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Software Reviews
by Nikita
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.
- Freeware
2000/XP/Vista
Resources hog! 
Outlook on the Desktop version 1.3.3
- Interface: 1
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 1
- Overall:
In my opinion this is quite a useless program. When I discovered it I thought that I could run it instead of Outlook itself and save my PC memory as Outlook is quite hungry with resources. But the result was the opposite: each time you switch from Calendar view to Inbox, Tasks or any other part of Outlook on the Desktop a new instance of the service Outlook.exe starts running in the background (you can see it in Windows Task Manager). And all instances of the service Outlook.exe are kept! The program itself takes about 20 MB of memory + each instance of Outlook.exe takes about 15 MB and thus in the end of the day you can find yourself giving this resources hog 200-300 MB of your computer memory! A very bad piece of work!
Review date: Oct 16, 2007
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP
Real little gem!
PureText version 2.0
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
In my view this tiny application (only 12 KB!) is really invaluable for those who intensively works with various texts. Being a translator I need many times a day to copy text in one program and paste it into another and it's very annoying to change the formatting each time after pasting. PureText allows to elegantly solve this problem: I copy some text, click CTRL+B hot-key (it's a hot-key of my choice) and the text is pasted without any formatting or it acquires the formatting of the target text. And did I say that PureText is free and doesn't require installation?
Review date: Aug 02, 2007
- Free Trial ($29.95)
- 98/ME/2000/XP
One of the best startup managers I`ve tried.
InControl version 2.4
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 2
- Overall:
Genarally I like this proggy. PROS: Simple to use and nice-looking. I especially like the Heal My PC feature which other similar programs don't have and Black List - the matter is that there are programs that stubbornly add themselves into startup whenever you run them even if you have previously removed them from there (for example MSN Messenger, Ashampoo Uninstaller Platinum, ABBY Lingvo Tutor). With InControl's Black List it is easily solvable: once you have added an application to the Black List you will never need to bother removing it from the startup list again. CONS: 1) I don't want Welcome Wizard to pop up each time I run the program and I haven't managed to find how to stop it. 2) I would prefer Black List feature to block intruders for good so that it was not necessary to run InControl for that. 3) The price is too high.
Review date: May 09, 2007
- Free Trial ($39.95)
- Win (All)
One of the best antivirus software around.
avast! 4 Professional Edition version 4.7.826
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 4
- Overall:
It seems to be quite reliable with its regular automatic online updates of virus definitions (sometimes twice a day). I switched to Avast from Norton which took SIGNIFICANTLY more of my computer resources than this program and was EXTREMELY slow. Avast works very quickly. It has quite unusual but convenient interface (in pro edition you can switch to more conventional enhanced user interface). I have checked this app with several testing tools and it has passed all the exams. I have already been using Avast during several months and so far haven't noticed any cons.
Review date: May 27, 2006
- Freeware
- 2000/XP
It's definitely the best.
Unlocker version 1.8.3
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Utterly indispensable for those who often delete files or folders. I'm one of those and I had tried several other apps before found this little tool. It's definitely the best. Now I don't need to reboot to delete a stubborn file or folder. And everything is under your control: before making a decision to delete a file you can see what's locking it.
Review date: May 22, 2006
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista
One of my favourite tools for pc maintenance.
RegSeeker version 1.45
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
It is small, fast and doesn't require installation: just put it on your system and run. Once a month I use it for cleaning my registry of redundant/obsolete entries and errors. I install and inevitably uninstall lots of programs and RegSeeker is an integral part of my uninstall routine: a lot of programs are badly written and leave many entries even after proper uninstallation and RegSeeker helps me to find those unneeded items in the registry and delete them. This utility has also many other useful options. So far I have never had problems with RegSeeker and I would highly recommend this superb program but not to novice: one should be very careful making changes to the registry, you should understand what you do. Even to experienced PC users I would advise to always use "Backup before deletion" option of the program and also make a system restore point before using RegSeeker: that way you can recover from any mistakes you may accidentally make.
Review date: Sep 09, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/Vista
Superb utility which can be very useful.
AxCrypt version 1.5.4.2
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Some ideas on AxCrypt usage are given on the program homepage. I'm a freelance translator and would only like to add one specific idea of how it can be used in our business. Imagine that you have a customer whom you don't know well or don't trust. You have several files to translate. You do your job and then you send the files to the customer but all (or some) of them are encrypted with AxCrypt and though the customer has the files he can't open them without your authorization. The best thing is that he doesn't need any special software installed on his machine to open the files. All he needs for that is the password which will be sent to him as soon as he transfers the payment to you or on any other terms. Certainly the app should be used like this very carefully and only as the last resort but still it's nice to have such a tool in your arsenal.
Review date: Aug 25, 2005
- Free Trial ($39.95)
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Great app but not without drawbacks
CATraxx version 6.22.02
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 3
- Overall:
A very nice music organizer. I have already tried many of similar apps and come to the conclusion that CATraxx is the best. What I like most of all in this program is that it's totally customizable. At the same time I have noticed one very serious drawback: CATraxx doesn't support Cyrillics as well as other non-English alphabets as I suppose. Unfortunately FNProgramvare are not going to improve their software from this point of view.
Review date: Jul 11, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Perfect for simple screenshot tasks.
Gadwin PrintScreen version 2.6
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 4
- Overall:
Gadwin PrintScreen isn't so versatile as ... but it is small, free and does it work very well. A propper tool for an average computer user, perfect for simple screenshot tasks.
Review date: Jun 15, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/Vista
Superb little app
FastStone Photo Resizer version 1.4
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Very easy to use superb little app with a nice interface but if you need more functionality go for free FastStone Image Viewer: it can do everything Photo Resizer can + much more.
