Netvibes - The Internet In One Place

Not too long ago I talked about a web application called Netvibes. I found the site through an article in Slate whose headline made this audacious promise, "In Search of the Perfect Webpage".

That article and subsequent MP3 details how great Netvibes is and how easy it is to use. Since that already exists I won't use up blog space rewriting it. However I do want to say that after using it for about a month I can't emphasize enough how great it is. I know this will be nauseating to some of you, but it has a very "MAC-trinsic" feel to the setup and interface. Which basically means it's really easy to use.

Here are some links to a couple of screen shots taken from my Netvibes. Oh one other thing, it's completely free and I have received zero spam or e-mails from Netvibes.

1. Here's how I check 19 blogs at once. When a blog has an unread post it's indicated by a red number in parenthesis. I hover my cursor on the blog icon and a drop arrow appears. Which expands the "blog module" to reveal the unread posts (and up to 20 previously read posts). Hovering the cursor over any of the post titles will bring up about fifty words of the post, which I can then decide to click on. Notice for my blog I monitor my comments in the same way.

2. Here's how I cram most of my news and weather on one page. Same principles as the blogs apply. Only this page exists under the "General Tab" at the top of the screen (notice Blogs and Entertainment are my other tags). I have the G-mail module installed so I can view my messages from here as well. How do you install a module...

3. After clicking the "add/browse content" button at the top of the page, this tool bar appears which allows you to add your own URL address (what you do for blogs) or drop in one of the "pre-loaded" feeds thats included in Netvibes.

Again this is free, nothing to download, only give you name and e-mail address. Every "module" can be dragged and moved around in any order you want. The benifits are your ability to check multiple sites at one time, and since it's web based you can pull this up anywhere you have a computer. Still a little skeptical read the article in Slate.