This post is the second of three based on The College Student's Productivity Guide - 27 Apps, Tools, and Resources posted at the Online Education Database. As I've indicated, the resources here seem to be geared toward the matriculated student; they're also handy for the students of life.
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The posts split this way:
- Online Research
- Buying and Selling Textbooks
Handy Tools - Homework Composition
Social Networking
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BUYING AND SELLING TEXTBOOKS
Check out the Books & Magazines category at eBay before paying top dollar or 
accepting bottom dollar for textbooks. Some listings: biographies and memoirs, philosophy, religion and spirituality, medical, psychology, reference.
Try a CampusBooks search through millions of new and used textbooks to compare prices offered by dozens of bookstores and thousands of sellers. Categories include accounting, architecture, algebra, biology, business, calculus, chemistry, communications, education, engineering, english, nursing, history, law, medical, psychology, spanish. The site also has a sell-back feature.
Browsing through the books at Amazon.com can yield discounted textbooks as well as other items for campus (or non-campus) life. Set up a seller's account to recycle some of those books for cash at the end of the semester.
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HANDY TOOLS
A free Web 2.0 extension for Firefox and Flock, Book Burro is a comparison shopper that senses books mentioned on any web-page, locates the book(s) and displays a panel listing prices at various online bookstores. Software to find books in local libraries is in the works.
What's in a web browser? Whatever it is, Firefox has it. It's fast and powerful, secure, and, with it's many downloads and extensions is can be personally
customized with tools, widgets, and themes to get a lot of bang for the buck. By the way, there are no bucks; it's free.
Once downloaded, the free Google Toolbar, with automatic updates, is always the current version. The toolbar facilitates general web browsing, allows searches from any site, is available for Firefox and Internet Explorer, and blocks pop-ups, Check the site for additional tools.
Ever hear of GIMP? It's the GNU Image Manipulation Program and it's a free alternative to PhotoShop. Distributed for free (of course), the GIMP software is useful for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. Download Windows, Mac, or Linux versions from the site.
No fax machine needn't mean no faxes with the eFax Service. Directly from their site: "Our appeal and success are built around three key features: the widest selection of phone numbers; an easy way to send and receive faxes and voicemail by email; and a fast, reliable and secure communications network". That about says it.
Everyone who drives can use MapQuest at some time. Provide "to" and "from" information for the directions and there they are on the monitor. The service is also available (through wireless subscription) on cell phones and BlackBerries. In Beta right now, MapQuest is also providing a service to "Find the Lowest Gas Prices"; that should appeal to everyone.
Too many choices? Need some help deciding? Try the aptitude test at The Career Key. Designed "to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide -- to empower and enrich people's working lives" the test can help choosing a major or changing careers. It might be the answer to the direction dilemma.
Next up, Homework Composition and Social Networking. Both categories are appropriate for all ages.
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