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Here's a nifty program you might enjoy: GuruNet. It's based on the old Atomica, which you might be familiar with. I've had GuruNet installed for a few weeks now and decided to keep it. GuruNet is "super-reference tool", including search-engine, dictionary, spell-checker, thesaurus & encyclopedia. It also performs langauge translations. They explain their product here. For search-engine, I use Google and Fravia's page. For dictionary, I use WordWeb and Onelook. For encyclopedia, I use Encarta and Wikipedia. But GuruNet allows you to find the definition of any word by simply holding down the ALT key and clicking on the word. This makes it super-easy (1-click) to look up any word you don't know. An English professor at Franklin & Marshall college once told the class: "Look up the definition of any word you don't know. That's how you get A's in all your subjects." For some reason, that bit of advice stuck with me. Now, many years later, I never read a book without a dictionary handy. And when I cruise the web, and stumble across a word I don't know :> ALT-click for an instant definition. Simply close GuruNet, and you're right back where you were. Couldn't be easier. The program offers full features for 7 days, then reverts to the free version. No nag-screens appear after the first 7 days. The free version is fine. First thing you'll want to do is disable the annoying 'swosh' sound the TopicBar makes when opening & closing it. Do this by: Tools > GuruNet Options > TopicBar tab > Remove check for box labeled "Use sound effects". You can also remove the Topicbar there, if you find you don't use it. I think you'll like this program, especially its 1-click feature. |
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