Home > User Reviews

Software Reviews

by ianmacm

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

Excellent alternative to Windows briefcase

FreeFileSync

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Let's face it, the Windows Briefcase is rubbish and has not changed for years. This is a full featured alternative with a range of options. It is also no install, so it can be run from a USB pen drive. Definitely worth a look.

Review date: Aug 26, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista/7

Ok, but a bit complicated

Supercopier

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

There are some features here that are not found in Windows move/copy, such as the ability to pause the operation. However, the Windows version of move/copy is enough for most users.

Review date: Aug 23, 2009

Freeware
XP/Vista/7

55mb and this is all it does?

Nero 9 Free Version

Interface: 1
Features: 1
Ease of use: 1
Value: 1
Overall:

Come on Nero, this is really just a glorified piece of adware. There are plenty of freeware burning tools that do this and more. Look around before downloading this bloated promotional tool.

Review date: Aug 01, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Definitely worth a look

EncodeHD

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

After trying several free video conversion tools that either did not work well or were stuffed full of dubious adware features, this program came as a surprise. It works fine, is easy to use, and does not try to sell you other products. It is also no install, so can be run from a pen drive.

Review date: Jul 27, 2009

Freeware
Win (All)

Nice idea

ColorConsole

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

Not everyone uses the command line on a Windows computer regularly, but for those who do, this is a useful program. The different color options are worth a look, and the program is small and no-install, so can be run from a pen drive.

Review date: Jul 26, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

More skins please

Respect Soft Vista Clock

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

Works OK. However, the default skin is not very good, and a choice would be better. Also worth considering would be making the program no-install, so it could be run from a USB pen drive.

Review date: Jul 15, 2009

Freeware
XP/Vista

A bit too excitable

ThreatFire

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

The program tended to flag innocent processes as potential threats. While this was well meaning, it became annoying after a while, so I uninstalled it.

Review date: Jun 04, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works fine

RightThumb

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

No problems here, and a good range of features. However, the program might have a wider range of use as a general image resizer, with preset options such as 640x480 pixels etc.

Review date: Apr 29, 2009

Freeware
XP/2003/Vista/7

Worth a look

Auslogics Registry Cleaner

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

Registry cleaning software has a poor reputation, as it often makes promises about huge increases in performance that it cannot deliver. Auslogics Registry Cleaner does not fall into this trap, and promised me less than a 1% increase in speed after the cleanup. The changes can be undone easily, which is important if any problems occur. Good value for freeware.

Review date: Mar 17, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista/7

Better than windows

BatteryBar

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

This gives a much more detailed readout on the state of the battery than the default Windows display. Worth a look.

Review date: Mar 14, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

No problems here

Freeraser

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

The main attraction of Freeraser is that it is no install and can be carried around on a pen drive. One feature that I missed was a progress bar showing how long was left, which would be useful for longer files. Other than that, a useful program to have.

Review date: Feb 22, 2009

Freeware
XP/2003/Vista/7

Fun, but a bit limited

CrossGL Surface Clock

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

There are plenty of freeware desktop clocks and this one has no serious problems. It could benefit from a wider range of features and interchangeable faces, but is useful as a clock. Incidentally, the controls are accessed by hovering around the edge of the clock. No installation required, so can run from a USB memory stick.

Review date: Feb 13, 2009

Freeware
Win XP

Works ok, needs practice for best results

Web Resizer

Interface: 2
Features: 3
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

The program works OK, but the interface could be more intuitive. A wizard-based mode might be useful here. Some understanding of the principles involved is necessary to obtain the best results.

Review date: Feb 08, 2009

Freeware
XP/Vista/7

Simple and effective

Microsoft SyncToy

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

It's a pity that XP and Vista do not come with SyncToy built in, since it is far better than Microsoft's bland Briefcase utility. SyncToy is easy to configure and use, and I have never had any problems with it. Definitely recommended.

Review date: Feb 05, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Superb - try it now

Stellarium

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Regardless of whether you are a serious hobby astronomer or just want some educational fun, this program is a must have. The basics are easy to master, although some features are for the more experienced user. There are night sky programs that cost a lot of money, but Stellarium is free and can give any of them strong competition.

