Do some down comforters really start off cleaner than others? Sure, according to Pacific Coast, goose pluckers extraordinaire. Not only are its "hyperclean" down pillows and comforters produced four times cleaner than most, they're also 40% fluffier. Just how the company accomplishes these daunting tasks is detailed in a few of the many informational tidbits located at this site. The passages on selecting the best down products make wine tasting seem downright unpretentious. Handsome pictures, down factoids, and convenient ordering create a must-stop for those who want to get psychologically wrapped up in their feather beds. - Robert Capps
The slogan were the moviest kind of grows on you, as does the rest of Movies Unlimited, which offers over 45,000 films on video. Now heres the big catch: To see the full selection you have to buy the 720-page catalog for $10.95but you can do that right here via e-mail. If you dont feel like shelling out the cash, a diverse sampling of the wares is also available at the site, including many hard-to-find classics, B-thrillers, old TV shows, and even documentaries. The site also features a section of soon-to-be-released videos, a FAQ, links to other film sites, and details on ordering. - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
The keyword for this Canadian-based online shop for teens is second-rate: second-rate design, second-rate copy, and second-rate selection. Spank! claims it features the coolest stuff on or off the Net, but goods offered include watches, video games, and lots of CD racks that you can find at any mall or discount store. And some items, such as a cappuccino maker, are not something teens typically purchase, especially teens young enough to think the juvenile jokes here are funny. Stick to teen-zine Spank!, which has it all over this big-loser relative. - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
Do you fall for such obvious marketing ploys as putting T-shirts in cans, giving them womens names, and charging big bucks prices for them? Then you may enjoy New York City-based Steve Maddens bill of goods, which includes shoes (in a section laughably titled Shop Shoey) plus the aforementioned T-shirts. Taste is subjective, but the shoes look amazingly like ones you can find anywhere, meaning the chunky Steve Madden heel isn't as impressive as it used to be. The sites probably best for shoe junkies and brand worshipers only, although the clean and clever design and graphics are worth a quick look by anyone. - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
This online printing and stationary shop lets you design your own business cards, letterhead, and envelopes, and have them sent to you in a few days. You can choose from a large variety of designs, which you can further customize by importing your own graphic or logo. The best thing about the site is that you can putz around all you want and fiddle with iPrints design options, and you dont have to buy anything until youve got your product just right. You can even save your work and come back another time. iPrint claims that its self-service, automated, and virtual facilities cut labor costs and pass on serious savings, and it provides detailed pricing information to back these claims. - Emily Soares
The company pushes its suite of Web and desktop publishing products here and gives you examples of the softwares art and graphics capabilities. PrintMaster Gold 3.0 includes professionally rendered art, ready-to-use photos, thousands of new graphics, and unlimited text effects. Check the gallery for samples of clip art, templates, and calendars, or send a postcard using PrintMaster designs. You can learn everything you might want to know about these products and download some of the free clip art, but thats about it. There is, however, a good selection of links to other clip art and graphics sites. - Emily Soares
In need of a new leisure suit? How about a copy of Julius Fast's book Body Language in mint condition? Groovy Juice is a virtual storefront for those trapped in the 1970s time tunnel. Browse through a top-notch collection of the decade's finest artifactsfrom disco shirts to Simplicity patterns from the bygone (and rebirthed) era of bell bottoms. Groovy Juice scours the thrift stores and flea markets so you don't have to. And it still charges much less than snooty vintage stores. - David Pescovitz
Like the pioneering Firefly site, Tunes.com asks you to rate different musical selections so that it can make suggestions of other artists you may enjoy. The process works fairly well, and the database is quite denseeven offering a long list of avant-garde recordings. Once you've found something you can't live without, you can buy the CD right from the site using a Secure Socket Layer. A fun bonus is the Tunes Profile, which informs you of what some of your fave pop-culture icons groove to 49er QB Steve Young's taste ranges from Pearl Jam to the Eagles; Bob Dole digs Johnny Mathis. - David Pescovitz
Albatross specializes in books on "nature, the environment, wildlife, the outdoors, culture, religion, travel, and New Age." The sites elegant design has a South American vibe to it, and the titles sold are all in a spiritual or conservationist vein. Besides buying books at the site, you can also purchase exotic coffees and teas and World and New Age recordings. Nothing beats a browse in a real bookstore, but Albatross relaxing design and thoughtful lists of featured selections will set your eager mouse-clicking hand at ease. - David Pescovitz