend it, your credit card information to be AutoFilled.

So what are you doing sitting there reading this? Go out and get the Google Toolbar now.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910