It’s 1 A.M., and you’re working on an important project. Suddenly, your program freezes and all of your data is lost. What do you do? You can’t call tech support in the middle of the night. Or maybe you can, but they just aren’t speaking your language. Don’t worry. There are plenty of places online that can give you a hand.

Before you take any advice, however, make sure the website is valid. Is it well-respected in the industry? Does it offer step-by-step advice that has worked for others? Great. Is the advice truly free, or do you have to hand over money? Up to you. Does the site ask you to perform a fix that will likely void your warranty? Move on. Most importantly, do you feel comfortable implementing the advice yourself? If not, consider hiring a professional.

PC World
PC World’s forums can help you with operating systems, hardware, and software. Their troubleshooting and advice is not limited to computers, however. If you’re in need of tech help for your printer, camera, TV, or other techie gadget, PC World can help. Answer Line with Lincoln Spector is a great resource for troubleshooting and learning more about technology in general. Also check out PC World’s How To page. PC World’s forums are moderated and users must adhere to their code of conduct. As such, you must register to comment on the site. Registration, however, is free.

Protonic.com
More than just a forum service, Protonic.com offers free computer support and advice via email. Simply create a free account, post your problem, and the answer will emailed to you in a timely manner. The site is staffed by committed volunteers from all over the globe who work together to deliver results. All computer related questions are welcome, as long as they do not involve illegal activities such as hacking.

How-to Geek
Manned by “how-to geeks,” the forum on this site is organized, and questions are responded to quickly. Post questions on Windows, Linux, Apple, Microsoft Office, Off Topic, and more, and you’re bound to find the help you need—for free. How-to Geek’s How-to section is also a great resource if you’re looking for articles on computer tips and tricks.

Tech Support Guy
Run by volunteers and paid for by donations, Tech Support Guy is a free place to find advice on computer hardware and software, internet and security issues, and general advice on a host of tech related subjects. Visit the forums for free advice on all of the above. For fun, check out General Tech, where you can find Tips and Tricks and DIY Projects. For best results, join the site. You must be 13 years of age, and agree to abide by their courtesy rules.

Ask Dr. Tech
With Dr. Tech’s free services, you get free computer support 24/7. Most responses come in 10 minutes or less. With Dr. Tech’s premium services, however, you can pick up the phone and talk to an expert whenever you’re in need of help with only a minimal wait time. (Estimates are 2 minutes.) Premium services also include remote connection/screen sharing services, Mac support, virus removal, PC tune-ups, and much more. Costs range from $19-$98 depending on what you want.

Don’t waste another minute faxing items between offices, stressing out over lost information, or spending precious time trying to find that piece of paper you wrote your client’s phone number on. The following free downloads and online services will make your mobile office life easier and more efficient.

Google Docs Online Office Suite
Google Docs is an office suite stored completely and safely online. The online feature not only allows you to create, upload, and edit files in popular formats such as DOC, it allows you to share those documents with people in your network. If you’re on the road, for example, and need to share a spreadsheet with your coworkers in the main office, just enter the email address of the people you wish to share with, and send them an invitation. They can view the spreadsheet and even make edits in real time. An online chat window will show you who changed what and when.

Like other office suites, you can organize documents into folders, translate documents into different languages, insert images, create tables, and much more. If you want to save the file to your hard drive for viewing offline, you can do that, too! Best of all, this service is completely free. Just sign up for a Google account, or sign into your Google account if you already have one. Take a tour.

Mozy (Online Backup Service)
Don’t let deleted or corrupted files, or a computer crash, be the last time you see your client list, financial statement, or other important data. Backup and recovery systems are a critical part of running a successful business. And if you want your important data backed up and stored where you can retrieve it anytime, from anywhere, Mozy could be your solution. Mozy works on Windows and Mac systems, and offers two service packages. The free version allows you 2 GB of storage space, while the premium account offers unlimited storage for $4.95/mo.

Check out all Mozy products.

doPDF
Need to convert a document to PDF? Download this free PDF tool and convert web pages, Word documents, spreadsheets, photos, and more into PDF format. doPDF installs a virtual printer driver on your computer that will appear in your Printers and Faxes list. There is no .NET framework or GhostScript third party programs required, so it uses less memory than other programs. Please note: doPDF is not an PDF viewer. To view PDF, you will have to install Adobe Viewer.

TeuxDeux

This browser-based to-do application will have you organized in no time. Features include a weekly schedule that allows you to add tasks, check off finished tasks, delete tasks, move items to a “someday” list, and more. The TeuxDeux team is also working to launch an iPhone app, and are looking into a version for the Blackberry. Sign up for free.

