MrJaw69

User Reviews by MrJaw69

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

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FocusWriter

So close . . .

Here are a few things to keep in mind about Focuswriter: First, Focuswriter has no installer. I really like portable software, but that fact is going to throw off less geeky users. A dictionary is not included with FW (v1.4.1 at least) so there's no spell check. The developer's website offers a link to where to get a dictionary, but not how to install it. I figured it out, but less savvy users may be stumped. I wish that FW were more configurable. I keep having to navigate to the same folders again and again, because FW doesn't allow me to customize my save or theme locations. Speaking of themes I like them, but they're something of a distraction, which is what FW is supposed to be minimizing. They do help to set a mood, and keep things fresh. I like the daily goal word counter, I like the writing timer, though I wish the latter had a little more polish, like hot keys to start it and stop it. I also wish that FW came with a little documentation to explain things like sessions and the scene list. Certain configuration options are hidden in the themes area, which threw me for awhile, too. Overall, the exclusion of a dictionary keeps me from recommending Focuswriter. It's so close and has so many good features, that if you think you can figure out how to install a dictionary (or don't mind going without one), then Focuswriter might be for you. Maybe.

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Shalom Txt

Alas . . .

It doesn't handle regular expressions. I can see where this would be really useful for formatting emails that have > in front of each line or something. It didn't have quite enough power for what I wanted. On the plus side, it doesn't install itself, so it's painless to download it and give a try.

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TheSage

Needs streamlining

First and foremost, I want to point out that TheSage is a capable dictionary/thesaurus. But I feel like the developers have made the software a too big for its purpose. There's a noticeable lag when invoking TheSage, and then more lag as it looks for the word I've typed. I've never encountered such delays with other offline dictionaries. The software is configurable to the point that almost everything has options. While some people might like this, I found page after page of customization options to be more bloat than blessing. Some aspects of TheSage that are just quirky. For instance, when looking up a word, information (such as synonyms) can be shown redundantly in the same window. I'm looking for dictionary software that will let me quickly find the definition I want, and then get out of the way. For me, TheSage ain't it.

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WordWeb

Went wonky on me . . .

I used Wordweb for a couple years without difficulty. Recently, however, the software began acting up. Usage of Wordweb is contingent on environmental conscientiousness, you see, and after using the software for a certain amount of time a nag window appears and asks if you've been nice to mother nature. When you answer "yes" (as anyone, truthful or not, would do) the nag window is supposed to go away. Well, I answered yes long ago, but suddenly Wordweb throws up the nag window every time I start up the software. I'm all for clean air and symbolic gestures, but thanks to this bug I'm now looking for a new offline dictionary.

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Puran Defrag

Capable, but not great

Puran Defrag Free Edition is fast, has boot time defrag (an option that is rare among PDFE's freeware peers), and can defrag volumes that Windows XP can't touch. However, I've used Puran Defrag Free Edition on three computers, and found it to be less than stellar. PDFE's Intelligent Optimizer (which is switched off by default) had a negative effect on the performance of each computer (all were Dells running XP.) Also, there's an apparent trade off for PDFE's speed: when I've double checked after a defrag, Windows' defragmentation utility shows a few fragmented sections remaining, though they are small. While PDFE does have options that XP doesn't, I didn't notice a significant performance boost over Windows' defrag util, after defragmenting. But if you have a very full, very fragmented drive, PDFE is a great option to have.

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XMPlay

The most fun you'll have with 318k

I've used XMPlay for years. I'm told that XMPlay isn't exactly feature rich, but whatever it doesn't have, I don't miss. It doesn't clutter up the registry or hog your resources. When you download XMPlay, don't forget to stop by the author's website and get the latest version, and check out the selection of skins. Four stars.

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Taskbar Eliminator

Good idea, awkward execution

When it comes to computer interfaces, I've never been satisfied. Taskbars waste screen space, and the Houdini-style taskbars that pop up at you when you move the mouse to the edge of the screen activate whether you want them to or not. Taskbar Eliminator seemed like a good compromise. The trouble is, the software doesn't offer an option to customize the hot keys for activating the toolbar, and the default combo is rather awkward. Upon checking the homepage, I found that the author offers personalized fee-based builds of Taskbar Eliminator. I'm not willing to go that far for what's really only a convenient tweak. Three stars.

