Saturday, June 14, 2003
PC Magazine - June 17, 2003
This issue contains the annual Utility Guide, so there are lots of programs
worth remembering.
- PKZIP for Windows- Standard Edition 6.0
was the best data compression utility, with five stars, in the Utility Guide.
(www.pkzip.com) [p. 99] - Defragentation
- Diskeeper 7.0 SE Home Edition was
the best Defragmentation utility in the Utiltiy Guide. $30 online, $35 on
CD. (www.execsoft.com) [p. 101] - Quick View Plus is a file management
utility that lets you few files for which you don't have the application.
[p. 107] - PowerDesk Pro is the best File Management
utiility, with 5 stars, in the Utility Guide. It replaces Windows Explorer
and also adds a number of features directly to Windows. $40. [p.107] - AI RobotForms provides an ad-free
utility to store and recall information that you enter into web forms. $30.
[p. 108] - ieSpell 1.0 lets you spell check anything
you type into a web page, if you use Internet Explorer. This could be VERY
useful for people using the Blackboard system. Free. [This is GREAT! Everyone should get it. It allows you to enter a form and, before submitting it, check the spelling from a menu item in the Tools menu. Fast, effective, and free!] [p. 108] - PopUpCop 2.0.2.31 is the editors choice
in pop-up blockers in the Utility Guide. $20. [p. 109] - Gaim 0.61 and Trillium
both got 5 stars as instant messenger add-ons in the Utility Guide. They can
access AIM, MSN, and Yahoo!. They are both free. [p. 112] - IPaddress is a free networking utility
that displayes your IP address without having to go to a command prompt. [p.
114] - MyWanIP is a free networking utility
that displays your WAN IP address, if you are on a private LAN. [p. 114] - Port Detective is a free networking
utility that checks ports on your computer from outside your firewall. [p.
114] - NetStat Live is a free utility to show
you input and output speeds. [p. 114] - PacketMon is a free protocol analyzer.
Not for the timid.[p. 114] - TCPView shows all open network
connections on your computer with a better interface than the command line
netstat. [p. 114] - GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner checks
a system for vulnerabilities. Five stars. [p. 116] - The online toolkit from www.DNSstuff.com
can be used from a system that you can't access as a sys admin. It provides
DNS lookup, ping, tracert, and more. [p. 116] - The service at www.DNSreport.com
provides a report on a DNS. [p. 116] - NetStubler finds open wireless
networks. [p. 116] - The Boingo client lets you manage multiple
wireless connections. [p. 116] - Wordware 2002 is a Microsoft Office tool
that adds 21 commands and a bunch of new templates. [p. 118] - LiveWeb is a Microsoft
Office tool that lets you easily insert a web page into a PowerPoint slide.
[REVIEW THIS AND SEND INFO TO BLACKBOARD NEWS, IF USEFUL.]
[p. 118] - Glint 1.2 is a free bar to show
system statistics. [p. 123] - Motherboard Monitor 5.3 is a free
utility that monitors temperatures inside your computer. [p. 123] - RegClearner is a free 5-star utility
that clears your registry of unneeded entires. [p. 123] - Registry Medic checks your registry for
errors. The free version fixes 5 problems at a time, the $20 fixes everything
at once. [p. 123] - Startup Sentry analyzes your system
to figure out what is loaded automatically. Registry entries can be quickly
deleted, if that is the cause of the auto-load. $25. [p. 123] - CamStudio is a free utility
that captures screen activity and audio and then creates movies. [REVIEW
THIS AND SEE HOW IT COMPARES TO CAMTASIA. CAMTASIA HAS A LOSS-LESS CODEC.
DOES THIS?] [p. 130]
The Cyberguys advertisement lists
the EZLap and the PowerStrip Liberator. [PLACE AN ORDER
FOR THESE.]
- The EZLap is a pad to hold your laptop and provide ventilation underneath.
I have a product from a different company and like it, but I need another
one, so maybe I will try this one. - The PowerStrip Liberator is a short cable that you use to plug in a power
adapter into a powerstip.It is a VERY short extension cord. I need some of
these. They are on sale for $1.91 each.
