Web Surfing

 

Gorilla Guide www.gorillaguide.com

Gorillaguide.com is not for everybody. In fact, it’s
probably not even for most people. But if you are planning on
taking a backpacking trip across Europe, gorillaguide.com is the
place to go. The site has everything you could possibly think you
would need and even some of the things you couldn’t think of.
When you go to the Web site, you must first log onto its network
before using its services. Logging on is simple and presented
in an easy format, all you have to do is enter your name, e-mail
address and other standard information. Next, you must pick a
destination ““ a country. After this, the Web site gives you a
choice of links to different sites that relate to the desired
country. From here, several different options are presented for
further investigation. Gorillaguide.com provides both useful and
fun information and statistics on your country of choice. Case in
point: when looking at the link for England, a window pops up to
give historical background on some interesting English
contributions in history. A couple of these are blurbs on Queen
Elizabeth, Charles Dickens, and … the Sex Pistols. Yes, you can
actually click on “Sex Pistols” and it will proceed to
give you a summary (although this one is surprisingly negative
toward the band) of its significance in the nation’s history.
The blurb on Dickens is even more bizarre, saying, “To call
[Dickens] a novelist is to call Kurt Cobain a singer in a cute
little rock band.” Apparently, the site is meant to be geared
toward a college-age audience. Once you choose a specific city from
the country you entered, the site gives you all sorts of random
details about the area, such as language spoken, population, square
mileage, currency, gross national product and even the male to
female ratio. Although the information may not be exactly what the
average traveler is looking for, it is definitely interesting. The
site also provides extremely useful information with maps, rail
schedules, exchange rates and even a list of emergency contacts in
the designated country or city. Gorillaguide.com also provides a
service where people who have already traveled to certain
destinations rate various aspects of the country for others to
read. For example, they give tips on what to pack, where to
stay and where to go. The ratings of touristy spots can be
broken down further into helpful categories such as male/female,
fun/educational, etc. There is an entire merchandising section
where the traveler can buy just about everything needed for the
trip in one stop. Even though most people would probably not
want to buy much from the site, it is a convenient place to look
when trying to get ideas of all the things that will be needed for
a trip. The site is comprehensive in this aspect, also providing
links to purchase airplane tickets. Another service provided by the
site is that, upon logging on, you have access to a personal
calendar and personal wish list. The calendar is meant to be used
to plan out your trip while browsing the site and the wish list is
for the sake of bookmarking things you may want to purchase later.
These features are what makes gorillaguide.com one of the best Web
sites around for travel information. Leila Mobayen Rating:
7
800 www.800.com

For electronics consumers that equate “The Good
Guys” with bad ties and slick sales pitches, 800.com is the
virtual alternative that sells just about anything with circuits.
The giant site features electronics that range from phones and
televisions to car audio systems and MiniDisc players. In addition,
just to make sure all of the CD and DVD players you buy are put to
good use, 800.com boasts one of the largest selections of music and
movies on the Internet. However, there’s a whole lot more to
800.com than just a massive inventory. Live online help and easy
navigation ensure that your credit card won’t escape the
experience unscathed. Whether one is simply browsing or shopping by
brands, the electronics section provides detailed descriptions of
merchandise complete with customer ratings and links to additional
information. The video and home audio categories comprise the bulk
of the section, but the sheer volume of different brands and models
will have one spending serious time, as well as money on the site.
For instance, under the TV heading, Tivo, WebTV and DirectTV are
offered ““ and that’s in addition to the multitude of
standard sets available for purchase through the site. If one
isn’t in the market for a major purchase, however, 800.com is
still a great site to visit for music, movies, and even games. The
music section is conveniently organized by genre, and contains an
under-$10 category that is definitely worth a look, if only to come
up with some intriguing gift ideas. Likewise, 800.com’s movie
selection includes popular and obscure titles alike, which are a
cinch to find on the site’s search engine. The games
department is equally impressive, with a wide selection for every
major platform. If there’s a drawback to a site like 800.com,
it’s the fact that most students are on a budget. Also, being
reminded of the fact that some people actually have the living
space to accommodate a 52-inch television tends to provoke a little
envy. Anthony Camara Rating: 8