Memento
Love Post-It Notes, but hate the clutter? With Memento, you can have post-it type notes open on your Window screen. To create a new post-it, click on the Memento icon in your icon bar, and choose “Create new note.” A blank box with the date and time will appear. Simply type your note into the box, and move it to the area of the screen you wish to place it, or click on the title bar to shrink. To delete notes, just x out. Other options exist, as well, including colored notes, scroll bars, and hotkeys. Download for free at Guys With Towels.com.

Google is best known for its mighty search engine, but Google’s reach goes far beyond that. Google has its hands in nearly every aspect of the online world. In the past several years Google has launched Gmail, an email service; Chrome, it’s own web browser; Maps, a mapping service; and dozens of applications and software services such as Alerts, Docs, Sketch-Up, Picasa, and many, many more. Here are some of the best from 2009.

Google Squared
Launched in June of 2009, Google Squared presents your word search in a spreadsheet type grid. Unlike its search engine, it does not provide links to web pages on the topic, however. Instead, Google Squared retrieves and organizes the data you’re in need of, and allows you to build, modify, and refine the spreadsheet “square” through further web searches. Google said: “It essentially searches the Web to find the types of facts you might be interested in, extracts them and presents them in a meaningful way.”

Gmail Tasks
This easy to use Gmail function allows you to keep track of your To-Do List. To use on your computer, simply enter Gmail, click Tasks on the left hand side bar and enter your tasks. The tasks automatically show up on your calendar, which can be found on the top toolbar in Gmail. To modify your tasks, use the actions toolbar. Gmail Tasks can also be used on your mobile browser, and an iGoogle widget is available for your homepage. Gmail Tasks was launched in July.

My Tracks
Designed for Android phones, My Tracks is a free download that enables users to record where they’ve been (their “tracks”), display their tracks on a map, and share their tracks via online services. The map shows elevation, time, speed, distance, and other live statistics. Way points and positions are shown on Google Maps, either in map mode or satellite mode, and track data can be also be uploaded and shared on Google Maps. Requires internet connection.

Sidewiki
Introduced in September, Google Sidewiki is a free browser plug-in toolbar that installs alongside the Google Toolbar. It shows users comments about any page on the internet, and allows any user to publish their own comments about a web page or topic. Sidewiki entries can be shared on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, and other social media sites.

Sky Map
Use your Android phone to find planets, constellations, stars, and other celestial objects. Just point your phone at the night sky, and Sky Map will use your phone’s GPS, accelerometer, and compass to produce a Star Map based on your location. In manual mode, you can search for constellations by flicking through space or searching the database. To find what you’re looking for in the night sky, Sky Map’s arrow system will guide you. Click the link above to watch a video about Sky Map.

Fast Flip
Part of Google Labs, Fast Flip is based on a magazine’s presentation of content. Users can “flip” through pages to find stories, click on the page, and be taken directly to the publisher’s website. Content is grouped by categories so it’s easy to find, and topics are generated automatically by stories coming online. Readers can vote on articles, and if an article receives enough votes, it will be added to the Recommended section. Fast Flip users can also use their Google account to see which stories their contacts like, and to personalize their content. Currently, Fast Flip works on the iPhone and Android mobile devices as well as your PC.

Look forward to Google Wave, a real-time collaboration and communication tool.

scanR

scanR lets you use your digital camera, or the camera on your cell phone, to scan, copy, and fax. Take a photo of your important documents, business cards, faxes, receipts, whiteboards, notes, or any other item, and upload it to scanR. From there, scanR will transform your photo into a clean digital copy using advanced image-processing technology to product high-quality results. Once the images have been uploaded, you can save them as text files, PDF files, and more, as well as store, copy, and fax them, from wherever you are. Need to fax a copy of the client’s tax return to the office? No problem. Take a photo of the original return, upload it to scanR, and use their online technology to fax it over. The fax option is available for over 200 countries. Subscription plans are a reasonable $4.99/mo for unlimited use, or $29.99/yr for unlimited use. If you want to see how scanR works before committing to a plan, a free trial is offered.

scanR has received positive reviews from The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and Business Week. To take a tour of scanR, click here.

Innoport

Full service personalized voicemail and fax services are available through Innoport. The service is entirely virtual, so there is no phone or fax machine required on your end. Users receive a toll free number, a local number, or both, depending on the plan. Set your number to voice, fax, or both, and Innoport automatically distinguishes between voice calls and fax signals. For voice mail calls, you can opt to receive them via email, FTP, or via phone by dialing in, wherever you are. Advanced and business features include:

• personalized greeting
• no busy signals
• auto attendant
• multiple voice mail boxes
• call screening
• call forwarding and transfer
• custom music on hold
• dial by name directory
• and more

There is no software to install, and several plans available. Personal service plans include the Signature, Marquee, Omni, and Toll-Free. They are best if you only require a single phone number. Business plans include Jump Start and Standard Corporate, and provide for high volume discounts. All plans allow you to choose if you will use your number solely as a voice number, fax, or both, and how you will receive messages.

