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Software Reviews

by GeorgeH

The reviews and opinions below are posted by SnapFiles visitors. They do not necessarily reflect our opinion, and are solely based on the experience of individual users.

FileBolter
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Good to find landscape or portrait pictures  qright

FileBolter version 4.2.1
  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 2
  • Ease of use: 2
  • Value: 2
  • Overall: 2

I use "Wallpaper Changer" and wanted a way to search through lots of pictures to find ones with a landscape shape. This avoids wide blank spaces on the left and right of portrait shaped pictures and fills up the screen more. I am able to use file bolter to get a list of picture file names and paths and save the list as a *.wpl file that "Wallpaper Changer" recognizes without me needing to edit the file in any way. This is actually my only use for file bolter. However, this is the only free software I have found where I can search for landscaped shaped pictures.

    Review date: Sep 21, 2004

Mozilla Firefox
  • Freeware
  • Win2000/XP/2003/Vista

qleft  Much faster than ie6  qright

Mozilla Firefox version 0.9.3
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I tried MyIE2 (Maxthon) and Avant Browser. They are too complex for my liking and dont open web pages any faster than Internet Explorer 6. Then I tried Mozilla Firefox on my Windows XP system. I dont usually install beta software but I read so many good comments that I decided to try it. It is so much faster than Internet Explorer 6 that it is worth installing just for that reason alone. It has some nice features like tabbed browsing and a built in pop up blocker. I tried several plugins (they call them extensions) and found one that I like that allows me to zoom pictures on web pages by right clicking on the picture. Ive been able to open every web page that I have tried and not had it lock up or had any other problems. I like Mozilla Firefox a lot.

    Review date: Sep 13, 2004

2xExplorer
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  My favorite file manager  qright

2xExplorer version 1.4.1.12
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have tried a number of freeware file managers and this is my favorite. The two pane system makes it easy to move files using drag and drop. You can easily move toolbars around but can't add/remove items from it. I've found that most plugins that work on MS Windows Explorer also work on 2xExplorer.

    Review date: Sep 10, 2004

WordWeb
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  I use it  qright

WordWeb version 3.01
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have tried several freeware dictionaries and this is the one I like the best. I installed it a neighbors computer and they like it too. Be aware that it does have definitions for various 4 letter words. It doesn't bother me but it may bother some people.

    Review date: Sep 05, 2004

Empty Temp Folders
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  I like it  qright

Empty Temp Folders version 2.8.3
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I tried "iI System Wipe" but it messed up alot when I shutdown Windows XP. Empty Temp Folders allows you to select the folders where you want to delete content, in addition to url cache etc. The only feature I which it had is to auto-run at shutdown.

    Review date: Aug 18, 2004

AtStart Page
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  Works well  qright

AtStart Page version 3.11
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I like @Start because it displays favorites better than IE6. It has quite a few options to customize what you see. I'm not interested in last typed URL and history. I set it up to only display my favorites. I had no problem installing it up on Windows XP.

    Review date: Aug 17, 2004

VirDir Manager
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Only ranked 3 stars, but i find it useful  qright

VirDir Manager version 0.9
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I guess that Snapfiles ranked VirDir with only 3 stars because it does not have many features. However, I have found it handy to open folders that I use frequently without having to drill down a bunch of folders. I also installed it on someone's computer that is very much a novice. She complained she could not find "My Pictures". She would save them there using an application that had an icon for "My Pictures" but tried to open them using an application that did not have the icon. After installing this software, I simply mapped a letter drive to where the pictures were saved in her "Documents and Settings" folder. Now she just clicks on a drive letter and the folder opens.

    Review date: Aug 01, 2004

Surfpack Startpage
  • Free Trial ($29.99)
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Didn't like it  qright

Surfpack Startpage version 1.2
  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 1
  • Ease of use: 2
  • Value: 2
  • Overall: 1

I installed Surfpack but it didn't have the options I wanted. I wanted newsfeeds from CNN.com but they weren't there. I wanted all my favorites listed on a web page. That was not there either. I prefer @Start. I suppose some folks may like the options that are there, but I didn't.

    Review date: Jul 31, 2004

AVIcodec
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  It works well  qright

AVIcodec version 1.1.0.4
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

If you ever had gotten an *.AVI file that would play the sound but produce no picture, you probably do not have the codec needed to play the file. AVI files have about 300 available codecs that are not installed as part of Windows. The AVIcodec program identifies the codec that you need for your files and suggests some web sites where you might get it. However, it is usually pretty easy to find codecs using any search engine by searching for the 4 letter codec name.

    Review date: Jul 30, 2004

Audacity
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Good program  qright

Audacity version 1.2.0
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I use Audacity to edit wav and MP3 files. I like it alot. Be sure to download the free Lame software to be able to save edits to MP3 files. Lame can be accessed from the Audacity web site. The Audacity web site also has VST Enabler free download so as to support VST plug-ins. You will want it too.

    Review date: Jul 28, 2004

Ad-Aware 2007
  • Freeware
  • Win2000/XP/Vista

qleft  Good program  qright

Ad-Aware 2007 version 6.181
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

The first time I used Ad-Adware was several years ago and I was not impressed. SpyBot would find many more objects. However, Ad-Aware is now much improved with regular updates. The only problem I have had is that some spyware is not removed even after selecting to remove it during the next reboot. I did find that I could start Windows using "Safe Mode" and then run Ad-Aware which would then remove it. To start Windows in safe mode, push F8 repeatedly immediately after turning your computer on. It will bring you to a screen that will allow you to select safe mode.

    Review date: Jul 28, 2004

Spybot - S&D
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

qleft  Doesn't tell when there is a new version  qright

Spybot - S&D version 1.3
  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 1
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 3

This is one of the best spyware scanners. I also use Ad-Aware. My only problem with it is it doesn't let you know then there is a new version. Instead, it just stops performing updates.

    Review date: Jul 23, 2004

SpywareBlaster
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  Works good on cookies  qright

SpywareBlaster version 3.2
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I've found it is really good to help prevent spyware cookies from being installed, but it won't prevent all of it. I use it with Ad-Aware. If you read the license agreement, don't be concerned about the language about 3rd party software. I have received assurance that it does not contain spyware.

    Review date: Jul 22, 2004

Check Printer
  • Free Trial ($9.00)
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  Works well with quicken  qright

Check Printer version 5.6
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

This is the only tool that I have found that allows me to print checks from Quicken onto my own personal check stock. Quicken only provides the option to print checks onto their own paper stock that you buy from them. I use Check Printer all the time. It helps eliminate errors from handprinted checks.

    Review date: Jul 20, 2004

Demo Builder

Demo Builder

Create interactive Flash movies and tutorials to show how applications and systems work.

Folder Lock

Folder Lock

Create a password protected folder to store all your sensitive files and documents.

IDEAL Remote

IDEAL Remote

Take control remotely of your Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista workstations.