Review date: Jan 30, 2009

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Useful and unusual program

Hard Drive Eraser

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

It has to be pointed out that the program runs within Windows, so it cannot erase the partition from which it is running. This means that complete erasure of a hard drive system (eg prior to selling or donating the computer) is impossible. The freeware DBAN (which is bootable) can do this, but an area where Hard Drive Eraser scores is that it will recognize USB hard drives and Flash memory devices attached to the computer, which DBAN will not. This makes HDE a useful utility to have when erasure of external devices is required. The default setting for erasure is DoD short (3 pass random overwrite), and others can be selected. As usual, care is needed in backing up any important files before using a file wiping tool.

Review date: Jan 27, 2009

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Very good software

DivX for Windows

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

Generally it is hard to fault DivX as a format, and its software is very well put together. The main concern is how widespread the use of DivX has become compared to some other formats. DivX has been working on a H.264 version (Project Mayo) but it has yet to be launched. Until then, DivX will be a successful MPEG4 format, but not necessarily the most popular.

Review date: Jan 07, 2009

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works ok, but delete needs caution

EncryptOnClick

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

EncryptOnClick does what it says on the tin, but is unusual and risky since it deletes files automatically after encrypting them. This means that if any crashes etc occur during the encryption process, the file could be gone forever. It is better to leave the file intact and to delete or shred it manually after encryption. Apart from that, the program is good freeware.

Review date: Dec 30, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista/7

This one is the best!

BullZip PDF Printer

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Forget "free" PDF printers that add watermarked advertisements to each page. BullZip does not do this, and has a wide range of features. Definitely the best freeware PDF printer.

Review date: Dec 28, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Ok, but lacking in some features

Crypt4Free

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

Crypt4Free has a good range of features, including 448 bit encryption. Unlike some freeware encryption tools, it lacks integration with the right click menu, which makes the operation easier. There does not seem to be an option to create self-extracting (.exe) encrypted files. The only file wiping option given was one pass, and the addition of three and seven passes would be useful. Also, the "change skin" option did not work. Worth a look, although other freeware tools are easier to use.

Review date: Nov 28, 2008

Freeware
XP/2003/Vista/7

Good features, but lacks a preview mode

Comodo Backup

Interface: 2
Features: 4
Ease of use: 3
Value: 5
Overall:

This program is like a deluxe version of the Windows Briefcase, only with far more features. There are plenty of configuration options, but one feature that I would have liked to see is a preview mode showing files that will be copied, deleted or overwritten when the backup is run. While not strictly necessary, it is useful and can prevent mistakes being made. Other than that, a useful piece of software.

Review date: Oct 17, 2008

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Fine for lovers of colorful screens

DocPad

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

The most striking feature of DocPad is its range of different colored interfaces. Surprisingly though (unless I missed it) it is not possible to change the font used for the text, only its size. There are some extra features including a built-in calculator, but another feature lacking here is the ability to open different tabs and switch between them.

Review date: Oct 03, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista/7

Easy to use but lacks features

Google Chrome

Interface: 4
Features: 2
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

After all the hype, how does Google Chrome measure up? It is easy to use and loads pages quickly. In many ways it looks and feels like Internet Explorer 7, but is leaner on resources than its Microsoft counterpart. People who are used to the wide range of features and add-ons that are available for Firefox and Opera are likely to be disappointed, but the current version of Chrome is a beta and things may change. Google has kept it simple for the time being, and some people may like this approach.

Review date: Sep 04, 2008

Freeware
XP/Vista

Works ok

WirelessKeyView

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

Like some of Nir Sofer`s previous software, this tool relies on the fact that passwords are stored in the Windows registry and can be retrieved by people with the required know-how. This tool can be used only by a person with access to the computer, so it is not a hack tool. However, some caution is needed with this type of program.

Review date: Aug 30, 2008

Freeware
Win (All)

Avi conversions did not work.

TubeMaster Plus

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

First the good news: The embedded FLV capture worked not just with YouTube but with similar sites such as Metacafe. The MP4 and MPEG conversions worked OK, but the AVI ones did not, so some attention may be required here. The program is no install, so can be run from a USB stick. Apart from the AVI problem, this is good freeware and worth a look.

