2.) ICQ In my opinion this is probably the instant messanger with the best setup and features. It's only down fall is that you can't communicate with your friends that have AOL. If that is not a problem for you definately get this. However, personally I found that I didn't use it that much because of that reason. If you want to download it you can do so here:

Okay, those are the two main ones of course with everything their are plenty of others. However, I reccommend these two. Now that you have got your instant messanger, I am sure you're gonna' want to listen to some music while chattin' with all your friends and family. The way you do this is to use a file called an 'MP3'. It is a compressed music file that allows you to listen to music on your computer with out filling up a ton of space on your hardrive...okay enough with that onto the search tools.

MP3 Search Tools

1.)Audiogalaxy Satellite
"Audiogalaxy Satellite is a real-time, transaction-based file-sharing system for MP3 users. This program uses a Web-based interface to let you search for artists, tracks, and albums, and download the tracks onto your computer. The client program is small and simple, designed to use a minimum of CPU and memory resources. Satellite automatically selects the closest user with the file you want, reducing external bandwidth usage. Files currently offline can also be selected for download, and once somebody who has the file comes online, your transfer will begin. If your download is interrupted, the Satellite Auto-Resume function will find an alternate user with the same file and complete the download." -CNET.com

It is available here:

2.)MusicCity Morpheus
"Morpheus is a full-featured P2P file-sharing application that allows users to search for all types of digital media across the MusicCity Network. Morpheus is neither central server-based, like Napster, nor based on the Gnutella file-sharing protocol. The program uses a proprietary peer-to-peer protocol to share files among users on the network. Morpheus offers advanced features such as playlist creation and media management to easily organize your file collection. It also offers an embedded Microsoft media player for audio and video playback, instant messaging, and CPU utilization throttling. The program automatically resumes broken content streams by finding another source. Morpheus also simultaneously transfers content files from multiple sources for fast downloads of large files, even from users with slower connection speeds." -CNET.com

Alrighty we are almost there...now that you are downloading media like a maniac, your gonna need something to play it there are a view programs that allow you do do different things one for video and another for audio. (note: some programs may be repeated as they can carry out more than one task.)

Audio Players

1.)Winamp
The Best no doubt about it!! This is the best audio player you can download..period!It has the best streamig capabilities and delivers a good sound. Also, you can dress it up with skins and other add-ons. Their also a a huge number of plug-ins you can download from the website www.winamp.com. Anyway I could go on forever about how great it is...so i'll shut up and give you the link...:

2.)Sonique
"Sonique is an audio player capable of handling MP3 files, Microsoft Windows Media files, audio CDs, and more. It features a dynamic, windowless interface (see screenshot), complete with a fully animated menu systems. Additional features include a full-featured playlist editor; a variety of unique output visualization modes; plug-ins; a robust control set featuring pitch, jog, and shuttle; support for skins; a balance and amplification adjustment; and a 20-band equalizer with spline-based level adjustment. Sonique supports many audio formats, including WMA, MPEG, MP2, MP3, WAV, MOD, XM, IT, S3M, and CD audio. Version 1.90 updates the MP3 decoder to AE 4.8. It also includes processor optimizations, a new tag editor, full screen scaling, and various other improvements and bug fixes." -CNET.com

However, personally I still feel Winamp is the best one out there. You can also download

3.) Windows Media Player
"Windows Media Player 7.1 consists of seven features in a single application: a CD player, an audio and video player, a media jukebox, a media guide, an Internet radio tuner, a portable device that you can transfer music files to, and an audio CD burner. These software programs are combined into one easy-to-use application designed to make playing digital media a mainstream experience. An audio CD creator and a unified player are also included with the program. This program also allows you to play streaming and downloadable digital audio, video, and other Internet content; play back CD and digital recordings; use the jukebox functionality to play or copy an entire CD to your PC in just a few minutes with one click; and much more. Windows Media Player 7.0 incorporated new built-in support for custom CD creation. It also included new skins, new visualizations, and a new Digital DJ skin that allows Media Player to create playlists. Version 7.1 adds Windows Media Audio 8 (WMA8) encoding, Windows Media Audio and Video 8 decoding, new smart transcode support for high-quality transfer to portable devices, and other enhancements and bug fixes. Note: Windows Media Player 7.1 should not be installed on computers running Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0" -CNET.com

Video Players

1.)Windows Media Player
(note: This is the best media player in my opinion, however you do need Real Player as well because despite the fact that it hogs RAM and slows your computer down many sites use it and you can only play Real Player files on its interface. So all in all you are basically forced to get this program. I personally hate the thing, but hey you gotta' do, what ya gotta do. This is my advice download both, but make Windows Media Player the Default player. It provides the best quality streaming of video.) Download it here:

2.)Real Player
Real player does the same as media player only it looks different and supports different formats. Not really much to say about it so i will just give you the link:

Well that about covers it I hope you can use this and it will help make your computer experience more convient. If you have any questions you can leave a message in my guest book and I will do my best to answer it for you. Also, you can e-mail me. Thank You!!