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RealWorld Cursor Editor

Dazzling

I'm still finding useful features on this gem. At first I was daunted by the size of the download (I'm strongly anti-bloatware) but Realworld Cursor Editor is feature packed and enjoyable to use. There's a lot of support on the developer's website, too. It's not often I rate software five stars (there's always, always room for improvement) but I'm really impressed with this offering.

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MWSnap

It's okay, but . . .

MWSnap didn't really work for me. First of all, I wish that the assignable hot keys were more flexible. The application I was trying to snapshot already had alt + ctrl + S assigned, so I couldn't use the auto snapshot feature. Deprived of this functionality, MWSnap became a nuisance, as it popped to the front as each shot was taken. When I have a batch of shots, I want to get them taken quickly, then process them later. MWSnap, in this instance, didn't help me get the job done.

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FastStone Image Viewer

Dandy

I usually use another image viewer, but I got frustrated by my 'daily driver' and decided to give Faststone a try. There's a lot to like. The interface is clean and intuitive, the features are readily accessible. However, my other software has spoiled me when it comes to file types. There isn't much that XNview can't recognize and display. FSview doesn't know, for instance, what a Gimp .xcf file is, so it pretends it doesn't exist. I wish that FSIV would at least show a marker that says "unsupported file type" or something, with a file name, to let the user know that there are other files in a folder aside from what FSIV recognizes. No software is perfect, and I really like some of FSIV's features enough that I'll keep the portable version handy.

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SysInfoMyWork

Useful and efficient

When I transitioned to a Windows computer from a Commodore Amiga, I was struck by how little feedback, comparatively speaking, the machine gave. I haven't exactly found a glut of software on the Windows side to amend the situation, so I was glad when I stumbled on SysInfoMyWork. I really like its small footprint, and that it provides two useful pieces of information about system performance in such a small space. I've got to admit that this isn't the most beautiful little utility I've ever seen, but a quick glance tells me the "vital signs" of my machine.

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Neutron

Shall I compare thee to a summers day?

Okay, maybe that's a bit of overkill, but I really, really like Neutron. It's tiny, unobtrusive, and cleverly conceived. It fulfills its purpose dutifully and then gets out of the way, which is exactly what it should do.

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Stellarium

Groovy!

Stellarium reminds me of why I always loved computers growing up. Software like this provides real time, localized information that you just can't get out of a book. The features are plentiful, with some you don't expect but that enhance the experience very much. If I have a complaint, it's that Stellarium, like other programs of its kind, doesn't really tell a person much beyond highly esoteric specifics, so if you're not an astronomer, this information won't be particularly interesting. If the software tied into a database that told you more about the star, like when it was discovered, by who, and any other trivia, it would make astronomy a little more accessible to us non-experts. Still, it's great to be able to look up at the stars and know, finally, what I'm looking at.

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TypeFaster

A little dry, but . . .

. . . then again, how interesting can a typing tutor really be? I was impressed with the straightforward design of the interface: I basically installed it, chose my lesson, and got busy. Having said that, however, the software really didn't fulfill my needs. I've been typing for years but developed some bad habits that need correction, most noticeably, incorrect figuring on the backspace key. I downloaded this software because the description says that the lessons are configurable. Unfortunately, the backspace key is integrated into the software so it can't be added as a key press in the custom tutorials. (Why being able to fix a typing mistake in tutorial software is necessary is a mystery to me.) I think if you need a heavy duty refresher, or are just learning to type, this software would do the trick. It just didn't work for my purposes.

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DeepBurner

Really nice, but no dual layer support yet

I used DeepBurner for a long time, and once I got the hang of it, I found it to be solid and reliable. However, the lack of dual layer disc support sent me looking for something else.

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Duplicate Cleaner

It works!

