Sites to check out to meet old friends and make new ones

* Whose "Friendster" are you? (www.friendster.com)

It's easy signup and basic features make this network one of the more user-friendly sites, perfect for beginners. Users can upload multiple user pictures, add testimonials, post bulletin messages, search and add friends, send messages and view connections to the third degree.

The site promotes meeting new friends through already existing friends in your list. The down side is that it is more awkward requesting to be friends with a person you do not share a common connection with.

Unfortunately, the site is officially on beta (test mode), so pages take longer to load. When the server is busy due to a great number of users online, pages fail to load all together.

* Going tribal? (www.tribe.net)

This site is based on the concept of "tribes" -- groups with a shared, central interest, from couture clothing to cigars. It has all the basic features -- testimonials, bulletin boards and profiles -- but users focus on joining tribes, which would be connected to one or more others.

The site is also user friendly and boasts a faster connection. It may take new users a while longer to navigate and familiarize themselves around the site. Users can add a new friend through an introduction by an existing friend and view connections to the third degree.

* Your space at MySpace (www.myspace.com)

The upgraded version of Friendster, giving users more control to personalize their profile pages through .html coding. Users can add music, music videos, create links and change background, text color and their profile page layout.

Instead of focusing on creating new connections through existing ones, MySpace promotes meeting new people through user searches. Other users can leave comments on your uploaded pictures and many opt to leave marquees flashing: "Thanks 4 addin me, it's good to be here!" instead of a testimonial.

The majority of users have over a hundred other users on their friends list, half of which they don't know. This site is less rigid when it comes to connecting to other people, is user friendly and suitable for everyone.

* Linking it in (www.linkedin.com)

The site's motto "your connections are people you know and trust" says it all. It is aimed at the working pack of society -- from professionals to job seekers.

It is still based on the root idea of adding friends through existing connections and continues to show connections to the fourth degree.

Yet unlike other networking sites, which promote fun, this site is more of a professional resource helping you expand your corporate network. Instead of searching users specifically through location or interests, users can search for experts from a variety of industries.

-- Kristina Falcon