Review date: Jul 03, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Unusual idea

Desk Drive

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This worked OK for USB flash drives, but did not automatically detect the DVD-ROM drive. Not everyone may need this feature, but it is worth a look.

Review date: Jun 29, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Also works with vista

Cropper

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

Works ok with Vista, which is not noted on the download page. Very good range of features, but does not offer automatic viewing of the captured shots, as some capture tools do.

Review date: May 31, 2008

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works ok, other programs have more features

PalCrypt

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

Like some other file encryption tools, this piece of freeware operates using the right click feature in Windows Explorer. It is easy to use, but a) cannot encrypt entire folders, only individual files, and b) cannot create self-extracting encrypted files. Other freeware encryption tools can do this, so look around.

Review date: May 26, 2008

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

Nice graphics, but....

CCCalc

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

CCalc tries to do something unusual by portraying the calculations as they would appear on a sheet of paper. To be honest, a standard calculator screen is easier to use and I did not enjoy using the program.

Review date: May 19, 2008

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

Works ok

Free YouTube Download

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

There is no shortage of free YouTube downloading tools, and this one works ok and keeps the picture and sound in sync, which some do not. The interface is a bit basic, but otherwise no complaints.

Review date: May 14, 2008

Freeware
XP/Vista

Works ok, not perfect for checking on history

Vista I.E CacheImage View Plus

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This program works, but it does not provide a surefire way of checking on how the browser has been used (eg by children while unattended). The cached files exist to speed up page loading times, and do not represent the entire browsing history. The browser's History section is a better guide to how it has been used, and Vista IE CacheImage View Plus cannot read this.

Review date: Apr 19, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Did not work well for me

EASEUS Deleted File Recovery

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

The interface is ok, but the recovered files were in poor condition and did not open properly. The program claims to recover deleted files only, and not to be a full data recovery tool. There are other freeware file recovery tools on Snapfiles which are worth a look, as EASUS Deleted File Recovery is a bit of a disappointment.

Review date: Apr 06, 2008

Freeware
XP/Vista

Nice graphical interface

SpeedConnect Connection Tester

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

The program is set by default to download a 22MB file from Microsoft, although you can choose other file locations. The purists will point out that what the program actually does is to test your connection speed to a particular server at a particular time of day. In practice, there is no such thing as a fixed internet connection speed, since a range of factors is involved in the speed obtained. SpeedConnect has a nice graphical interface and is a fun piece of freeware to try.

Review date: Apr 06, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works ok, but interface could be clearer

TubeTilla YouTube Downloader

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 4
Overall:

This worked on my Vista computer (the program may need administrator rights to run correctly) and did the required tasks. The interface could be more clearly laid out, but once you have got the hang of it the program is not difficult to use. One point to bear in mind is that the converted video files (WMV or MP4) will be considerably larger than the original .flv files. If you want to download and play YouTube videos on a computer rather than a portable device, it is best to stick to a player that supports .flv files directly. Two good points with TubeTilla are that the files were converted quickly, and the picture and sound stayed well in sync, unlike some flv-video converters. Unless I missed it, it is not possible to change the directory where the video files are stored (the default is in Program Files which is not ideal). All in all, a good free program but maybe it could do with a few tweaks.

Review date: Mar 29, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Is this necessary?

Icon Remover

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This program is a puzzle, because it seems to be unnecessary. By right clicking on the Windows taskbar at the bottom of the screen, it is possible to edit the properties of the tray notification area. This includes the ability to hide the "safely remove hardware" icon. Icon Remover can do this and works ok, but Windows can also do this.

Review date: Mar 26, 2008

Freeware
Win (All)

Top quality freeware

Free Download Manager

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

When Microsoft launched Internet Explorer 7, it had a golden opportunity to give it a download manager similar to the ones in Firefox and Opera. Instead, it stuck with a very basic version little different from the one in IE6. Help is at hand with Free Download Manager, which has a range of features as wide as any user could want, including BitTorrent support. It may take a little while to get used to all the features, but it is worth the trouble. Also worth mentioning is the program's ability to be exported to a flash memory device and run as a no-install version. Definitely the best freeware download manager available.

