Quick Tips

And, as compared to Open Source products, Google™'s online services are top-notch and top rated.

Here is what you can find on the Google™ site…

Link to the Google™ Options Page…

More Services than you can "Shake a Stick at"

Here is a listing of the services that you can get from Google™ without charge.

Some cautions are in order for any of these products or services that require installation on the local computer. Your school district's IT Department may frown on any unauthorized installations, and unauthorized users may not have adequate logon accounts with permission to install software.

Even so, Google™ offers an impressive array of products to choose from.

And, did I mention that every one of these is without cost?

Alerts

Get E-mail updates on the topics of your choice

Blog Search

Find Blog's on your favorite topics

Book Search

Search the full text of books

Catalogs

Search and browse mail-order catalogs

Checkout

Complete online purchases more quickly and securely

Desktop

Search and personalize your computer

Directory

Browse the Web by topic

Earth

Explore the world from your computer

Finance

Business info, news, and interactive charts

iGoogle

Add news, games and more to the Google homepage

Images

Search for images on the Web. Note: Remember to set preferences for safe images

Maps

View maps and directions

News

- now with archive search New^!

Search thousands of news stories

Notebook^New!

Clip and collect information as you surf the Web

(Does not work with Windows™ Vista)

Note: You may not be able to use this product at school since you have to download and install software.

Patent Search^New!

Search the full text of US Patents

Product Search

Search for stuff to buy (for your classroom or for yourself). You do have a tiny bit of disposable income, don't you?

Scholar

Search scholarly papers

Special Searches

Search within specific topics

Google™ Toolbar

Adds a search box to your browser

Note: The IT Department in your school district may not allow you to download and install the Google™ Toolbar on school district computers

Video

Search for videos on Google™ Video and YouTube™

Web Search

Search over billions of Web pages. This is the Google™ Search that you know and love

Web Search Features

Find movies, music, stocks, books, and more

Custom Search^New!

Create a customized search experience for your Website. Note: This service is probably only useful to you if you manage a Website

Communicate & Share

Blogger

Build a curriculum-based Blog -- fast, easy, and free

Calendar

Organize your schedule and share classroom and school events with parents, students, colleagues and friends

Docs

Create and share your projects online and access them from anywhere

Groups

Create mailing lists and discussion groups

Gmail

Fast, searchable, no-cost E-mail with a great Spam filter

Orkut

Strange name for a service that helps you meet new people and stay in touch with friends

Picasa

Find, edit and share your photos

SketchUp

Build 3D models quickly and easily. Note: Another product that you have to install on the local computer. The same school district IT Department cautions apply

Talk

Google™'s version of Instant Messenger. To communicate with your friends through your computer, they must also have an Google™ Talk account

Translate

View web pages in other languages

YouTube

Watch, upload and share videos. Note: Your school district's content filter may block the YouTube&@8482; site because there is so much inappropriate material there. (Let your students continue watching this stuff at home.) Access to videos requires a broadband connection.

Pack

A free collection of usable software. Note: Some of the programs listed above in an easy to install package.

Special Note: Installing the Norton" AntiVirus service may interfere with the AntiVirus program that your school district employs.