Reviews about Software

smtom says "There is no substitute" about Symantec Norton 360

smtom — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:29:01 GMT

Have owned Norton 360 since it's debut - 3-5 years now. Not ONCE have I had an issue with spyware, malware, viruses, etc, etc. Early on, it was a resource hog, but as the product has matured, it has a smaller and smaller footprint, now virtually unnoticed.

Sure, you hear alot about cost, 'overhead' on the PC, and such, but there is NO substitute for 100% success in protection. I will continue to buy this product for as long as they make it. There are others out there, cheaper, slimmer, etc. - but you get what you pay for.

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sunlee786 says "the sims 2 is an engaging, addictive game full of surprises" about EA The Sims 2 Deluxe

sunlee786 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:19:47 GMT

The Sims 3 is too complicated, the Sims is too simplistic, but the Sims 2 is just right! Getting the base game itself may be a bit hard to find, but I'd recommend the Sims 2 deluxe compared to more jam-packed versions with more expansion packs, because starting take would take forever, and then you couldn't download all the fun, free accessories online =)

It's hard to describe how a people simulation game where one makes families, houses, and controls the people can be fun. There is no end to the game, but trust, it's perfect for when you have a break, for example after finals week in university.

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zwep says "Big unwieldy program, but helps you do taxes (until gov't does)" about Intuit TurboTax Deluxe NS 2008

zwep — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:47:46 GMT

My review is actually for Turbo Tax Deluxe 2009 rather than the 2008 version listed, but besides being for different years I think they're fairly similar (new tax laws for 2009 would be main reason you'd want to get the appropriate version for whatever tax year you're dealing with.

I've previously used different versions of Turbo Tax, but last year used H&R Block Tax Cut software. I need to itemize and don't think I'm eligible for the free online tax preparation services (though I understand both Intuit and H&R Block have online versions of tax software which are probably similar to the "download and run on your own OS" tax software which I'm reviewing...but since I've not used those versions I can't comment first hand on how they actually are).

Both Turbo Tax and Tax Cut take you through interviews which try to determine which forms you need to fill out, though they let you go directly to the forms themselves. This sounds like a good way to do your taxes, but for me (though I may be...

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Flex68 says "The best, most-compatible AV software out there...and FREE ?!" about Microsoft Security Essentials

Flex68 — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:09:57 GMT

Is it the best antivirus software out there? I don't know, but the major AV software testing organizations rate it pretty highly. (I actually looked at other sites, as well, but this one (Virus Bulletin @ virusbtn.com), has a very handy comparison chart)

Is it the most-compatible with all (or very nearly all) PC's? Unsure, but it would make sense that it should be, as it is from Microsoft.

Is it really nice to see that it compares well with the other, more well-known software, but is FREE? I sure think so!

I have been using McAfee Antivirus for many years... simply because that was what was pre-loaded onto the first PC that I bought way back when! I downloaded and tried using Norton Symantic one time, because I found it cheaper, but that was a huge mistake, as it was even more HUGE and bulky than McAfee, and caused even more system lock-ups. I removed it and went back with McAfee within only a few days.

Over the past couple of years, I have noted that McAfee was conflicting with several...

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cheebert says "What a home server should be" about Windows Home Server Windows Home Server Power Pack 2

cheebert — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:52:31 GMT

This is the software that you can install on just about any standard PC and turn it into a first class home server. What makes it unique is its ability to utilize dynamic DNS (aka no matter what address your ISP gives you, you can always find it through this service) to come back into your server through a web browser and access both your files and your computers. With backup for up to 10 machines, and the ability to auto upload your pictures to picasa, flickr, and other photo sharing services this system is actually a pretty good fit even for small business. If you combine it with something like the IOSafe fireproof USB hard drive, you can automatically backup the server to something that can survive a house fire.