Review date: Mar 08, 2008

Freeware
Win (All)

Excellent success rate, only one drawback

SoftPerfect File Recovery

Interface: 5
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

People often fail to realise that files deleted from a pen drive or photo memory card do not go into a recycle bin and cannot be recovered conventionally. This is where a program like SoftPerfect File Recovery can be a life saver. Although there are plenty of freeware file recovery programs, this is the best one that I have tried. It is a no-install program, and should recover any file that you can type into the "what for" box, eg .jpg or .mp3 files. There is one slight disadvantage though. Unlike most non-free file recovery programs, you cannot search simultaneously for a wide range of common file types, and would need to know the file extension of the lost file in order to stand any chance of recovering it. That said, this is as good as it gets for freeware file recovery.

Review date: Mar 08, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Great features, help files could be clearer

TrueCrypt

Interface: 3
Features: 5
Ease of use: 2
Value: 5
Overall:

The main advantages of TrueCrypt are a) it is completely freeware, and b) it allows the creation of encrypted volumes of unlimited size, whereas most freeware versions are limited in order to get you to pay for the registered version. The overall style of TrueCrypt tends to assume that you are reasonably fluent with computers, and the online help files may daunt some beginners. One small point is that although the encrypted volumes showed up in "Computer", they did not show up in the "Send To" menu.

Review date: Mar 03, 2008

Freeware
XP/Vista

Excellent - try it!

RealWorld Cursor Editor

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This was my first go with cursor editing software, although I had tried icon editing software. RealWorld Cursor Editor is very similar in use, and allows anything that you can draw to be used as a cursor. If you find this too daunting, or are just too lazy (like me), check out the wide range of free ready made cursor sets that can be downloaded at RealWorld's website.

Review date: Feb 25, 2008

Freeware
Win (All)

Very good freeware

Webmaster Password Generator

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

Does what it says on the tin, no problems.

Review date: Feb 11, 2008

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista/7

Works ok, average interface

Defraggler

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This works OK, and seems to be a bit faster than the standard Windows defrag utility. However, the graphic interface is not particularly special and it would help to be able to see the colour coding system on screen at all times, rather than having to call it up separately. The defrag option is greyed out when the program is launched, although it is available from the menu in the top left hand corner. All in all, passable but not outstanding software.

Review date: Jan 25, 2008

Freeware
XP/Vista

Excellent freeware, but too complicated?

Comodo Internet Security

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

First the good points: Works fine in Vista at a time when many programs do not. Also it is completely free and can compete on equal terms with many firewalls for which you have to pay. So why the doubts? There are too many balloon messages for the average user, and some of the features would be likely to confuse even an experienced person. I uninstalled this version after a while due to the excessive prompts, although there is nothing wrong with the program itself. Recommended, but only for the patient and experienced user.

Review date: Dec 30, 2007

Freeware
Windows Vista

Excellent freeware

WinBubble

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Definitely worth a look and a pity that it seems to be little known. There are features here that you have to pay for in many tweaking programs.

Review date: Dec 27, 2007

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista/7

Excellent program

Auslogics Disk Defrag

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

No complaints here, good interface and easy to use. Although it is possible to run defragmentation while doing other things, it is best to leave the computer unattended for a few hours in case it disturbs the system processes. A recommended program.

Review date: Oct 22, 2007

Freeware
Win (All)

Excellent piece of freeware.

Unit Converter Expert

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

No problems here. There is a long menu of conversion options (perhaps a bit too long for the casual user), but it would be surprising if you did not find what you want here.

Review date: Aug 22, 2007

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works, but not much fun.

Magic 8 Ball

Interface: 2
Features: 1
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This works OK, but is not huge fun due to the lack of sound and basic graphics. The replies are also a bit of a letdown.

Review date: Jul 20, 2007

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista/7

Hmm...

Fake Progress Bar

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

Let's face it, your computer needs this like a motorbike needs an ashtray and a canoe needs a handbrake. However, if you like fun on your computer, then give this a try.

Review date: Jul 07, 2007

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works, but interface needs some improvement.

