No comments about Search and Recover 4 By Iolo.

2 comments about SuSE Linux Office Desktop.

1. Having researched Linux products for over a year, we decided to give SuSE Office Desktop a spin recently when one of MS's Windows "security updates" completely hosed our PC. Note that the Microsoft automated CRITICAL security download stated that all went fine and rebooted our PC into HELL ! Lost dial-up, scrambled app software, and a bunch of other crap... typical everyday experience with Windoze !!!

   So SuSE Office Desktop was ordered. Much effort was invested in confirming all hardware and software was compatible. The enclosed Acronis 8.0 was installed to re-size the W2K NTFS partition so SuSe Office Desktop could be installed for a dual-boot system as recommended by SuSE. Unfortunately as many other SuSE customers have discovered, Arconis 8.0 does NOT function properly and would NOT properly resize our NTFS partitian though it did create the required FAT16 partitian for installation of SuSe Office Desktop. You need to be EXTREMELY careful when using Acronis as it tried to completely wipe-out our Windoze partition and all of our data. Had we accepted the default settings, as SuSE STRONGLY recommends, all of our Biz data would have been TOAST !!! If you read other SuSE reviews here you will see SuSE customers who DID lose all of their Windows files, data, programs, etc. due to this flaw in Acronis.

   Eventually after MUCHO hassles we were able to install Office Desktop on a NEW, dedicated hard drive we bought just for Linux, and installed. Unfortunately SuSE's installation routing could NOT detect a standard US Robotics 56K modem nor a standard ethernet network, both of which function under Windoze without problems, prior to the "security update". So after (12) frustrating, wasted hours we have SuSE half-way installed but it's of little value without e-mail and Net access.

   We use YaST2 to try and manually install the modems with no luck. We reviewed all the info. in the SuSE manual and on their website, which was virtually useless. So in desperation to get this software fully installed we call SuSE to find that the only way to obtain Tech Support is by going online and registering our product. How do you do that when neither modem installed with SuSE ??? So we gain acess to a Windoze based PC and register our SuSE Office Desktop product. Then we call again for an hour before we actually get thru to SuSE's "tech support". They confirm our software is now registered. We explain the installtion problems and that their Quick Start Instructions do NOT agree with the PC screens, etc. and request installation of the modem/network. SuSE advised that there is absolutely NO Tech SUPPORT for installation of these items, despite the fact we paid $100 for the full Retail package that specifically comes with Tech Support.

   Since we do not have the time nor the interest to learn how to become Linux programmers and SuSE's products are clearly NOT ready for Prime Time based on any number of reviews, SuSE is out and in the trash as of today! We figure that between lost productivity from the botched installation, efforts to manually install the modem/network with YaST2 which does not work, wasting out time registering and calling SuSE tech support, removal of this crap that SuSE calls a "a simple, easy installation", etc. plus the cost of the new hard drive and the non-usable SuSE Office Desktop software, SuSE has cost us no less than $4,000 this week. It would have been MUCH less painful to just toss hundred dollar bills in an open fire than to endure the abuse and arrogance that SuSE displayed in our phone conversation.

   You REALLY wanna think TWICE before buying this software. If you read independent online reviews of SuSE Linux distros, skip the flowery praise and take special note of all the hardware issues even experienced Linux users had with SuSE products, some of which they could not correct at all.

   BUYER BEWARE really, really applies with SuSE's current products in our personal experience. All I can say is we won't get fooled again! This was a $4,000 learning experience which showed us that SuSE can't be trusted despite the claims on their website and product box. The word FRAUD comes to mind...




2. I had been using RedHat 6.0 up through 7.3 on my laptop (first a ThinkPad 770X, then a Sony VAIO). However, the RH distribution just isn't well suited for a laptop install -- incomplete support of Sony-specific features such as the "jogdial" and FN-keys.

   SUSE installed easily and cleanly on my Vaio (PCG-GRX570; basically, a P4-M with 512MB, 40GB drive, and ATI Radeon Mobility chipset). In fact, SaX (the GUI desktop config tool) accurately configured both the LCD display and the external monitor I had hooked up. A pleasant side-effect of this is that when I login, I get a separate desktop on the external monitor -- and at a different resolution! -- than the desktop I get on the LCD. This allows me to show a presentation on an external projector and keep my LCD monitor showing other things. Very cool! The Firewire port worked first time, as did all three USB ports and built-in ethernet.

   If there's one thing I don't like about SUSE, it's that they don't make ISO images available for burning to CD/DVD. I understand that they're in business to make money, but they make a complete FTP site available so that folks can install directly via FTP, so why not make ISOs available?

