utility programs - Software Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, June, 2000 by David Haskin

SystemSuite's Web-based updating capability worked well, but a dialog box that provided almost no information about the progress of the update was a thorn in our side. This package didn't prove quite as helpful at catching and repairing problems as the other suites we tried, but it's the only one that works with Windows NT/2000 as well as Win 95/98, and it delivers a solid set of tools to keep your PC running smoothly.

[pros] Easy-to-use display; great file tools

[cons] Iffy status reports and fixes

DataViz Conversions Plus 5.0

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DataViz Conversions Plus 5.0 eases the frustration of not being able to exchange files because of incompatible operating systems or applications, but adds a few frustrations of its own.

Conversions Plus displays a Windows Explorer-like interface in which you select files, click a toolbar button, and select among 25 popular Windows and Macintosh word processing, spreadsheet, database, and graphics formats to convert a file. The program also lets you view e-mail attachments in Microsoft Outlook even if you don't have the application that created the attached files. As a bonus, the utility also includes MacOpener 2000, letting Windows PC users read Mac files, format Mac floppies, and convert files to or from Mac file formats.

Though it shines with spreadsheet and word processing files, we were disappointed that Conversions Plus could neither view nor convert HTML Web pages--something we find necessary every day at our home office. However, if you don't share our need, and work with colleagues and clients who use Macs, Conversions Plus deserves your attention.

[pros] A good way to convert Mac files

[cons] No way to convert HTML flees

WinZip 8.0

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Shareware classic WinZip has become such a complete tool for managing and creating compressed files that the 8.0 upgrade (tested in beta form) focuses merely on refining an already robust set of features.

As in previous versions, wizards help you uncompress existing archives and create new ones. A new "Zip and E-mail" option lets you compress a file and send it in a single operation. Even if you skip the wizards and shortcuts, the main interface is streamlined and fairly easy to manipulate.

Besides Zip format files, WinZip handles a variety of other compressed formats found on the Internet, making it a perfect tool for users who do a lot of downloading off the Web or corporate intranets. Its wide range of features and enhancements make WinZip 8.0 the most thorough compression tool available.

[pros] A near-perfect compression tool

[cons] Reliable interface looks dated

@Backup 2.0

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Don't have a CD-RW drive or other backup medium? Try SkyDesk's @Backup 2.0, which provides easy off-site backups via the Internet. You just sign up online at the company's Web site and download the @Backup utility. A wizard walks you through the process of selecting files to back up.

The program's simplicity is also one of its drawbacks. For instance, although you can pick file types to include in the backups, you can't select specific files to exclude. In addition, you can't schedule backups for more than once a day, which can be limiting to offices dealing with quickly changing data.