TOKIWA DataRecovery

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This works OK, but should give some indication of the condition of a file, otherwise you could spend a lot of time recovering files that are not usable. It would also help to have a filter that searches for specific types of file extension (eg JPEG). It is hard to complain about a piece of freeware, but this is somewhat underpowered.

Review date: Jun 13, 2007

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Very good, but other outputs would help.

SCREEN2EXE

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

This works ok, and is a surprisingly small download (416KB). It is easy to use, but the standalone .exe format is rather limiting. It would be better to have .avi or Flash output if possible. Another point to note is that most e-mail providers nowadays ban the sending and receiving of .exe files, so the file would need to be zipped before sending it. Anyone receiving a zipped .exe file in their e-mail inbox might be too suspicious to open it, so other formats for the videos would be useful.

Review date: May 08, 2007

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista/7

Works ok.

IZArc2Go

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

This works best with drag and drop, and has a wide range of features and supported compression formats. Some practice may be needed to use the more advanced facilities, but the basic features are easy to use. The program is 7.50 MB when unpacked, which is fairly large for a compression utility, but it boots up quickly and modern USB memory sticks should have no problems with storing it.

Review date: Apr 25, 2007

Freeware
XP/2003/Vista/7

Ok, but could use some improvements.

PC Sleep

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This works OK, but is not the hottest piece of freeware around when there are other programs doing the same thing with more features. PC Sleep is very easy to use, but lacks a facility for daily or weekly recurring actions. Many similar programs have this. This program requires the .NET framework (some computers may not have this) and it does take rather a long time to boot up. Also the word hibernate is spelled wrongly in the program (it is not hybernate). Some work needed.

Review date: Mar 28, 2007

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Excellent program, and free.

Internet Video Converter

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

There is a serious lack of freeware programs for converting video files between different formats, and this is easily the best one that I have tried. It worked well and was simple to use, although some of the functions require knowledge about the formats involved. The picture and sound quality was good, and it is hard to find anything to complain about when the program is free.

Review date: Mar 18, 2007

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Ok, but did not show ftp locations.

NetResView

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This program is not a direct replacement for the My Network Places feature on Windows computers, as it does not show the FTP locations that are available. It does show any local printers and workgroups, together with the MAC addresses if requested. Perhaps a future version could show the FTP loactions as well. This program is no install, so can be carried on a USB stick.

Review date: Mar 04, 2007

Freeware
2000/XP

Very easy to use.

EXIF ShellExtension

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

Hovering over a JPEG photo will show the EXIF details for the focus and exposure settings of the image. This is easy to use since it requires no extra program to be run before viewing the EXIF data. Recommended for its simplicity.

Review date: Feb 11, 2007

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Some good features, but more work needed.

Wavosaur

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

It would not be difficult to create a sound recorder more sophisticated than the one that ships with Windows computers, and Wavosaur has some useful features. However, it could use some additional features, otherwise it will lose out to a program like the freeware Audacity which is more powerful.

Review date: Jan 30, 2007

Freeware
Win XP

Did not work for me.

WinSock XP Fix

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

The plus side is that Winsock XP Fix did not cause any problems itself, but it did not solve the network connection problem that I was experiencing. It is best to set up a System Restore point before running this program.

Review date: Jan 19, 2007

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003

Nice piece of freeware.

NetGraph

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Very easy to use and lots of configuration options. Definitely recommended.

Review date: Dec 26, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

It works!

MjM Free Photo Recovery Software

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

The program recovered 62 MB worth of JPEG photos from my 512 MB SD card, including ones from several months ago that I had almost forgotten about. All of the most recent photos were recovered, but like all photo recovery software, the program will not work miracles and is best used as quickly as possible if photos have been deleted from the card accidentally. This is the best piece of photo recovery freeware that I have seen, so give this a go before trying a paid version. The only slight disadvantage is that it recovers only JPEG photos (not videos etc) but for ordinary use this is quite sufficient.

Review date: Dec 18, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Great fun.

Desktop Christmas Tree

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Simple, fun piece of freeware. For a similar idea that can be used after Christmas, try the freeware Lava Lamp I-mate that puts a lava lamp on your desktop.

Review date: Dec 11, 2006

Freeware
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Interesting program.