   I should mention that I teach corporate Linux classes. Everything from Intro to Linux up to System Administration and Linux Internals. I've written Unix device drivers and filesystems in C, and I do consulting work in C++, Java, and Perl (and occasionally in PHP or Python). I only say that because I'm an "experienced user" and things that might confuse others are no-brainers for me. Having said that, I prefer SUSE before Mandrake, and Mandrake before RedHat (or Fedora). I know what I like and I don't want to spend time fighting with an installation to get it working.

   I'm currently upgrading the kernel to Linux 2.6.3 -- and SUSE has provided tools that are up-to-date enough that I won't need to change anything else.

No comments about FileMaker Pro 8 Advanced Win/Mac.

No comments about Internet Cleanup.

5 comments about Adobe Acrobat 5.0.

1. By the time I was done reading the reviews for Adobe Acrobat 6.0 I was depressed. Not only do I not have Windows XP, or Windows 2000, or NT installed in my machine (The only operating systems that will work with 6) I also couldn't muster up the confidence in the product after so many people were giving it the thumbs down. I want to create an eBook, and Adobe Reader is the most popular reader out there, with some 400 million, to a half a billion users with it installed. What a dilemma. I kept coming back to read some more. Finally I found the answer. I bought a new Adobe Acrobat 5.0 here at Amazon from one of their vendors, and it works great with my Windows 98SE. I planned on buying the 6.0 upgrade after they got the bugs out, and or I got a new computer with XP. Then I found out that 5.0 was the only version before, and that was the professional version. 6.0 Standard is a geared down version of 5. Ok, so it has some additional features, but it is missing all the rest of the professional features that 5 has.
   So what's the skinny on the deal? For what I paid for a new 5 that is the full program, unregistered, and upgradeable, plus what I would have to pay here at Amazon for the 6 Professional Upgrade, I saved 80 bucks, and wound up with both versions 5 and 6 pro. Which as I mentioned are both professional versions. If I bought 5 and upgraded to 6 standard, I would only spend a little more for both versions. (About 4 percent more for standard, and about 20 percent less for professional) That way if 6 standard turned out to be as bad as many were saying it is, I would have 5 also.
   In the final analysis, I am using 5 and am super excited about the new capabilities that Adobe Acrobat gives you. I'm hoping that by the time I get a new machine with XP on it, Adobe will come out with 6.something, or a second edition of 6 etc. with the fixes built in.
   I'm not the only one to come to this conclusion. I noticed in the sales rank at the time I bought it and wrote this review, that 5 was outselling 6. Also I noticed that in the "Those who bought 5 also bought this" section, it had a special note that said, 47% of the people who bought 5 also bought the 6 upgrade. If your running XP, 2000, or NT, get them both. That way all the bases are covered.
   Check out the reviews on 5 you'll be surprised how everybody raves about it. To be perfectly honest with you, if I had an XP machine, I would have ordered the 6 upgrade at the same time. Hope this helps.



2. I was familiar with this product before I purchased it. I was leary about purchasing it without the manual or other documentation -- just the CD -- but I took a chance, based on Amazon.com's reputation for standing by their processes.
   The product arrived exactly when and as promised and was also authentic and registerable. I am delighted with it. I found this product to be easy to learn and use immediately. It will take some time to learn everything about it, but the "help" options are excellent and also easy to follow. I'm sure this will be a welcome addition to our software family for years to come.



3. I don't know how our household functioned without this handy little program. The older version works just fine, does everything it is supposed to do with ease. Sure, it lacks some of the fancy features of the newer versions, but the price is better.
   
   One caveat: Be sure the item you are buying is a regular license, not a student or "educational" copy. Sellers do not always mention this little detail.



4. Delivery as expected. I appreciate such "older software" still being available through Amazon and this vendor. I will always have issues with newer operating systems: price of system and software and stability when using a wide array of software by various providers; so I am not inclined to upgrade operating system without good reason.
   
   Adobe isn't clear on what version of their programs this upgrades, but it is NOT one of their "Acrobat and Reader" series. Thus I was delayed in using this purchase while I determined what program the Upgrade worked on/with. Perhaps this and other sellers can clarify the Acrobat/Reader dicotomy for potential purchasers. I found Adobe wasn't all that helpful or knowledgable. Online users manuals proved more informative.
   I am the system maintainer and user (self taught).



5. I was using Acrobat Exchange 2.0 and the 5.0 version is a definite step up. As a writer (http://secretsgolden.com/)Adobe Acrobat is necessary to my work. I wouldn't be without it, and v.5.0 is a very good program!
   Thank you for reading!

1 comments about Computrace LoJack for Laptops: 1 Year Subscription.

1. YEAH, it really does work, we purchased this for our company of over 3,500 laptops and it reduced our loss rate from almost 100 notebooks a year to less than 10.
   
   We've dissected this software and know how it works, but we aren't going to detail the guts in a public forum to help thieves disable it. Instead, we're going to assure you this stuff is hard to remove and most laptop thieves don't know this technology exists, or what to look for -until the police comes to arrest them.
   
