optimize

Firefox to go

No longer a fledgling upstart, Firefox 3 is full-featured, lightning fast, and an able foe for both the big-dog competitor Internet Explorer and competitors nipping at its heels. Firefox's killer add-ons remain strong, and the latest update makes version 3.5 about two times faster than version 3. However, competition is strong and it can no longer be said that Firefox is the fastest browser available.

Several notable improvements in the latest revamp keep Firefox abreast of current browsing tech. Along with Mozilla's new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine that renders Web applications faster on Firefox than ever before, there … Read more

Fine-tune Firefox

FireTune for Firefox optimizes Firefox's performance on your computer by allowing you to configure its speed and connection settings. However, we found little or no difference in our computer's performance after we put it to the test.

Right off the bat, we noticed that some of the features this add-on includes, such as the autocompletion of URLs, are features that Firefox already has built into in its current version. It does, however, allow you to set up other optimization features, such as the caching of objects shared over a secure connection, autocomplete for URLs, and optimization of memory … Read more

Tons of options

EnhanceMyVista Pro offers users all the tools they need to keep their computers running on all cylinders. The well-thought-out user interface makes it especially easy to make the most of its features.

The program packs a lot of information into its user interface, but it's organized in such way as to not overwhelm. It uses tabs to divide features into four categories: Tools, System, Optimizations, and Customizations. Within each tab are intuitive command buttons to access specific optimization tools. We were impressed with the program's wide array of options for not only cleaning the registry and hard disk … Read more

Unappealing interface

This program analyzes and defragments you computer in a very short amount of time. It even goes further to let you manually place files in high performing areas of your hard drive. Unfortunately, it uses a very unattractive user interface to accomplish all of these tasks.

We were a little put off at first by UltimateDefrag 2008 because we had to run it as an Administrator to access it. Otherwise, it produced an error. The program opens with a garishly designed interface that is busy and hard on the eyes. The multiple colors used also make it difficult to navigate. … Read more

Trial limits use

This program offers the tools to optimize your PC's performance, but with most of its features disabled for the trial, we had no way of knowing if it performs as promised. What little bit we did get to experience proved to be sluggish and often times unresponsive.

PC Optimizer Pro has a straightforward user interface. Menu commands for scanning your registry, erasing tracks, and shredding files run down the left side of the window. Each command's details and actions are displayed in the same window. No matter which command we selected, the program quickly scanned and produced results. … Read more

Game Booster pumps up your system

Normally, I am very skeptical of software that claims to make your computer faster or increase the speed of your connection to the Internet. I've never seen any of them actually deliver.

So when I came across Game Booster, released by IObit on Monday, I thought, "Ah! Another useless piece of junk. It won't boost anything!" Curiosity made me try it anyway. And I have to admit that I was wrong, though not entirely.

First off, the app works. It improve your games' performance by turning off other software and services that would otherwise run in the background the whole time. This helps free up the system resources, making them available for the game you are about to play.

The application is very simple. Once launched, it gives you a list of services running and software running in the background that it deems unnecessary for gaming. There's also a big button labeled "Switch to Gaming Mode." Pressing this button will stop everything on the list, making the system even more ready for the real action.

Once you are done with the gaming, you can click on the same button--now labeled "Back to Normal Mode"--and Game Booster will restart all the services it stopped earlier to bring the computer back to normal operating status. … Read more

One-stop program control

Windows-based computers come with an almost dizzying number of options, from Internet Explorer to Notepad and everything in between. Trying to manage all these functions may be a lot easier for users with Fresh UI.

This free download gives users an unprecedented look and incredible control over their system. The Fresh UI display is that of an expandable file tree, giving a general look at all programs that can be tinkered with. This overview is what really makes this program special. By erasing the countless minutes that could be spent opening each individual program and learning how to make alterations … Read more

Freeware optimizes images side by side

Anyone who has posted images to a Web site or blog knows that making the image "Internet-friendly" is crucial to fast page-loading times. Similarly, optimizing images for e-mail is important because sending enormous image files through your e-mail client can cause problems for those with slower connection speeds. There are several software tools available to reformat and optimize your images, but I found one recently that's free, easy, and effective.

RIOT (Radical Image Optimization Tool) (Free) for Windows takes the side-by-side interface approach for painless image optimization. Those who have used Adobe ImageReady will immediately recognize the … Read more

Cluttered interface

Like its free counterpart, AnVir Task Manager Pro offers users a one-stop shop for managing their system's running processes and applications. After putting it to the test, we found very few discernible differences between the two.

The program's user interface is a bit overwhelming. It uses tabs to distinguish system categories, such as start-up, applications, processes, and services. Command buttons at the top of the window give you the ability to kill processes, block processes, free memory, and select a parent process. The bottom of the window details CPU, memory, and disk usage, but it's cluttered and … Read more

Lackluster performance

1 Click Boost is a diagnostic program that is supposed to quickly optimize your system's performance. However, when we put it to the test, we found no discernible difference in our system's memory and Internet connection speeds.

The user interface is colorful and easy to navigate. Menu shortcuts at the top of the window organize the program's functions into categories: Internet, Memory, Process, and Cache. Within each function are tune-up options. For example, under the Internet function, we could choose to enable automatic discovery and acknowledge optimization. Thankfully, the program does include an extensive Help file to … Read more