Systemometer

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

For the technically minded, the way in which Systemometer presents the information about the computer's performance is known as a vectorscope. This is unusual, as is the feature which allows you to use the information as a screensaver. Although there are quite a few freeware system monitors, this one is worth a look.

Review date: Nov 28, 2006

Freeware
Win XP

Excellent and very simple to use.

IE7 Menu-on-Top Tweak

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

For reasons best known to itself, Microsoft has decided not to have the menu bar at the top of the IE7 screen where it should be. What this registry tweak does is to add a dragging handle to the menu bar so that you can put it wherever you like. Maybe Microsoft will add this feature to a future version of IE7, but at the moment this simple tweak is the only way of doing it.

Review date: Oct 25, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works ok.

IE PassView

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This works ok and will show the login names and passwords that are (supposedly) stored secretly in Internet Explorer. As with all password recovery programs there is some potential for misuse, but wise computer users will realise that anything that is password protected on a personal computer needs to be taken with a pinch of salt anyway.

Review date: Aug 30, 2006

Freeware
NT/2000/XP

A bit disappointing.

Instant Eyedropper

Interface: 1
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 3
Overall:

There are plenty of freeware colour pickers but this is not at the top of the list of ones that can be recommended. When it is in RGB mode the numbers are cut off on the right hand side of the screen and cannot be read correctly. There is also no YMCK option. Some improvements needed here.

Review date: Aug 28, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Works ok.

Ideal Calorie Intake Calculator

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This works ok. Not being a food expert I can't comment on the accuracy of the predictions, but for most people a diet is 1000-1200 calories per day.

Review date: Aug 24, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Ok but a bit too basic.

XPT Express

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This does what it says on the tin but is basic compared to some of the other freeware schedulers that are available. Some more work needed.

Review date: Aug 19, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Very useful freeware.

MiTeC Mail Viewer

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is a very useful piece of freeware because there are plenty of .dbx file readers which are paid versions only. It is not clear how well this program will work with corrupt or damaged .dbx files but apart from that the program is highly recommended. Also, the program is no install so it can be run from removable media.

Review date: Aug 16, 2006

Freeware
Win XP

Nice look, worries about uninstalling.

FlyakiteOSX

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

It is a bit weird at first to see Apple Mac icons on a Windows computer, but the program worked first time without any problems. My real concern is uninstalling the program, and the best way to do this would be with a System Restore (which is what I did). A full manual uninstall could be tricky, so be careful.

Review date: Aug 09, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Ok for freeware.

Note-It

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

Nothing much wrong here but there is a wide range of freeware sticky notes programs and you may want to look around before choosing one as your main program.

Review date: Aug 03, 2006

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Very easy to use, but..

AxCrypt

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

Of all the free encryption utilities, this one is by far the easiest to use. However, anyone with access to the computer can encrypt files without your consent so AxCrypt lacks the added security of systems that use a virtual drive system for encryption such as Cryptainer LE. The filenames remain unchanged when the file is encrypted, although they can be changed separately. The context menu system used by AxCrypt is very simple to use, but lacks the versatility and security of some other programs.

Review date: Jun 09, 2006

Freeware
2000/XP

Good original idea.

Desktop Graffitist

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

Works OK. Good clean fun and should be entertaining for at least five minutes.

Review date: Jun 08, 2006

Freeware
2000/XP

Excellent piece of software.

Gmail Drive

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is very easy to use and gives up to 2GB of online storage space, which is the size of the Gmail inbox. Bear in mind, though, that the maximum file size that can be sent and received via Gmail is 10MB and that you will have to download the file each time that you want to use it. Apart from that, this is an excellent piece of freeware which is well worth a look.

Review date: Apr 22, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Very easy to use and configure.

SiteUp

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This program works well and will soon tell you if your own site (or any other site) is down. Unfortunately this is not the same as getting it back online again as this is usually beyond the control of the user.

Review date: Apr 18, 2006

Freeware
Win XP

Not very useful.

Visual Task Tips

Interface: 1
Features: 1
Ease of use: 1
Value: 1
Overall:

This is a rather odd program. The popup windows showing the contents of open folders work OK, but the popups are far too small to be of practical use. More work is needed here.

Review date: Apr 14, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Very easy to use.