   This is essentially a piece of "spyware" because it is resident system agent that runs with the OS but will also embed itself into the MBR and the BIOS on some systems. Check with Absolute software to verify if your model number has BIOS support.
   
   It will contact a monitoring center on a daily basis by modem, LAN or even cellular, whatever network connection to the Internet you have, this software will connect to the monitoring center with a basic "hello" packet so the source IP address is recorded. The modem uses a 1-800 number and caller ID can't be blocked from toll free numbers because the US Supreme Court ruled years ago their right to billing supersedes your right to privacy and since the owner of a toll free number is paying the toll,,, voila they get your phone number.
   
   Scenario:
   
   Your computer is stolen, you alert Absolute Software and the next time the Computrace agent notifies the monitoring center it is flagged and will also configure the agent to go "hyper alert" and send hello packets frequently. Absolute then works with law enforcement agencies to help direct them based on source IP or caller ID where to recover your stolen laptop.
   
   Law enforcement agencies are receptive to this assistance because people who steal laptops often steal other items so the cops recover alot of other stolen goods with the help of Absolute Software.
   
   Special note, this software works even if the system isn't fully booted, if the computer is just left at the logon screen, it still works, if the computer is syskeyed and requires a startup password or bootdisk,,, IT STILL SENDS THE HELLO PACKETS.
   
   All the systems can be managed from a web interface at lojackforlaptops website.
   
   IF YOU SELL THE LAPTOP, YOU CAN TRANSFER THE LICENSE TO ANY OTHER COMPUTER AS OFTEN YOU'D LIKE.
   
   Technical support is excellent, we reached support engineers by phone in Canada and they can work the fluent sys engi or end user.
   
   If you have just one, or 10,000 laptops, this is a worthy investment, you can insure your laptop, but isn't your data priceless ?

4 comments about Panda Antivirus 2007.

1. I am not very good on the computer but after I downloaded this Panda Antivirus I can't tell you how many items I lost on my computer. I thought it was better then Norton but I was so wrong. I now have to pay to have my computer fixed. Save your money. This item should not even be sold on Amazon it is so bad.



2. Things have been very smooth since I loaded on this Panda Antivirus. It is not as intrusive as Norton, and the computer seems to work faster. It was easy to install. I highly recommend it.



3. Panda Anti-virus is rather inexpensive and it seems to work alright at capturing virus threats. It loads rather quickly is unobtrusive and packed with features. However it has some major issues for an Anti-Virus product.
   
   The product does a real time scan for "unknown" threats this can cause major problems to your PC. It locked up my PC and I thought I was going to have to reload it. Fortunately I was able to get into the admin section of the software and turn off all the extra features such as IM scanning, and Unknown Threat detection also known as True prevent. If it captures a virus sometimes it is not able to clean the virus and in some cases crashes when it detects malware.
   
   If you want to find something inexpensive, then I would suggest AVG or Avast which are free.



4. I have been using the Panda antivirus since 2004 and have had no problems. My computer hasn't been infected and it hasn't crashed since I have been using Panda; neither has it frozen on me. By the way, if your computer has a firewall, buy the antivirus without the firewall(because there is another antivirus by Panda with a firewall) otherwise you will get a conflict. Besides the normal scan,this antivirus has the Total Scan Pro, which is Internet-based and always up to date. I downloaded my Panda from Panda Software, on the Internet, then purchased it locally.
   I highly recommend all Panda products.

No comments about Stealthray Deluxe.

1 comments about Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Web Premium Upsell [OLD VERSION].

1. I upgraded from Creative Suite CS2 and Macromedia Suite MX 2004. Adobe has rewritten the software in both suites to work together like they had always been one integrated product. The transformation is truly astounding. It is obvious that Adobe wants to be your one-stop solution to anything related to web design and web page building and this package will blow away the competition.
   
   You can layout your pages in photoshop, using all it's creative power including layer's. Generally, you want common areas on each page of your site to give it a unified feel. For the areas that will differ from page to page, just use a different layer for each variation. This means you won't have to rebuild the common areas for each page of your layout. This is a huge time saver since those layers are also accessible in both Fireworks and Dreamweaver now.
   
   Pull the photoshop page layout into fireworks to add hotspots and create html mockups of each page of your site for the customer. The hotspots allow you to actually link from page to page in the html mockups. That way your customer can get a sense of graphic look of the site and how you move from page to page early in the design process and without you having to move everything to the host site. After they approve the overall page design and flow, you can pull the same photoshop layout into dreamweaver and use it as a tracing sheet to create your css stylesheets. The css stylesheets have much greater support under this version of Dreamweaver. They provide lots of premade CSS stylesheets that you can use as is or easily modify to suite your needs.
   
