PowerDirector is a good video editor that you can grow into. By that I mean that a novice like myself can start editing videos and improving them without a lot of tutelage. Then as they become proficient, the additional features will become more and more a mainstay of their skill set. In my opinion this makes a great tool for anyone that wants to get started with DIY videography, with the goal of becoming a homegrown Spielberg… okay, that might be a reach.

First I tried Microsoft LiveCare… problems with installation, problems with configuration and problems with operation. Forget that nonsense!nnThen I tried McAfee Total Protection 2008… great initial impression, nice functionality and usability, however the razzmafrazzin thing wouldn’t register (and what good is system and virus protection if you can’t get regular updates?). I’ve had Norton Antivirus 2008 for 2 months now and things are smooth. Not complaints, regular updates coming from Norton, and no degradation of service.

I like this better than Adobe’s Acrobat. It’s not as resource-entwined and just seems to be a cleaner way of producing PDFs. They come through with all of the requisite appearance and functionality (hyperlinks that work) and you’re not being hounded for updates and other Adobe-related headaches.

Forget the shareware or freeware apps that are out there. Nothing compresses and uncompresses files as effectively or cleanly as WinZip! It installs easily and is well worth the cost.

I can’t imagine a greater level of disappointment than this product has given me. The basic framework is there: virus protection, routine maintenance, automated backup, updates and security. But I suspect that it will perform as needed only for those people that install it when the stars correctly align. For woe unto you who have a problem. Support may be there, but you’ll work yourself into a frazzle just trying to find the support or get an answer.

This marks my first renewal of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro, and indeed the first time I’ve stayed with the same security suite after one year… ever. It’s tough sometimes to review a product like this, because if it works well… and Trend Micro Internet Security Pro does… there is little to notice; no worms, no identity theft, no problem. Is Trend Micro 100% responsible for those results? Probably not, as I would like that think that my common sense caution plays some role in my lack of drama.

In a sense, I feel like something of a techno-Goldilocks. Microsoft OneCare had all the features that I liked, yet it couldn’t function well with my wireless router and home network. McAfee Total Protection 2008 seemed fine, and then I couldn’t get the darn thing to register (thus preventing the necessary updates) More so, I was so frustrated with McAfee’s tech support that I finally sent the program back, with a long letter of explanation that unfortunately was never acknowledged.

decent program

Excellent program

Satisfied customer