Personal service plans are $3.95-$7.95/mo with the first month free and no activation or set-up fees, and no term commitment. Usage charges, however, do apply after your minute allowance, and additional storage is available for $5/mo. The Jump Start Business plan has a base fee of $9.95/mo, while the Standard Corporate plans starts at $24.90/mo. For more information on subscription plans, visit Innoport’s website.

Print Me

Sign up for EFI Print Me, and you’ll be able to print anywhere, 24/7, without software, hardware, cables, or print drivers, through any internet enabled device. It’s the perfect solution for business travelers who are constantly traveling from location to location. Users go to www.Printme.com and browse or upload what they wish to print, and enter the required member information. They are given a receipt number, or DocID, which they then use to retrieve their items at an EFI site printer. PrintMe’s “Auto Discovery” feature automatically displays the print station nearest the user, and the materials remain confidential. PrintMe is compatible with most document formats, including Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, HTML, JPEG, and PDF. The print technology can handle up to 2,000 color pages per minute, and is even available in wide format. For information on pricing and how to sign up, visit EFI’s How-to Buy site.

More Articles You Might Find of Interest:

“Portable Gadgets for the Mobile Office”

“Mobile Office Tools for iPhone and iPod Touch Devices”

“Five Free Office Applications to Aid Computer Users”

“Web-based Computing Tools for Your Mobile Lifestyle”

As a web browser, Firefox is often touted as superior to Internet Explorer (IE). Many people find its simple and streamlined interface easier to use, and enjoy the tabbed browsing feature. Firefox also loads pages faster than IE, and blocks nearly all pop-up ads. (Note: Not all websites will display on Firefox, however, and some programs, such as ActiveX, are not supported by the browser.) In addition, users of Firefox have over 5,000 free add-ons to choose from to customize their browsing experience and increase the browser’s functionality. Below are five useful add-ons.

SmarterFox
SmarterFox makes browsing faster by speeding up downloads, searches, copy and paste, and other common tasks. It works by maximizing the use of your bandwidth. With SmarterFox you can:

• Download links and images in parallel
• Easily switch between search engines with one click
• Convert URLs into clickable links
• Search highlighted text
• Automatically copy and paste with keyboard shortcuts
• Quickly visit bookmarked pages
• and more

Web of Trust (WOT)

Keep yourself safe from viruses, adware, spyware, spam, and other exploits with the Web of Trust (WOT) add-on. WOT collects data from multiple trusted sources and uses a sophisticated system of algorithms to warn you if you’re about to enter a risky site. WOT rates the trustworthiness of a site, its reliability, privacy practices, and child safety content, and displays the rankings in easy to read graphs and symbols. WOT comes in 10 languages, and its ratings are shown on popular sites such as Google, Gmail, and Yahoo!.

Read it Later
Read it Later allows you to save pages of interest for later reading. Instead of saving the sites to your bookmarks, Read it Later saves your “of a one-time” interest pages to a separate reading list, eliminating clutter and making sites easier to find.

Read it Later contains:

• an Offline Reading Mode
• Easy Access Anywhere at readitlaterlist.com
• Automatic RSS feeds of your items
• Sync Between Computers
• Click to Save mode
• and more

Screengrab
Quickly and easily save web pages as images with the Screengrab add-on. Screengrab can capture entire web pages, selections, or frames, and save the image to a file or to the clipboard. It can also capture any Java or Flash embedded on the page if the programs are installed on the browser.

Billeo
Billeo is a free and secure password manager, shopping, and bill paying toolbar. Pay bills and shop at over 10,000 web sites with just a few clicks of the mouse using eWallet, which stores your information using AES 128-bit encryption technology. Billeo has been in service for over 5 years, and is currently in partner with Visa, Discover, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, and other financial institutions.

As a Password Manager, Billeo automatically saves your passwords and fills in login data at the websites you visit. You can store as many passwords as you want, and access, edit, and/or delete them by using the Passwords button on the toolbar.

To shop and pay bills, use Billeo’s eWallet. Simply enter your contact information, credit card, and bank account information, and eWallet will safely store your information for when you shop or pay bills online. This technology eliminates the need for you to enter data into the required fields every time you make a purchase or pay a bill. With eWallet, one click on the Fill Form button will do it all.

As a bonus, Billeo will remind you via email of upcoming payments and due dates.

Further Reading

“Simplify Web Tasks with Mozilla’s Ubiquity”

All Firefox Add-ons