   Once your stylesheets are defined, you can copy elements of your photoshop page layout to add images to your web page in Dreamweaver. Another nice feature is the ability to optimize photoshop images for the web from right inside Dreamweaver. If you need illustrations to add to your pages, Illustrator has been as tightly integrated as Photoshop. Just create your illustration and you can copy it right in. If you want to include common elements across a large number of pages, create a template - that way later changes to the common areas just need to be made to the template instead of every page!
   
   I haven't had a chance to work with Flash yet. The new features list is pretty impressive. Can't wait to dive in! I also have not yet worked with the new features to preview how your web pages will look on other devices like phones and ipods. If that works well, it will make designing web pages for the new devices a lot easier.
   
   All in all, Adobe has done a great job integrating all this software so that you can use the best of each tool to create well designed powerful web pages with a minimal amount of effort. Well worth the bucks!

5 comments about Adobe Acrobat 5.0 Upgrade OSX Mac.

1. By the time I was done reading the reviews for Adobe Acrobat 6.0 I was depressed. Not only do I not have Windows XP, or Windows 2000, or NT installed in my machine (The only operating systems that will work with 6) I also couldn't muster up the confidence in the product after so many people were giving it the thumbs down. I want to create an eBook, and Adobe Reader is the most popular reader out there, with some 400 million, to a half a billion users with it installed. What a dilemma. I kept coming back to read some more. Finally I found the answer. I bought a new Adobe Acrobat 5.0 here at Amazon from one of their vendors, and it works great with my Windows 98SE. I planned on buying the 6.0 upgrade after they got the bugs out, and or I got a new computer with XP. Then I found out that 5.0 was the only version before, and that was the professional version. 6.0 Standard is a geared down version of 5. Ok, so it has some additional features, but it is missing all the rest of the professional features that 5 has.
   So what's the skinny on the deal? For what I paid for a new 5 that is the full program, unregistered, and upgradeable, plus what I would have to pay here at Amazon for the 6 Professional Upgrade, I saved 80 bucks, and wound up with both versions 5 and 6 pro. Which as I mentioned are both professional versions. If I bought 5 and upgraded to 6 standard, I would only spend a little more for both versions. (About 4 percent more for standard, and about 20 percent less for professional) That way if 6 standard turned out to be as bad as many were saying it is, I would have 5 also.
   In the final analysis, I am using 5 and am super excited about the new capabilities that Adobe Acrobat gives you. I'm hoping that by the time I get a new machine with XP on it, Adobe will come out with 6.something, or a second edition of 6 etc. with the fixes built in.
   I'm not the only one to come to this conclusion. I noticed in the sales rank at the time I bought it and wrote this review, that 5 was outselling 6. Also I noticed that in the "Those who bought 5 also bought this" section, it had a special note that said, 47% of the people who bought 5 also bought the 6 upgrade. If your running XP, 2000, or NT, get them both. That way all the bases are covered.
   Check out the reviews on 5 you'll be surprised how everybody raves about it. To be perfectly honest with you, if I had an XP machine, I would have ordered the 6 upgrade at the same time. Hope this helps.



2. I was familiar with this product before I purchased it. I was leary about purchasing it without the manual or other documentation -- just the CD -- but I took a chance, based on Amazon.com's reputation for standing by their processes.
   The product arrived exactly when and as promised and was also authentic and registerable. I am delighted with it. I found this product to be easy to learn and use immediately. It will take some time to learn everything about it, but the "help" options are excellent and also easy to follow. I'm sure this will be a welcome addition to our software family for years to come.



3. I don't know how our household functioned without this handy little program. The older version works just fine, does everything it is supposed to do with ease. Sure, it lacks some of the fancy features of the newer versions, but the price is better.
   
   One caveat: Be sure the item you are buying is a regular license, not a student or "educational" copy. Sellers do not always mention this little detail.



4. Delivery as expected. I appreciate such "older software" still being available through Amazon and this vendor. I will always have issues with newer operating systems: price of system and software and stability when using a wide array of software by various providers; so I am not inclined to upgrade operating system without good reason.
   
   Adobe isn't clear on what version of their programs this upgrades, but it is NOT one of their "Acrobat and Reader" series. Thus I was delayed in using this purchase while I determined what program the Upgrade worked on/with. Perhaps this and other sellers can clarify the Acrobat/Reader dicotomy for potential purchasers. I found Adobe wasn't all that helpful or knowledgable. Online users manuals proved more informative.
   I am the system maintainer and user (self taught).



5. I was using Acrobat Exchange 2.0 and the 5.0 version is a definite step up. As a writer (http://secretsgolden.com/)Adobe Acrobat is necessary to my work. I wouldn't be without it, and v.5.0 is a very good program!
   Thank you for reading!