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Software Reviews

by ZenWarrior

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.

Returnil Virtual System
  • Free Trial ($24.95)
  • Win2000/XP/2003/Vista

qleft  Still needs work.  qright

Returnil Virtual System version 1.6
  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 2
  • Value: 4
  • Overall: 2

A great concept which could use better implementation. I cannot get the virtual drive (to save data while using virtual mode) to work at all--and also cannot remove it, it seems. Merely unmounting it does not work. Better and more complete documentation would be tremendously helpful. In sum, wait for the update and fixes unless you don't need the virtual drive feature.

    Review date: Dec 04, 2006

OpenOffice
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  Voodoo for ms office  qright

OpenOffice version 2.04
  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 3
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Consider OpenOffice a voodoo doll for MS Office. Downloading and using this superb software is not unlike sticking a pin into a Bill Gates or MS Office voodoo doll. I've used OO for over two years now and have not once missed the now uninstalled MS Office. Use OO and keep the ridiculous amount of money demanded for MS Office in your pocket.

    Review date: Oct 12, 2006

FastStone Capture
  • Free Trial ($19.95)
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

qleft  Great little app.  qright

FastStone Capture version 4.6
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

No drop shadows? I sometimes worry about whomever runs SnapFiles and does the initial reviews. This is for screen capture, not artistic user interfaces. Drop shadows are entirely unnecessary, unless you aren't focused simply on the task at hand--capturing a screenshot. That said, this is the best little screen capture app I've found. And, it's fast and simple. Use it and don't worry about any "missing" drop shadows.

    Review date: Oct 12, 2006

The Wonderful Icon
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  What's it good for?  qright

The Wonderful Icon version 2.2
  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 2
  • Ease of use: 3
  • Value: 2
  • Overall: 2

After installing this highly-rated (by SnapFiles) app, I then wondered for what it was any good. I could find no reason to keep it installed. This software is a solution in search of a problem. Or, I just don't get it. Either way, it has been uninstalled and I don't miss it at all. I invariably miss good and helpful software--free or otherwise.

    Review date: Oct 12, 2006

Advanced Diary
  • Free Trial ($29.95)
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  What's not to like? superb [free!] software.  qright

Advanced Diary version 1.3
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Advanced Diary is superb. It contains features that one can find nowhere else but in similar products that cost $30 or so. This freebie is a jewel. Advanced Diary has password protection, lots of preferences, self-contained back-up, text formatting, support for multiple diaries, and the list goes on.

    Review date: Feb 13, 2006

Clipboard Help+Spell
  • Free Trial ($30.00)
  • Win2000/XP/Vista

qleft  Confusing and non-intuitive  qright

Clipboard Help+Spell version 1.07.01
  • Interface: 1
  • Features: 2
  • Ease of use: 1
  • Value: 3
  • Overall: 1

It's likely just me, but I just don't get this application. At first glance, it's not at all intuitive. (Even its name confuses me. "Huh?") After playing with it for a short while, I still could not say I understood it. I have used other clipboard utilities that immediately made me more productive. However, I lost time with this one. Again, it's likely just me, but I do think it could be far more "straight-forward."

    Review date: Dec 12, 2005

Responding Heads
  • Freeware
  • Win2000/XP/Vista

qleft  Good try.  qright

Responding Heads
  • Interface: 1
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 1
  • Value: 2
  • Overall: 1

I did not find Responding Heads easy to use--at least when it came to deleting/fixing entry mistakes. In fact, I never figured out how to remedy a mistake in some cases. (That's when I uninstalled it.) It does not help that the documentation is exceptionally sparse and explains very little. Version 1 was a great try at something I do believe I'd really like, but this particular diamond is *very* rough.

    Review date: Nov 07, 2005

Maxthon
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  Maxthon beats them all.  qright

Maxthon version 1.5 build 95
  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have used Maxthon, [..], and [..] extensively. For ease of use, and believe it or not--security, Maxthon beats them all. Security, you say? I've used Maxthon for as long as I can remember. Scans of my system always came back perfectly clean. Deciding to use [..] for a day, simply for a change of scenery, I scanned afterward and found the first malware ever on my computer. Feel free to go with the hype, but I trust my computer only to Maxthon. And, it's nice to have a browser that works right "out of the box" instead of having to add countless plug-ins, as one must with either [..] or [..], to equal Maxthon's functionality. And, all those plug-in needed for [..] or [..] invariably present problems, with users saying to remove them if you wish to avoid such problems. Nope, doesn't make sense when Maxthon hits the ground running. I worship no browser; I simply use the best available.

