Lance and I were tinkering with the website this evening and playing with the formatting. We both use Firefox for browsing the Internet.

He also checks the website regularly in Internet Explorer (IE) knowing that many people still use that browser. (For those who have never built a website, one of the more tedious aspects of developing a website is getting it to look the same in all browsers & on all platforms.) Sure enough, mysterious formatting anomalies happening with the website in IE. We both did a proverbial throwing our hands up in the air.

I remember the last time I used Internet Explorer on a PC. I couldn’t believe how much time I spent closing pop-up windows. And it never ceases to amaze me how much time IE users spend dealing with viruses.

Allow me to introduce any readers on Internet Explorer to Firefox.

Even back in 2004 (eons ago in computer time!) CNET senior editor Robert Vamosi was encouraging people to make the switch (see his article, Why you should switch to Firefox now.”

While Microsoft has tightened up many of the loopholes in Windows that allowed hackers to invade your computer with malicious viruses, there is still too much risk.

Firefox is a sophisticated, reliable browser. If you haven’t made the switch, why not??

An excellent tool for anyone who does billable time on their computer is StopWatch by DesignSoft for $60 (Mac and Windows versions available). No more adding up minutes manually or cluttering your desk with scraps of paper with job time notes!

This digital stopwatch tracks time for you and has a number of different customizable options that are stored in its own database. One of the features I particulary appreciate (not stored in the database) is the Description field which allows me to describe what I did during that time period.

DesignSoft offers a billing/accounting software called Creative Billing for $400 that will import the timesheets on command and then generate invoices for you. Invoice formats are customizable.

Another option: when it comes time to bill a client, sort the info in the timesheet by Job Number, open the timesheet file in Excel or Word and take the data for the client you need. Note that with this method, you have to go back into the timesheet and manually delete the items you’ve just transferred to your invoice.

They also offer a Timesheet Manager for managing multiple people’s timesheets who use different computers. You can either retrieve over your network or have your people email their timesheets to you.