November 12 - November 19

Keeping your PC healthy by Alessandro Cancian Its true, todays computers require an IT manager in every home. It might look like an absurdity or a contradiction, but that thingie called PC, born to make our life simpler, is often our real problem. Files mistakenly wiped out, malfunctioning hardware, and viruses, without counting the myriad problems that operation systems such as Windows bring about. For many this has become another pastime, but for most people this is more of a nightmare. The average computer user is only interested in spending time working, playing, or browsing the Internet, not in worrying whether the registry of his Windows 98 are in perfect order. The solution to most of these problems already exists: its called Symantec. Again this year Symantec updated its products with a new 2001 version, trying and offering some programs that are both sophisticated and easy to use. Norton Utilities 2001 ($69 CDN) represents the latest release of the best-known system optimization and problem-solving tool for Windows. Ideal for every level of expertise, the new NU sports a simple graphic interface, similar to its predecessor. Theres no radical change, but a refining of the existing tools. Installation is simple and multiple monitoring options are available, which represents a winning edge for Norton Utilities from the standpoint of customer satisfaction. Key features include: Norton WinDoctor, able to diagnose and solve problems ranging from software errors to hardware configuration; Norton DiskDoctor, which checks directory and hard disk automatically or on demand; System Doctor, which monitors and analyzes the various parts of the computer in real time, such as disk, CPU, network throughput and more, warning the user in case of problems. Norton Utilities can also improve your computers performance thanks to Speed Disk, which optimizes access to the most frequently requested files of your hard disk. Easy access to Windows Registry, SpeedStart for improving program start-up (only for Win 95) and the Unerase utility, capable of recovering your lost or deleted files, are the icing on the cake. Even though NU can solve many headaches and improve performance, there are some cases it cant cope with. Sometimes, if a program becomes corrupted, the easiest solution is to reinstall it. Also, NU cannot solve security problems. Viruses are not to be underestimated if one does not like nasty surprises. The advent of the Internet accelerated their spread, previously limited to infected floppy disks. Norton Antivirus 2001 ($59 CDN) acts as your guardian angel, intercepting any kind of suspicious activity. The new version is not much different from the previous one. NA checks for virus definitions when users are on-line, downloading and installing the patches automatically. The most important feature is the automatic scanning of e-mail attachments, which saved my own computer on at least a couple of occasions. For people needing both products at the same time, Symantec offers SystemWorks 2001 ($99 CDN standard edition), a more convenient software package bundling the various functions of the different stand-alone programs and something more. Security nowadays is not just a matter of anti-virus software, however. Cable or DSL Internet connections are a powerful weapon for people intending to raid your PC. To those who want to take steps in order to prevent such raids, Symantec is offering its own solution: Internet Security 2001. According to this version, IS includes Norton Antivirus; a firewall able to keep undesired guests at bay; Parental Control for restricting childrens Web access, preventing visualisation of pornographic sites, usage of chat rooms and more. In any case, Symantec has a solution tailored to your needs, whatever your expertise. For further information, please visit www.symantec.com

 

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