Websites in your Start Menu

 

Shortcuts to websites can be in the Start Menu.  So the word processor at 37Signals or Writely can be accessed the same as Word, etc. 

Web-based disk backups can be in the same menu as backups to local media. 

If you're Collaborating with others on diagrams, then Gliffy.com can be in the Draw menu.

Ditto web-based accounting, project management, quality control, ...

Shortcuts to batch files can also be in the Start Menu.  For a particular project, the batch file could open a folder and start several programs each with an appropriate document pre-loaded, saving you 30-40 seconds every time you want to work on the project.