I have the data management sensibilities of a bag lady AND I'm a pack rat to boot. I tried other duplicate cleaners and they all had the same problem: They dump the duplicate information on you in a mountain, then expect you to make heads or tails of it. Duplicate Cleaner approaches the problem of multiple files in multiple directories in a clear methodical way. I picked up on how to use it in no time, and in such a way that I felt confident that I knew exactly what I was doing (and thus not deleting files I wanted to keep). It doesn't seem to have bells and whistles, but I appreciate the KISS model. Good software should do one thing and do it very well. Duplicate Cleaner fits the bill.

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HotkeyP

Reenergize your keyboard

When I first got my laptop, a Dell, it had this little button near the top that called an all but useless (for me) help website. When I started clearing off all the bloatware that manufacturers put on new machines, that button stopped working. HotkeyP gave new functionality to that button with only a fraction of the bloatware's CPU/memory overhead. It's incredibly satisfying to personalize and customize function keys and key combos, and there's a lot of features on HotKeyP and they're easy to implement. If I had this for my Mac at work, I might not loathe it so much. :) I'm surprised to see this little gem isn't more popular. If you want your machine to be a little more efficient, a little more configurable, give HotKeyP a whirl. It doesn't even junk up your registry. My only complaint is that it won't open my external cd burner tray. Other than that, my compliments and thanks to the software author.

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USBDeview

Might save you a reinstall

I wonder how many windows reinstalls have prompted by USB port failures? The USB ports on my main machine can be twitchy. With USBDeview I can wipe the USB record and start over, which is a very nice option to have. It's also fun to see what USB devices have been plugged into a computer and when. Hats off to the developer!

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EaseUS Partition Master

Fills a need

Partitioning isn't something most of us do a lot, and Windows doesn't seem to have a way to easily do this, so this software really helped me out. The interface is rather vague. I had to use a help file and tinker, but I got it to do what I wanted.

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Mobysaurus Thesaurus

Wish I could give it six stars

The software: The features are incredibly comprehensive. It's very configurable. If I were to nitpick, I'd point out that it takes a long time to load up on my machine, and that delay breaks my stride when writing, somewhat, but I can live with that. Also, I would like to be able to access the same context menu in the "look up" field that is available down in the list of synonyms. The thesaurus: my problem with most thesauruses is that you won't find the word you're looking for, but you'll find a lot of words that no one knows and that don't really apply. Mobysaurus is just as guilty: it suggests good words as well as some delightfully eccentric ones. As an example, look up "blood" in Mobysaurus and you'll get lots of quirky offerings. This software feels like an actual paper thesaurus/synonym book, and seldom does software equal its printed forebears. Mobysaurus does. Writers will love it.

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EasyRead

Ctrl + scroll wheel = easyread

I'm not trying to detract from the product, and having the + and - is a real nice addition, but you can simply press CTRL and use the scroll wheel to change the text size in most browsers. Saves you 200K.

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FilZip

May not be good for complex archives

Filzip tends to lock up on my XP machine, and to randomly skip files in nested directories when unzipping from large archives.

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XnView

Powerful

I tried a couple other viewers, but I use Xnview so much I take it for granted. It crashes occasionally, but has tons of features and doesn't hog system resources. Hats off to the developer!

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ShirusuPad

I needed it but didn`t know it

It's like having a legal pad built into your computer because it has that use-it-in-an-instant spontaneity. Shirusu pad saves you the clutter of post it notes, doesn't hog your computer's resources, and comes in mighty handy.

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nPassword

Has potential . . .

. . . but the problem with nPassword is that I found no documentation for it. I use it, and it's handy to drag and drop usernames and passwords, but I couldn't figure out how to implement the auto login scripts without documentation. It's better than typing passwords, but it needs a bit more work (like some instructions).

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GIMP

It's good!

. . . but it's a little different. When I first used Gimp it was doing exactly what I wanted it to do, but I didn't know it because I wasn't used to the interface, but now that I'm used to it I'm finding more and more useful features. If this is your first image processing software you might look for something a little less elaborate, but if not, I'd recommend it. It saved me from spending $100+ on a commercial product. I seem to recall that I had some trouble downloading the documentation, but so far I haven't needed it.

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