JDVoiceMail

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is very easy to use and produces small file sizes of just 1KB per second in standard mode. The sound quality is quite acceptable and there is also the option to use other formats although the standard mode is fine. Some people might say that in the age of internet telephony programs like Skype this program is at a loose end but it does what it sets out to do and is completely free.

Review date: Mar 29, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Excellent freeware.

RSS Builder

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

All you have to do is to type in the www addresses of your pages and the feed is created automatically. The program requires version 2.0 of the .NET framework and if this is not installed it will have to be installed separately.

Review date: Mar 16, 2006

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Nice visuals but a bit superfluous.

MyConnection PC Lite

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This is easy to use and displays the results in a clear way. However, it does require the installing of a program when there is no shortage of online speed checkers which can be used on any computer without installing software. A quick note is that the software does not put a shortcut on the desktop so you will have to root around in Program Files to find it. It also takes a fair while to load, so be patient. You may get a firewall warning that Java (TM) Virtual Platform is trying to contact the Internet, and this is necessary for the test to take place. All in all, a useful program but maybe not for everyone.

Review date: Mar 11, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Best all round browser and rss reader

Avant Browser

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is undoubtedly the best combined browser/rss reader available, and has far more options for customising the interface than any other browser. One advantage of Avant is that since it uses the internal architecture of Internet Explorer it does not suffer from the page compatibility problems that occasionally trip up Firefox and Opera. Avant's ability to open rss feeds automatically with a single click is something that rivals (including the new IE7 beta) should copy.

Review date: Feb 05, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Excellent program.

JPEG 2000 Compressor

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This works well and definitely shows that JPEG 2000 gives better results than the original JPEG system. Unfortunately most image viewers will not open JPEG 2000 files although the freeware Irfanview will.

Review date: Feb 04, 2006

Freeware
Win (All)

Very useful.

Emsa Save My Work

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

This is a useful alternative to a hardware keylogger which is quite expensive. As with all keyloggers there are some security concerns, and it would require some care to ensure that sensitive information was not being revealed while using this program. However, as a way of preventing e-mails, Word documents etc from being lost during typing, this is a very good program.

Review date: Jan 13, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista

Very useful.

System Spec

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is by far the most detailed program of its type available and remarkably it is a piece of freeware. Some of the information given is for advanced users only but everyone should store the basic system information in a safe place as this would be invaluable if the computer was lost or stolen.

Review date: Jan 02, 2006

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Ok but maybe a bit superfluous.

BootSafe

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

Rebooting a computer in safe mode is a task for the more advanced computer user, and it is not too difficult to press f8 during the restart process. This works OK but it would be used rarely.

Review date: Dec 20, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Excellent program.

CalendarPainter

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is an excellent program, and is more versatile than the calendar creator in a piece of non-freeware image editing software that I won't name here. This program is ideal for home or small business users who want to make their own calendars.

Review date: Dec 10, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

Tabbed browsing, but...

Acoo Browser

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

There are several Internet Explorer freeware clones available and their standard feature is that they offer tabbed browsing. In terms of its features Acoo is only fair and other freeware clones ... offer more features for the power user.

Review date: Nov 30, 2005

Freeware
Win (All)

Excellent program.

Magnifier

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

There is no shortage of freeware programs for magnifying the screen, but this has to be rated as one of the best. Although programs like this are aimed mainly at people with limited vision, they are also fun for average computer users as they can be used to show icons etc under high magnification Definitely recommended.

Review date: Nov 28, 2005

Free Trial ($29.95)
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Versatile and easy to use.

Amara Flash Slide Show Creator

Interface: 4
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 4
Overall:

This is a program that I purchased in order to create animated slideshows for my website, and it does the job very well. No specialist knowledge of Flash or animation is required, and the slideshows look very smooth and professional. One or two places in the interface could be a bit more clearly explained, but the program is suitable even for beginners.

Review date: Nov 16, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Fairly small size reductions in most cases.

GIFeq

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

No complaints here, but by and large the program reduces GIFs in size by only a few percent. I checked out GIFeq as some of the pages on my website use GIF animations and thought that it might speed up their download times, but it is unlikely to have a significant impact in this area.

