I have enjoyed the Netgear a lot. I have had it for a year, but just put it into action last month.

I have enjoyed the Netgear a lot. I have had it for a year, but just put it into action last month.

I’ve used the 2010 and 2011 versions of McAfee’s security suites and wasn’t impressed; bogged down the systems after awhile. My Norton 360 had just expired on my home PCs ( a Dell XPS with Windows 7 in my study, and a Dell 8400 running Windows XP in the guest room) so I gave this McAfee LiveSafe a try. Installation was straightforward using the code inside the package to download from the McAfee site.

When my Kaspersky Pure (KP) Total Security expired, I decided to try the Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 (KIS). It has the same protection capabilities of KP but lacks Management functions (Control Center for all PCs in one’s home), and Remote Management of Parental Controls (to block contents non-suitable for children), and some All-in-One features such as Password Manager, Scheduled, automatic data backup, Encrypted data vaults, and File Shredder. The extra features are useful but not absolutely necessary; there are plenty of other programs that provide the same services.

Qualities I look for in a competent internet security suite are ease of installation, simple setup, no installation of unwanted adware, ease of use (works silently in the background), and light on the system resources. The Avira Internet Security has managed perform below par on all accounts. Like:n>Loaded with the whole gamut of protection for PC, internet, parental supervision, with extras such as security for Android devices, and Antivirus for Mac.

The Kaspersky Pure was installed on our guest room PC with Windows XP in July 2011. It replaced the Bit Defender Total Security that was starting to bog down the system with slow updates. To me, the best internet protection suites are the ones that work silently in the background, doesn’t cause conflicts with other programs, and updates quietly and efficiently as scheduled. The Kaspersky Pure (KP) achieved that and even threw in some extra protection.

I installed the Bitdefender Internet Security 2010 in May 2010 to replace the expired Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite in the guestroom computer. Installation was fast and painless. A Configuration Wizard provides easy selection for different usage types: Typical, Parent, Gamer, or Custom. There are three User Interfaces to choose from: Novice, Intermediate, and Expert. I started with Typical/Intermediate UI and later switched to Parent/Expert UI for more advanced settings. Because I skipped the initial full system scan, a warning window kept prompting to send an error message to Bitdefender.

Let’s take a closer look at this version.. My favorite new features in QuickBooks 2010:nn- The ability to paste customer/vendor/item data from Excel spreadsheetsn- The new favorites menu so that you can quickly access deep menu items with fewer clicksn- The ability to search for reports in the Report Center, easily find the report you wantn- Improved online banking integrationnnShould you upgrade from QB 2009 to 2010? Personally I’d decide based on whether those four new features are important to you.

Previously I was using Windows Movie Maker to edit clips because it would get the job done very fast without unnecessary complexity. Since Windows Movie Maker is no longer included with Windows 10, I’m looking for replacement software. I avoid Adobe products these days since they moved to a subscription model for their pro-level products. Corel has been around forever in graphics software (I remember using Corel Draw in the early 1990s when I did some part time work as a graphic arts designer), although video is a newer area for them.

I’ve always been excited about new versions of Microsoft Office. This is a big exception. In this version Microsoft stripped out the Windows Aero graphic effects and replaced it with minimalist white space and ugly modern art icons, so the menu labels appear lost and disorganized with harsh contrast. A lot of people say it even causes headaches. Did Microsoft perform ANY user testing on the butchered user interface? Previously Microsoft Office 2010 was my favorite software, but I hate this version.