Most PC users have a handful of items and applications that they access weekly, daily, or even hourly. Internet addicts will admit to frequently seeking out that link to their current browser of choice; the family financial guru can't resist accessing Quicken files or Excel spreadsheets; and gamers won't deny their need to challenge the bad guys, up their high score, or beat their fastest time, possibly several times throughout the day.

By now, most of us know we can find our favorite applications at any time via Windows XP's maze of menus and submenus under Start and All Programs. But not many of us enjoy searching and seeking through that stacked alphabetical list every time we need a particular software package.