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rlewi17 says "Keeps all my pc's backed up and lets me access them everywhere" about Windows Home Server Windows Home Server Power Pack 2

rlewi17 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:28:47 GMT

Losing files is one of the hardest things to do. The Windows Home Server operating system let’s you automatically backup pc’s on your network as well as monitor the health of the pc’s too. My personal favorite function of the operating system is it allows access your files anywhere you can getonline in the world. I know my fiancées favorite feature of the operating system is that it allows her to watch videos, listen to music, and look at Photos on anypc or media center in our home. All in all the Windows Home Server operating system brought fresh life to a old pc we had laying around our house. What better way to recycle a old PC right??? all i did was slipped an extra hard drive into computer, then installed the OS do a littler setting configuration and then configured the connected pc’s and off it went running. I would recommend this operating system if your looking to for a backup solution for your home network with more then one PC or to stream your home videos, movies,...

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firefighter22 says "Quick and Easy To Use" about Mozilla Firefox

firefighter22 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:49:48 GMT

If you're looking for a web browser then look no further then Mozilla's Firefox. Firefox is quick and easy to use and will even allow you to bring all your bookmarks over from internet explorer. Internet explorer just seems slow and outdated to me. In firefox you can open up numerous tabs across the top of your page so you can have many different websites open without having to open new windows for a new website page. The Add-Ons are great. With using this on a website like deviantart.com you can access tons of add-ons that users have created for viewing photos in different ways or making the forums better. For example: a user created an add-on for viewing panoramic photos. Makes it easy to scroll across the photo and allows you to get closer. I use to run into errors all the time with internet explorer, that doesnt happen anymore with firefox. Check it out, give it a try, see what you think.

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firefighter22 says "Clear Sound, Great for Communicating Near or Far!" about Skype

firefighter22 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:36:06 GMT

If you want to get in touch with friends or relatives for free then check out Skype. Using a microphone or headset for your computer and even a webcam if you want you can talk to anyone else in the world who has a computer and skype downloaded. The sound is crystal clear, you can talk to numerous people, hold large phone conferences or just talk to 1 person. Talk to your neighbor or someone half way around the world. You can do webcam chats as well, just plug in a webcam, and let skype take over. How much better can it get? It's free! You can also call people's home phones but that'll cost ya some money. Also you're obviously going to need the internet to use this.

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Rachel3 says "Globalization called - Skype answered." about Skype

Rachel3 — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:36:35 GMT

I first learned about Skype right before I left to study abroad in China during the summer of 2007. Despite the fact that I had lived overseas before, my mom was worried. When I hurt my ankle two days before my flight, she became extremely worried. Like any mother, she wanted frequent status updates.

The price of the number of cell phone calls it would have taken to appease her anxiety would have been astronomical. Fortunately, I had discovered Skype before my trip and set my mother up with a Skype account and a webcam.

Calls over the Internet are completely free, and calling landlines from my Skype account is a fraction (a tiny fraction) of the cost of a regular phone call. But the price isn't the only benefit. To be able to see my mom as I talked to her was fantastic. It made an opportunity like living in China for a few months seem a lot more manageable and less intimidating.

While there are bugs in any program, Skype is pretty reliable and very straight-forward. The call clarity is...

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rayman says "Amazing Store " about iTunes Music Library

rayman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:49:41 GMT

The iTunes Store is the best online music store. It is easy to use, and if you don't want to use your credit card online you can just get a giftcard. The selection is great, even having exclusive albums, such as Disney and Pixar's Up score. One thing bad about it is that popular and new songs are now $1.29. However, it is the best and easiest place to buy Music, TV shows, Movies, and Music Videos. Becaue of selection, quality and ease of use, the iTunes store is the best place to buy music for download.

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rlewi17 says "Quick and easy to use" about TaxAct Online Tax Program

rlewi17 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:37:19 GMT

I use the Online version of the Taxact software. I'm not sure if there is a difference between the online version and the one you download to your PC. But I have to say it's still a great piece of software. If you've got a W2 only to file then you'll be done in less then 15 minutes which is what I've done for the past four years. But a word of advice if you pay the service instead of having them deduct there fee from your return you'll get it back two weeks earlier. Also if you end up getting on of the government stimulates checks in the future, it will be delayed if you have Taxact deduct their fee from your refund. The website is so simple to use that even my mom uses it for her taxes. All in all it's a great site use for your those you with simple tax returns.
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johnacobb says "Vista is much better than I thought it would be!" about Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Full Version OEM for PC