    Review date: Oct 06, 2005

Slawdog Smart Shutdown
  • Freeware
  • WinWin (All)

qleft  Superb. it does its job.  qright

Slawdog Smart Shutdown version 2005
  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

A neat little application that does its job very nicely--something that is becoming rarer and rarer, it seems. It's perfect for watching late-night DVDs and falling asleep, but awakening to a computer that has nicely shut itself down, hibernated, etc. It fills in a gap you don't even know exists if you're now only using Windows' built-in power management.

    Review date: Sep 15, 2005

CompuSec PC Security Suite
  • Freeware
  • Win2000/XP

qleft  Bad software. rude support.  qright

CompuSec PC Security Suite version 4.18.5
  • Interface: 1
  • Features: 2
  • Ease of use: 1
  • Value: 1
  • Overall: 1

First, the software did not install correctly, with the biggest problem being refusal to make a duplicate key. Knowing having only one key was unwise, and its loss would mean being locked out of my computer, I uninstalled CompuSec. That's where the major problems began. Several apps no longer worked. And although a free product, I thought it best to contact CompuSec for advice. CompuSec insisted they were in no way at fault. They were nasty and rude, and demanded $10 "ransom" to receive any advice at all. I balked, but seeing little choice other than to pay their "ransom" to quickly get my PC back, I grudgingly agreed. (If their software could cause no problems, then why did they demand money to provide solutions?) CompuSec then refused to accept my money and stated they would not have me as a customer! Needless to say, that left me on my own. Luckily, I am fairly geekish. A week later, I finally have my system back. Caveat emptor!

    Review date: Sep 13, 2005

Skype
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Good for free. awful for fee.  qright

Skype version 1.3.0.67
  • Interface: 1
  • Features: 1
  • Ease of use: 1
  • Value: 1
  • Overall: 1

I have had nothing but an entirely negative experience with Skype after paying for their fee-based services. Customer support is non-existent, even for paying customers. Trouble tickets go unanswered, and from my experience, do not even generate an automated response. Paying customers' problems vanish into a black hole somewhere. I'll use it for free, but I'll find another provider when I wish to pay. And, although they supposedly offer a full refund if service is unsatisfactory, my refund has yet to appear. Caveat emptor.

    Review date: Sep 12, 2005

Google Earth
  • Freeware
  • Win2000/XP/Vista

qleft  What a wonderful world.  qright

Google Earth version 3.0.0395 beta
  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 3
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Just download it without asking any questions, whether you're into maps or not. You'll have the whole world in your hands, and implemented very nicely. Great job, Google.

    Review date: Jul 29, 2005

Desktop Ruler
  • Free Trial ($14.95)
  • Win2000/XP/2003

qleft  Too little for too much.  qright

Desktop Ruler version 3.04
  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 1
  • Overall: 2

Twenty dollars for a ruler?! I'll keep my excellent freeware version until the authors recognize something on the order of $10.00 would still be more than a fair price for the product. However, it is a [desktop virtual] ruler and with it you can measure. It scores points there.

    Review date: Jul 27, 2005

Flash Saving Plugin
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP

qleft  Save flash in a flash-click!  qright

Flash Saving Plugin version 1.2
  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Saving and viewing Flash objects from visited web pages cannot be made much easier. If you are looking to keep the Flash that flashes before your eyes while surfing the web, look only at 'Flash Saving Plugin' and no further.

    Review date: May 02, 2005

ieSpell
  • Freeware
  • Win98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

qleft  You don't know how badly you need it.  qright

ieSpell version 2.1.0.552
  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

This little application is a godsend. Download/install it now. (Oh, and be sure to use it.)

    Review date: Nov 18, 2004

Folder Lock

Folder Lock

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

Demo Builder

Demo Builder

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

AceSpy

AceSpy

Keep track of everything that is done on your computer.