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Results 1-10 of 10
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"Multi-Featured but Sometimes Confusing .."
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
Abundance of features: RAM, CPU usage; process ID, disk usage; image file properties; parent process, etc.
Cons
Somewhat confusing user interface. Have to hover the mouse over a process and wait for a popup giving the details for that process.
Summary
The strength of this information tool is the sheer amount of info available. But that also is a weakness due to the user interface that can be confusing. Overall, a very good and useful tool, once you get used to it. I do miss the tree structure that Process Explorer by SysInternals shows. But can live without it.
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"See ANYTHING"
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
You can find a virus and kill it even if virus checkers won't. Nothing is hidden (O/S items are greyed out)! Also, the customizable delay for any start-up item is wonderful. Love the monitoring tray items, too! Never be in the dark again.
Cons
VERY dangerous for those who aren't computer-savvy or super careful. NOT FOR KIDS. You could delete something important to your installed software (operating system things are grayed out, so you are generally idiot-proofed on those).
Summary
Now I don't know how I lived without AnVir!
p.s. I am only using the free version at this time. Seems good enough for me. I am not a computer tech, but used to work as a software programmer years ago and IT manager and then went mommy-track. I still am in charge of the home network and all PCs, though ;) . At this point, I'd say that I'm a power user with a deep respect for how badly one can botch up their PC if they aren't careful. So, be careful with this product and never let your child near it! (My teenager thought he was "smart" as a tween and REALLY botched things up on our old PC over and over. Honestly, he was more careful in elementary school. I Had to take away his admin rights ... I couldn't spend all of my spare time fixing his PC every other week. Word to the wise!).
Updated on Jun 27, 2011 -
"Awesome, hard to find features, works fine."
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
Helps you trim those 100+ useless processes you see in task manager
Prevents programs from inserting themselves back into the startup list
Helps your computer start up faster
Trims memory wasting useless programs
Continues 2 run past the 20 day trialCons
Nags you for a low fee after the trial period
Summary
This is an awesome program that fills a real need. Who cares if CNet thinks it's a little hard to navigate. It provides many useful functions that are hard to find, and, something really rare in today's software world, it actually works.
Here's the problem. Your computer is too slow, takes too long to startup, or runs "out of memory." The wise computer user will say just pop for a new computer. It's only $350 and you get a brand new shiny computer with a beautiful new monitor and keyboard and speakers and it's lightning fast for another few years. Think of it as a tax on computing that you have to pay every 5 years. Even I will admit that that's the way to go.
However, some people (like me) have trouble accepting that. This computer was lightning fast when I bought it, now it's dog slow. What gives? Very likely conspiracy theories of sabotage aside, what can you do?
Hit ctrl-alt-del and you can see a list of tasks running on your computer at all times, whether you are using them or not. Each one of those tasks is taking a small amount of performance, startup time, and memory from your computer. Most computers will have over 100 tasks running. What are they? Do you need them? Why can't they just run when you're using them? How can you control them? The stock task manager program from Microsoft is borderline useless in dealing with these issues. This AnVir program helps you with all of those questions and helps you to control them.
The startup tasks can be hidden in many places in your computer. Even for a guru, it is difficult to ferret out all the places that might launch unneeded programs at startup time. Even worse, most programs are smart enough to repair themselves, so even if you disable them, the next time you launch one such program (Adobe Reader is an example offender) it will reinsert itself into the startup list. Another problem, everybody and their uncle wants you to become dependant on their smoothly working software, and so over time more and more programs tend to get put in your startup list, usually without your knowledge.
The stock task manager suffers from many shortcomings: it doesn't tell you the path to the running task and since many tasks are cryptically named it's hard to know what they are. Worse, scads of tasks are listed simply as "svchost," something that I consider criminal negligence on the part of the makers of Windows. Also stock task manager gives you no clue as to from where in your computer the task is launched, which may be one of several places in the registry or other places.
AnVir answers all those shortcomings. It displays all running tasks and startup tasks and digs deep into your system to find them all. It displays comprehensive information on each task, maker, path to executable, location of the launch command, what the program does. This is great because it's real torture to try and look up 100+ programs on the internet and read pages on them. Those stupid "svchost" programs are finally uncovered and you can tell what they are (they are mostly Microsoft services that you mustn't disable).
Then AnVir helps you take control of your computer by giving you options to disable useless programs, keep them from starting up when the computer starts up, and keeps them from repairing themselves and that's fantastic because nothing other than a smart program will do that job for you. If you didn't have a program like this you would have to edit your registry your self every so often. Given the amount of places from which programs can launch, that's essentially impossible. AnVir also allows you to set tasks for delayed startup, so that your computer can even boot faster and you can start using it, and then those programs can load themselves in the background after a few minutes when the computer isn't so busy and it's not so noticeable. For example we run Skype on our computer. But we don't usually need it right when the computer starts up, so it's ok with me if Skype starts 5 minutes after the computer is turned on. That gives me a faster boot with no loss in functionality.
This program works, and that's its best feature. It installed with no problem, allowed me to make my tweaks, and every time some dumb program tries to sneak into my startup list, this program intercepts it and warns me and gives me options. That's just great. It's true that this program is probably a little overwhelming for many people, but I'd rather have a comprehensive program that works and gives me all the features and info I need than some little toy that doesn't do enough. -
"Super Duper"
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
very reasonably priced
Cons
can't remember any
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"Great interface to see key system information!"
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
Favorite feature is the ability to prompt me when a app attempts to load a process into the startup section - interface for managing the startup processes is easy to use. Large amount of info provided is very useful!
Cons
Cannot note any cons at this time.
Summary
Highly recommend this for anyone wanting more control of their system (note: I only use the free version).
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"Download contains a virus"
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
Didn't have a chance to use download has a virus
Cons
Nothing the download has a virus
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"They want you to buy, buy, buy it."
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
I don't know. Buy it and find out.
Cons
Everything I tried with the free version led to pop ups telling me I had to buy it.
Summary
Constant demands to buy the pro version.
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"A handy little utility that I use almost daily!"
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
It just comes in handy when you install a new application. It has kept me from getting too many things running at startup. I had several applications starting when I logged into the internet & they conflicted with each other.
Cons
It's sometimes annoying to have it pop up so often but that's my fault for installing so many applications all the time. I guess I can deal with that small annoyance seeing as it solved my internet connection conflicts.
Summary
Like I said I use it almost every day because I'm always adding a new application or gadget to my computer. It has come in handy more than once. I'm going to get the hang of using it pretty soon seeing as how it's always popping up.
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"It puts you back in control of your computer."
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
It puts you back in control of your computer.
Cons
none. It puts you back in control of your computer.
Summary
It puts you back in control of your computer.
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"task manager program"
Version: AnVir Task Manager Free 6.3.1
Pros
the software has many tools, but nothing of new Vs other applications
Cons
limited tools in the free version
Summary
it is downloadable, but nothing of trascendnt
Results 1-10 of 10
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