Web-Counter -- The Web-Counter is another free web service that aids in your pursuit of obtaining web stats. Like The Internet Audit Bureau, you simply need to fill out a web form and implement a snippet of code into your HTML page in order to get up and running. Unlike IAB, web stats for the page can quickly and easily be viewed as a result of Web-Counter's method of stat recording. Web-Counter offers a graphical counter which is incremented each time the page is viewed. As a result, there is no need to access your web stats from a remote computer; however, the stats are still recorded remotely and are subject to similar delays as in IAB. Web-Counter lacks several features found in its competitors. First, once initialized the counter cannot be automatically reset. Second, it is difficult to get a count of hits per day and impossible to get a count per week, month, or year. Third, there are no graphical charts for comparing hits over intervals of time. Also, customizable reports of web activity are not available with Web-Counter. Finally, if your web site is taking in mondo hits (above 1,000 a day), you'll have to pay for the commercial service. While the rates for this aren't exorbitantly high, they aren't exactly cheap either, especially when compared to the other free or nearly free services available. Despite these limitations, Web-Counter is an extremely useful and popular web service and is perhaps the most efficient method available for checking out web stats. Pros: Effortless web stats on command, extremely easy to install and maintain Cons: Lacks customizable options, lacks ability to track hits over an interval of time New: Both free and commercial services now available Version Reviewed: N/A Date of Review: 6/5/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud