Overall:
This computer-related magazine has some good articles and reviews, written for beginners and intermediates. Waiting to view a page (37+ seconds) is annoying, given the miniscule content.

Content:
Introductions are folksy, reviews are more informational. The authors are discerning enough to have reviewed many of the better-known, and a few uncommon, programs and services. Critical comments are rarely specific. Some descriptions are exaggerated (such as calling a 400K program ''tiny'').

Navigation:
Within an article, links are convenient (along the right side of the article), but in small text using poorly chosen non-standard colors. File-tabs are used to navigate across the site, so it's difficult to navigate unless your graphics are enabled.

Page Stats for: 4th Annual Best Free Stuff Online

Download time: 37 seconds Page Size: 118K Content: 2K, 2% (20% of screen space) Graphics: 77K, 65% (29 total) Other: 39K, 33%

Ads: 26 total 12 text ads 14 graphic ads 1 banner 8 blinkers

Layout:
Blinking banner at top, with navigation underneath; good contrast between text and background. Moderately busy with graphics. Obviously PC World needs to make money, but you have to wonder if they considered applying their own words to their site:

''But while these services may be free, your time--and bandwidth--isn't. Whether they're splattering ads all over their pages,'' ... ''these sites have one goal in mind: to get you to put your money where your mouse is.''

-- Reviewed on 1999-05-27, doug@usewisdom.com