Did you know you can use Google to watch for articles of interest using keywords in most media, including newspapers, magazines and of course the web? Google will search for your key words and email you the results daily. Try using your name, or LKQ, or auto recycling. There is information every day!

As you know, I am an avid user of a PDA (personal digital assistant), first using a Palm and later a Sony Clie. I have been told that I am a power user having a dictionary, movie clips and numerous other tools on my Palm. I recently purchased a “merged product”, so, now, my cell phone and PDA are in one unit, the Treo 650. I really enjoy the freedom of only carrying one device. This device will make you MUCH more productive, keeping your schedule and contacts in it.

Tired of logging onto all those websites (including Copart and eBay)? Are you finding your passwords are getting more numerous and difficult to manage? I use a program called Roboform. A limited version, which is likely all you need, is available at www.roboform.com. This utility will automatically fill out all those forms for you and remember all your passwords. You can visit a new website to order something and complete the order in just a few seconds! It saves your personal and business identities as well as credit cards, so you can choose how you want to register and/or order.

Are you tired of waiting and waiting for the Microsoft search function to find your files? And of course, as you may know, it doesn’t search emails. Download Google’s desktop search tool. Just visit http://desktop.google.com, and download their free search tool. It will search your computer the same way it searches the Internet, doing it lightning fast! It will display emails, documents and websites containing the words you are searching for. And, just like Google, you can choose exact phrases, plus words, etc. You aren’t limited to just a file name or certain words like you are in the Microsoft tool.

Check out the public records on your company or yourself at www.searchsystems.net.

I have several different electronic devices that use memory cards, so I utilize a four-in-one card reader. This eliminates the need for cables for all your devices and it’s just easier to use. Simply put the card from any of your devices into the reader and it’s ready to read or write to. These are very inexpensive; I paid $15 at Circuit City. Don’t bother buying a card reader that only reads one type of card (if you only have one type today), as the four-in-one reader is just as inexpensive and you will likely get another device in the future that uses a different type of memory card.

I created an email folder for “computer stuff and orders.” You know... you ordered something but then can’t find where or when, to resolve a dispute or non-receipt. When I am on the website at the order page, I simply send myself the page and put in the subject line the pertinent words. If the page can’t be sent (sometimes it’s restricted), then I darken it for a copy and paste it into the body of an email I send myself. Tired of looking for those pesky registration numbers, etc., that you can’t seem to find? Send them to yourself in an email. And, if you have to reload a program (sorry), you’ll need that information. It’s easy to search the folder for the keyword “Norton,” and get the registration key for a program I paid for and downloaded over a year ago.