With Rhapsody, MetroPCS customers can easily manage their music, allowing them to create and sync playlists on their smartphones and personal computers, share them with friends via Facebook and Twitter, as well as get individual songs or entire albums.

ENGADGET: MetroPCS partners with Rhapsody to offer unlimited music in its rate plans

Staying in contact with both business contacts and friends is also made easier by computers.

BBC: Music marches to a hi-tech tune

And everyone begged their friends to buy them computers when they went on holiday abroad.

BBC: Brazil: No reverso

Ms. BUFORD: I mean, I got police friends and, I mean, I got people with computers.

NPR: A New Orleans Native, Determined to Stay

More than half thought it would be good to make new friends and a quarter wanted to use sport facilities and computers at the other school.

BBC: Northern Ireland

Our computers link us with family and friends, help us plan future travels, and are our source of entertainment in places where movies and television in English are elusive.

WSJ: Can't Decide Where to Retire?

While the first mainframes were utilities for technologists, the Internet quickly became a utility for the masses as people started to use computers to search, watch movies, create Powerpoint presentations and communicate with friends.

FORBES: Investing In The Business Of Fun

They want their own computers, argue about allowances and ask for extra cash so they can eat out with their friends.

WSJ: Girls vs. Boys: The Great Money Divide