Review date: Nov 13, 2005

Freeware
2000/XP

Can be a bit distracting.

Browster

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

This is an interesting program that does what it says on the tin but it can be distracting and slow down browsing sessions when the results pop up. The trend towards tabbed browsing in Avant, Firefox etc means that the feature that Browster offers is largely useful in Internet Explorer which allows only one page to be viewed at a time.

Review date: Nov 05, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Ok but unusual positioning of buttons.

Brutus

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This works ok but the positioning of the shutdown icons in the quick launch area is unusual. There are several other pieces of freeware that do this, eg Powerclick, which place the icons in the system tray area.

Review date: Nov 03, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Ok but basic.

PlacesBar Constructor

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This is OK and has no problems but the freeware Tweak UI also does this and has a wider range of features. [..] is a similar piece of freeware with more of a graphical interface.

Review date: Oct 27, 2005

Free Trial ($19.95)
2000/XP/2003/Vista

Nice add-on for the windows desktop.

Clock Tray Skins

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Many of the best programs on Snapfiles are free but you will have to pay for this one when the trial period runs out. I did pay for the full version because it livens up the desktop considerably and is easier to read than the standard Windows clock. It also has a wider range of features and many different skins, so it can be themed to the desktop look. Recommended even though it is not freeware.

Review date: Oct 20, 2005

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Some sounds, maybe?

FileZilla

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

To get straight to the point: this is the best freeware FTP client available and there is little point in paying for an FTP program without trying this one first. The old but popular WS-FTP-LE (no longer available) had sound alerts for "transfer completed" etc but FileZilla has no sounds. This is something that could be considered for future versions.

Review date: Oct 16, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Very versatile and useful.

MicroBackup2006

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

There are a large number of backup utilities available and this is an outstanding piece of freeware. The program is easy to use and customize, and can compete on equal terms with backup programs for which you have to pay. Before buying a backup creating program, try this.

Review date: Oct 12, 2005

Freeware
2000/XP/Vista

Useful visual information.

BitMeter 2

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

This is a nice program which gives a useful visual indication of upload and download speeds and has plenty of configuration options. The only niggle is that it insists on adding itself to the starting line-up of programs repeatedly.

Review date: Sep 21, 2005

Freeware
2000/XP

Some useful features.

QJot

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 3
Value: 3
Overall:

There is a bewildering range of freeware Wordpad replacements and QJot has no serious faults. Its biggest strength is that it will open and save Microsoft Word documents which many Wordpad replacements will not. In terms of the range of word processing features that it offers, QJot is not as strong as Atlantis Nova which is also freeware.

Review date: Sep 07, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Interesting but bloated for what it does.

English2metric

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 2
Value: 2
Overall:

Although there is nothing wrong with the program itself, a 3.7MB download is too large for something that does only this. It is more worthwhile to look at freeware alternatives to the rather basic Windows calculator, and my personal favourite is Calc98. This has many more features and is only 800kB on the hard drive.

Review date: Aug 15, 2005

Freeware
Win (All)

Useful add-on for trackball users.

CursorUS

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

Although presumably designed for a mouse, this works very well with a trackball. It also makes it almost impossible to lose the cursor.

Review date: Aug 06, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP

Very useful indeed.

PlacesBar Tweaker

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is one of the best tweaks as it can save a great deal of time when the "Save As" box is displayed.

Review date: Jul 29, 2005

Freeware
NT/2000/XP

Interesting but technical.

RegMon

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

This is a well put together program but it will take a lot of technical knowledge to understand the information that it gives.

Review date: Jul 25, 2005

Freeware
98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

Works, but slow to use

Restoration

Interface: 2
Features: 2
Ease of use: 3
Value: 5
Overall:

This works OK and is very good value for freeware, but the ability to copy only one file at a time is very limiting. For recovering photos from damaged digital cards, try Art Plus Digital Photo Recovery 2.0 which is also freeware.

Review date: Mar 14, 2005

Tanida Quiz Builder

Create educational quizzes in Flash format that can be distributed online or as standalone .EXE file.

Spytech SpyAgent

A powerful monitoring solution to record PC activity, including keystrokes, email and more.

Demo Builder

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