Google search:
Simple quick searches. I tried Bing for a minute, but just realized that I love doing Google searches.
Google Voice:
This is what got the ball rolling with me trying different tools. My daughter's school would drive me crazy ringing whatever random phone I had on the list. They would call my work number after I left work and my home number when I was at work and never call my cell. My daughter would do phone roulette and call all my numbers one after the other which also drove me crazy.
I also hate voice mail and having three voice mail systems to check was not my thing. I finally put a message on my cell that told callers not to leave a message because I would never, ever check it.
With Google Voice, I have one number that is forwarded to all my phones so that they all ring at once and I can pick up whichever phone I am nearest. I can also check my voicemail or text messages online and the voicemail messages are transcribed- not always accurately, but I get a good idea of what is being said and I can also listen to those messages online or call the Google number to check for new messages. This has been a magical experience for me. And led me to try...
Google Calendar:
The most frustrating part of trying to keep organized is trying to have one and only one system. I have tried a few things, but relied on a hodge podge of things.
I have a Treo and that works fine as long as I keep my phone with me and have the desktop downloaded to whatever computer I am working on. In the last year or so, I found myself sitting at my own desk at work less and less and syncing at home less and less.
I have a paper calendar that I insert dates pertaining to work in, but again, I don't wanna take that all over either.
We use Outlook at work for our in/out times at the office, but I haven't really made it work for home life.
Then comes Google Calendar....
I finally have a calendar that goes everywhere I go. I don't have to lug my cell phone around (Sometimes, it is nice not to be at the beck and call of the stupid thing). All I need is an internet connection and a computer or wifi equiped phone. I have a calendar for myself and another for my daughter. I can also show other calendars such as my daughter's drill team schedutle or NFL team's game schedule. It is wonderful and I can print out the schedule if I feel the need for a paper schedule.
Gmail:
I have had an Gmail acount for years, but now I use it regularly to check for new voicemail messages or to herd personal messages to. I like the fact that it has different backgrounds that I can use that change thoughout the day (shows a different scene for morning, afternoon and night).
Google Reader:
Instead of putting all these separate blogs in my bookmark list and checking every now and again to see if the author has posted to thier blog, I can suscribe to the blog and check in this one spot for any updates.
Google Notebook:
Like a portable Microsoft Onenote. I LOVE Onenote, (see my previous posting) but I need it installed on every single computer I use for it to work for me the way I would like for it to. Now I have discovered Notebook, which unfortunately is no longer being developed and new accounts can't be made, but if you have it now, you can still use it. I have cut and pasted a few recipes I found, and love that I will be able to bring up my geeknotes at work, in a class, at the library, at home, on my daughter's computer, WHEREVER I want.
Google Wave:
A super duper way to collaborate on a project, event, document or whatever. It is like Microsoft's Sharepoint except once again, portable. You could use Google Groups, for discussion boards, but this is boards on steriods. Right now I have no one to wave with, but hopefully I will be able to convince somebody to try before I propose that the Volunteer Guild I work with use this instead of what we are using now.
Picasa:
I downloaded this program just to see what it could do. I was impressed because it was able to sort my pictures by the people in them. So if I was to look for a picture of my daughter, all I have to do is click on her name and all the pictures with her in them will appear. This is fantastic. It also does some light photo editing which is great, I am not looking to be Annie Lebowitz, just take a picture to record the moment.
Google Maps:
I use Google Maps to get from point A to B. I can get directions by car, by foot, and by public transportation. I can also see what traffic is doing. Very nice to plan those trips where I have no idea where I am going.
Blogger:
Of course I am using Blogger right now and I feel more comfortable using this than other hosting sites.
iGoogle:
This pulls it all together. This my personal Google homepage. I open up my browser and iGoogle appears. I set it up so that my calendar, notebook, gmail, wave, blogger and other items are right there on the front page. Right now, it has the Owlie theme on it and it changes depending on the time of day. Last night, I went to look something up and it showed Owlie in bed, This morning, it showed him getting out of bed and right now, it is almost 8 pm and he is sitting under a tree enjoying the sunset with a few bird friends. Sweet.
Google has a lot to offer at the great price of FREE.