johnacobb — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:01:53 GMT

Despite all the bad press, and the announcement of another version of Windows so soon after Vistsa's release, I must say I find it a very advanced and workable OS. Sure, Bill Gates "borrowed" a lot of features from the Linux world, but we should all be used to that by now. When I installed it, all I had to do was update it over the Internet, and everything except for an old Card Reader was found immediately and worked perfectly. I have a lot of stuff on my computer, too. A TV card 5.1 Dolby sound, Bluetooth Dongle, jump drives, web cam, etc. Vist found all the drivers, no problem. You just can't say that about XP. I especially love Media Center, since I can everything, music, pictures, video, streaming and live TV in one place that is seemless enough to make you think it's native to the OS. I never thought I'd like Vista, and only got it because I got a really GOOD deal on it. I'm glad I did. I also got the full version of Office Ultimate, and it is every bit as good as I expected as well....

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stefnguy says "The best OS produced by Microsoft to date!" about Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ Service Pack 2

stefnguy — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:02:46 GMT

While I am no longer make my living as an IT guy, I think I can say I am qualified to say something about Microsoft Windows XP (w/service pack2) Operating System (OS). I started using computers when Windows 3.1 was around and the only good thing I could say about windows 3.1 was that it was something you could run on any old low cost computer. And although apple's Macintosh was more stable and faster it was way out of the price range of most average guys trying to buy a first computer.

As systems got faster PC's were still second rate compared the Apple OS 7, 8, and 9.

Windows NT was a solid OS but back then the system requirements and the general clunkiness of the interface made it useful only for geek types who liked technical manuals.

With WinXP Microsoft had a winner!! It is robust and almost never crashes. It was designed to be backward compatible with older software and could handle all the newer programs.

Unfortunately it was so good many a user like myself are unwilling to move...

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schwabe67 says "the Free version is not bad" about AVG Antivirus Free Edition

schwabe67 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:25:24 GMT

the AVG antivirus free edition is not bad for what you pay for. it will keep the bugs away MOST of the time. but beware, it will let in spam that is associated with AVG (but this is normal from any Anti-virus tho) I do however think that this is one of the best FREE Anti-virus on the market....

traceyh says "Symantec should consider name change to SNAFU" about Symantec Internet Security Suite 2008

traceyh — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:06:56 GMT

In late July, 2008, I was notified by Symantec to update my version of Norton Internet Security from the 2007 version to 2008. Being I trust Symantec and have used their products ever since I purchased my first PC in 1994, I upgraded without hesitation. Shortly after upgrading, I started to receive approximately 5 SPAM mails per hour. Even though I use Outlook Express which blocks senders from identifying a PC and I have a virtual firewall within my router as well as the Norton firewall, I still received SPAM. The end result was setting all my email controls to maximum and attempting to block email addresses, servers, setting Spam rules and SUPPOSEDLY blocking all emails except from senders on my "allowed" list. Even with the email controls at "maximum security", I still received approximately 5 SPAM mails per-hour. With in a three day period, I had received more SPAM than I received in the year and a half I had Norton Internet Security 2007 installed on my PC. I attempted to contact...

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dbaechtel says "It is the Software that Microsoft should have written" about Piriform CCleaner

dbaechtel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:00:28 GMT

CCleaner by Piriform Ltd. is excellent and free from FileHippo.com. Recommended by Microsoft to clean up manf iles not needed on PC. Very reliable. Updated fairly frequently. Can uninstall sofware packages and clean Registry too. I use it daily....

rlewi17 says "Something different" about Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon

rlewi17 — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:28:18 GMT

I was a little curious as to what thisUbuntu stuff was all about. for the last 10 years off and on i've used some kinda of Linux version. Mandrake, Suse, Fedora I've tried them all. I finally found one that i like. Its simple enough for my mom to use to check her email, burn a cd, and much more. Yet it's tech appealing enough for me to use everyday with out getting bored and wanting to blow my brain's out. A few weeks back i made the big jump into the deep end and migrated all my home PC's and how server to Linux. My laptop and desk are both now running ubuntu and my home server is running fedora. I've nothing but good things. They all backup automatically and update security issues with out any issues. The part is IT'S FREE oh last the strangest thing happened a new version of Ubuntu came and my computer asked me i wanted to upgrade for free. Wow what a concept a free upgrade to a new operating system version....