Experts Exchange (http://www.experts-exchange.com/ ) is the exception in the sites that I’ll recommend. It’s a “pay” site, but I believe it’s worth it. (Note: You get a free 30-day trial period. After 30 days, there are a number of subscription options like $12.95 a month, $99.95 per year, etc.)
What sets Experts Exchange apart in my opinion? Two things make it a site that I include in my IT budget: a) the breadth of the topics covered and b) the technical quality of the information and answers.
The navigation tabs tell you that the site meets a huge variety of needs. They are: Microsoft, Apple, Digital Living, Hardware, Software, OS, Storage, Database, Security, Programming, Web Development, Networking, and Other.
I have searched the existing postings on topics ranging from server issues, VBA programming, data conversion, hardware issues, etc. In almost all cases, I have found the answers I sought. The nice thing about the service is that questions that are posted are identified as “solved” or still open. Within the thread of a “solved” problem, the post that yielded the solution is bracketed in green. Both formats help to quickly get you to the answer you need.
Note: If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can post your question and request an answer. Experts compete with each other for the points a questioner awards for a solution. They also get bragging rights as the experts with the most points are listed in the “Hall of Fame”. (It’s a hokey system, but it works.)
