For those just starting their family research, I'd like to point to their searchable "WorldConnect Project" database.
Worldconnect is an ongoing compilation of over 400,000 user-submitted genealogy projects... encompassing a mind-boggling 487,539,113 surnames, which allows you to actually talk to the person who put up the data.
You can also submit your own research, which lets relatives worldwide get in touch with you. I recommend it highly, but as always... this is the internet, so "trust but verify" all information.
Best of all it's free. Happy hunting.
Technorati Tags: WorldConnect Project, Rootsweb, Genealogy