3 Free Software Reviewed by Grill

[Monkey_Grill]

It was for homework...

Daniel Kaluza
IT 1020
September 21, 2009

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5.408
   Developer: AVG Technologies
   Download Size: 828.82KB
   Classification: Application Software (Utility Software)

   AVG is a free anti-virus and anti-spyware tool. It features a real-time scanner and also an e-mail scanner. Installation is plain and simple with no confusing lingo. Automatic updates can be enabled to allow AVG to update at any time period. The user can perform a full system scan or just scan specific files at slow, automatic, or fast speed. Unfortunately, the free version doesn't scan for rootkits. According to PCWorld.com, AVG had a 0% rate of false positives and was given an overall rating of very good. At idle, AVG used around 12,400KB of RAM while Internet Explorer used 72,036KB of RAM with only one tab opened to msn.com. AVG received an average user rating of 4 out of 5 stars according to cnet.com. The only system requirement is that the computer uses Windows Vista, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.

LogMeIn Hamachi2
   Developer: LogMeIn
   Download Size: 3.1MB
   Classification: Application Software (Utility Software)

   LogMeIn Hamachi2 is a free program that allows users to create virtual private networks to transform a WAN base connection into a LAN base connection securely. In situations where a server may be down, or a program may only offer LAN connections, a user can create a Hamachi server with a click of a mouse button, have other users connect from a different LAN and share data. Hamachi uses 7,900KB of RAM and sits quietly in the user's background connecting to VPNs. Cnet's average users gave Hamachi 4 out of 5 stars. The only system requirement is that the computer uses Windows Vista, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.

TeamSpeak 2 Client
   Developer: TeamSpeak Systems
   Download Size: 5.59MB
   Classification: Application Software

   TeamSpeak 2 is a free program that allows users to communicate by speaking using VoIP technology. Installation is simple, but can be a bit tricky to configure sound input/output options. Users must keep in mind that this is only the client version and they will only be able to talk to others by connecting to a TeamSpeak server. The layout is simple, but can be overwhelming for beginning users. Some menus could have been arranged and grouped more effectively. Subside the minor problems, TeamSpeak provides excellent voice quality at codec speeds up to Speex 25.9 Kbit. Average users on CNET gave TeamSpeak 5 out of 5 stars. TeamSpeak does require a lengthy list of requirements, but every computer made today meets all the requirements. Requirements: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows NT, Pentium 166MHz CPU, 64 MBytes of RAM, 6 MBytes of harddisk space, DirectX 8.1, Internet or LAN connection, full-duplex soundcard, and a microphone to talk.
   

[Schlup]

Not bad, I don't agree with some of your personal opinions and I don't think there is a place for them in a school paper but overall not a bad writeup.