by Matthew Adams

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: July 17, 2008

How many websites/pages does the Internet have? Take a guess, for I really don't know. But we all know, there are a lot of sites on the Web. Separating the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, is what needs to be done. Getting beyond that if you were to put a figure of only 10 sites you really have to bookmark, these are the ones in no particular order:

1.) BBC (British Broadcasting Center)

Content rich, and with design innovation to boot. The BBC website uses web technology to bring you a customizable home page. This innovation, combined with the fact that it just about has something for everybody, makes it one of the Web's best.

2.) Helium

Goes without saying really. This website has great potential and offers content provided by us, the users.

3.) Paypal

The most widely used web based transaction site. A most important website to have, especially for users of Helium and people generally.

4.) Yahoo!

A name associated with the www boom. Yahoo became one of the biggest sources of traffic; and with its huge content and variety of features it's not difficult to see why. On the face of it, it's a search engine, but really it is a whole lot more. When you look at the service pain on the left of the homepage it has: answers, autos, finance, games, shopping, tech, personals etc. The list goes on...

5.) ebay

If you want to auction, this is the site for you. The Internet's largest market place for second hand goods has a certain attraction to most users.

6.) Amazon

The world's largest book store also boasts other merchandise in the form of DVD & software. Let us face it, I am sure most Helium users would at least want to make a passing visit to the huge collection of literature on offer here.

7.) Cnet

Now we are getting to the really good stuff. Cnet is actually a general tech site, but I feel that it's best use is for downloads. It has a big library catering for just about all types of Windows downloads you could wish for, as well as Mac, mobile and webware.

8.) Softpedia

Unlike Cnet, this is an entirely specialized free software download site. And it's an encyclopedia of freeware, shareware, beta etc. Whatever type of free software you are seeking, in addition with hardware platform, Softpedia probably has it.

9.) Blogspot

Blogging has become popular. And this is one of the best blog providers there is. It's free, and has even teamed up with Google adsense!

10.) Google

A specialist search engine is required somewhere. I am not sure this is actually classed as a web-site, but should still be included. Google, one of the most widely used search engines, should be mentioned. It offers flexibility and good presentation, and will undoubtedly enable you to find what you are seeking.

Those are the top 10 websites for me. Wiki is the only other site that maybe could be in there. I have spared myself of including the web address for each site, largely because they can all be reached by typing www, and then the relevant domain name listed above, followed by .com e.g. www.blogspot.com etc. For resources, content, usefulness and presentation they are hard to beat.

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