Activity for August 12

Review - Norton Removal Tool
2008.0.3.15 (Mar 25, 2008)

Norton gets a lot of criticism for its software, but it sure does sell a lot of it. Let's all be fair--when it is working (usually when it is new), Norton stuff works pretty well. People complain it is bloated, hogs resources, etc. but on today's powerful machines that is not as big a problem as people make it out to be. That said, eventually, Norton products will go belly up and take your system with it. This is a great little tool to help you when (not if, but when) this happens. It doesn't always kill every little file, but it will generally take it out of your system and leave what's left as inert
Review - Spyware Terminator
1.8.2.936 (Jan 25, 2007)

Despite it's***ory/relationship(now ended)with malware maker IBIS, ST has progressed nicely as a useful tool in the battle against things we don't want on our computers.

One has to love the realtime scanner, typically only found on commercial apps, and its on demand scanner seems competent enough.

However, it does have flaws. I cannot say how representative my own experiences are when compared to others, but I have installed it on my four home machines, and recommended it to other acquaintences/family members as an expanded test bed of PCs.

In 3 of the 7 machines I have been monitoring for the past 6 months, ST has spontaneusly malfunctioned in several, painful ways. On one machine, it suddenly started preventing any program from saving files. On another, it began blocking emails for Outlook Express. On the third, it simply started chewing system resources like there was no tomorrow, slowing the machine to a standstill.

Now, the other 4 worked (and work) flawlessly, but the 3 required a complete removal of ST, upon which all three machines stopped exhibiting the above problems.

The odd thing was how each problem (which began after an update) was dissimilar from the others.

So, a 3 from me, but still worth watching.
Review - Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
1.5 (Aug 8, 2006)

awesome program--can't tell you how many times I have had to reinstall other people's systems and they've misplaced their CD-KEYS keys (stick them on the case, people!)

In victor's defense, Windows Onecare (big surprise) does report it as a trojan. People, be kind. He was trying to warn people about a valid message he got.

Calling him ignorent/other names is just rude
Review - Microsoft Windows Defender (32-bit)
1.1.1347 Beta 2 (Apr 13, 2006)

Unbelievable how badly MS has messed up Giant's once great software package. It is more difficult to manuerver the user interface, it is more resource intensive, and still does not update!

If you were making an update of significance, and you're product was based on a constantly evolving environment like malware that absolutely required updated definitions, wouldn't fixing the update mechanism be TOP priority?

Very disappointed
Review - SpyHolesList
1.1 Beta (Feb 23, 2005)

Interesting, I think....let's see if the old computer has any security holes I am unaware of. Download, install, run, click "Get security report and watch the little progress meter work it's way across to completion and then....NOT RESPONDING.
Reboot, try again, same result.
Reboot, try again, same result.
What's the definition of insanity again? Ah yes, doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result. Back to work, regrun people. Wish I could offer more info, but the thing doesn't even crash right. It just stops.
Comment - Can Vizio snatch the Android tablet biz like it did with LCD TVs?
1.1 Beta (Aug 12, 2011 - 11:47 AM)

With everyone harping on the bezel width, I have to admit it is not the most attractive tablet in the world, but oddly, when I saw it in the store and played with it, I didn't even notice it. What I did notice is that the capacitive screen was far more responsive and the UI far zippier than other low end tablets and better than the low end Galaxy tab (and probably as good as the ipad first gen.

It's actually pretty nice. I can see them doing well with it.
Comment - Mark Russinovich and Aaron Margosis introduce 'Windows Sysinternals Administrator's Reference' [video]
1.1 Beta (Jul 29, 2011 - 11:08 AM)

Ohmigosh, it's out? This book was supposed to be published in September of 2009. This is the book equivalent of Duke Nukem!

S'funny...I actually asked for this book as a birthday present and my wife gave me a Border's gift certificate, since it was due to be published a week after my birthday--and now Border's is out of business! Auggghhhh!

(not making fun of it--well, a little--but I'm going to go buy it)
Comment - Are tablets a fad?
1.1 Beta (Jul 15, 2011 - 8:19 AM)

I bought a tablet in March. I like it. At first, I used it as a replacement for the laptop about 70 percent of the time, but as I have continued to use it the weaknesses of the tablet platform have seen that percentage shrink dramatically. I probably will pick it up 25 percent of the time when I need a portable computing device and use the laptop more frequently. If my laptop (a desktop replacement beast with a 17-inch screen) were smaller, I might use the tablet even less. I still like it, but is mainly a sit on the coffee table/nightsand for light reading, surfing device.
Comment - Have cybercriminals created the perfect botnet -- undetectable and indestructible?
1.1 Beta (Jul 4, 2011 - 10:19 PM)

uhm, fixmbr?
Comment - iPad isn't hurting PC sales, claims NPD
1.1 Beta (May 10, 2011 - 9:58 PM)

Got an Ipad first generation. Love it. Got a laptop. Love it. I don't see any reason to upgrade to an Ipad 2. The ipad 1 is perfect as an ereader and as a "search" appliance. Games and real work belongs on the laptop. I will upgrade my laptop 3 times before I upgrade my tablet.