Review date: May 05, 2005
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista
One of the best antivirus software around.
avast! Home Edition version 4.6.652
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
It seems to be quite reliable with its regular automatic online updates of virus definitions (sometimes twice a day). I switched to Avast from Norton which took more of my computer resources than this program. Avast has very unusual but convenient interface. I have checked this app with several testing tools and it has passed all the exams. I have already been using Avast during several months and the only negative remark I can make is that scanning of my HDD (20 GB on one partition) takes quite time.
Review date: Apr 22, 2005
- Free Trial ($39.90)
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
it's a pleasure to work with such an app.
AconDigital Acoustica version 3.2.264
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I tried many sound editors and recorders, CD rippers and sound converters and though I don't like Swiss army knives, Acoustica became a program of my choice. Mainly it is a sound editor supporting many formats and having lots of features and effects. I am engaged to voice over and narration and Acoustica gives everything I need for this kind of work: I record files, then I edit them and finally save them into the format I need. You can also transfer music from your vinyl records and tapes into CDs with noise reduction and automatic track splitting. With Acoustica you can rip audio CDs, convert files from one sound format into another and even compile and burn audio CDs (in .cda) out of your MP3 collection. The resulting quality isn't bad. The app isn't very hungry in terms of your computer resources and has a very pleasant, convenient and intuitive interface. The proggie is supported by a detailed help file and user guide in PDF.
Review date: Apr 09, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Nice little program, neat and simple.
Minimail version 2.1.1
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Minimail is perfect at what is promised: ability to write and send emails without the need to open a bulky, full-featured email client. Totally free.
Review date: Apr 07, 2005
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP
It seems this app is useless.
A.F.7 Merge your files version 1.3
- Interface: 3
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 1
- Overall:
I needed a program to merge PDF files and decided to try A.F.7. It couldn't do it. Out of pure interest I tried to merge MS Word files and got the same result: nothing. It seems this app is useless. Now I merge PDF files with a help of Ap PDF Split Merge. It costs some money but works perfectly.
Review date: Mar 18, 2005
- Free Trial ($14.99)
- Win (All)
Tries to be everything but...
Tray Helper version 4.7
- Interface: 3
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 2
- Overall:
This program is quite promising but still has many bugs and consumes a lot of resources. It tries to be everything but what I need is just a good and stable email checker. In this respect POP Peeper is much better IMHO. And besides anything else POP Peeper is free.
Review date: Feb 23, 2005
- Free Trial ($29.95)
- 2000/XP/Vista
Spy sweeper: mercedes benz 600 of antispyware
Spy Sweeper version 3.5
- Interface: 3
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 2
- Overall:
Many of us wouldn't mind to ride a luxury Mercedes Benz 600 but not all of us can afford it. The same I can say about Webroot Spy Sweeper: it's a very mighty app but it takes too much time to scan and in addition to that while scanning it takes so much of your computer resources that only those with very powerful computers can do anything else during the scanning process.
Review date: Feb 20, 2005
- Free Trial ($29.95)
- Win (All)
No improvements in startup time
Startup Faster! version 1.6.6
- Interface: 4
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 1
- Overall:
Startup Faster 2004 2.1.4: I haven't noticed any improvements in startup time of my WinXP. Perhaps even on the contrary.
Review date: Jan 10, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/Vista
Not stable and takes too much resources
Rainlendar Lite version 0.19.3
- Interface: 4
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 2
- Overall:
I've tried Rainlendar 0.20 and come to the conclusion that it's not stable enough yet (on WinXP), this is the main drawback. I also didn't like that IMO it takes too much resources. I would prefer not to have events and to todo-list and thus to save some resources. What I like is its graphic design, skins and ability to customise. I personally prefer to use Calendar 2000 4.3 which doesn't look so pretty but is very stable, lightweight (only 500 K when minimized to the taskbar tray against Rainlendar's 6,500 K) and has everything I need and even more.
Review date: Dec 19, 2004
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Firefox: a new infectious disease?
Mozilla Firefox version 1.0 PR
- Interface: 4
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 3
- Overall:
They say Firefox is fast. Yes, it's quite fast but not faster than MaxThon. They say that Firefox is great because it offers tab-browsing. MaxThon offers the same. The only difference is that MaxThon tabs are much more customizable and convenient to use. Firefox takes at least TWICE as much resources as MaxThon does! And now security. During last two years that I have been using MaxThon I never had any virus infected my machine: I simply do know how to behave when you work in the internet and I also use three layers of effective security apps. The only thing I really like in Firefox is its graphical design. The bottom line: If you are not too computer savvy and need something not very convenient but simple to use, if you are not too concerned about your system resources go for Firefox. If you would like to have more options, if you know how to secure your computer using standalone apps, if you want to use sparingly your resources go for MaxThon Light.
Review date: Oct 29, 2004
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Everything in general & nothing in particular
Winuscon version 1.56
- Interface: 3
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 1
- Overall:
It seems Winuscon is trying to do everything in general and nothing in particular: I don't like such huge combines. I do prefer little and simple proggies which usually do their work better than parts of such Swiss army knives. Besides that Winuscon eats much of system resources. On my WinXP it was quite stable though and I have managed to uninstall it without any problems (but I use Ashampoo Uninstaller).
Review date: Sep 28, 2004
Create interactive Flash movies and tutorials to show how applications and systems work.
Optimize and improve your PC performance, fix problems, undelete files and more...
A powerful monitoring solution to record PC activity, including keystrokes, email and more.
