A good effort, just needs some more work to be worthwhile

Pros: In general, ZA is fairly unobtrusive, is capable of blocking or limiting specific programs from accessing the network, can block and sort email spam, and does a very decent job scanning for spyware/viruses (with a simple, straight-forward scheduler as well).

Cons: If a single computer has multiple login accounts, each user will normally receive errors upon launching Outlook (You must restart any currently running copes of Outlook to enable junk e-mail filtering). This pops up regardless of whether other users are logged on.

Occasionally, my system will slow considerably; something called vsmon.exe (a process integral to ZA's virus monitoring) will go from passively monitoring to activity sucking resources. Either wait for ten to twenty minutes (and it *might* come back to normal) or close all apps and reboot computer.

Support is not as responsive or helpful as it could be (although to be fair, it's infinitely than Norton's suport).

If virus/spyware scan starts and you need to skip it, it takes some digging to find the "cancel" button. The UI for changing the individual program control settings is also awkward and unclear. IM attachment screening only serves to block legitimate attachments. While I love the ability to limit internet access for each individual program, this still isn't worth the constant errors, the need to reboot and the unprofessional implementation of the product.

Oh, and if you try your luck with ZA and have performance issues, be sure to check out onealarm.donhoover.net This is a help site that helped me to get around a few problems i was experiencing. You may not have that problem, but it's there if you need it.

I have 100 days left on my ZA license to consider alternatives. Any suggestions out there?

Posted: 02-Sep-2007 03:29:21 PM

Seems to work alright, too bad it's from AOL

Pros: It sends messages relatively instantly, which is 99% of what anyone wants. Users allowed to do some degree of customization. AIM network services accessible via Trillian if you find you'd rather.

Cons: It's from AOL so it's guaranteed to install unnecessary bloatware and monitor your activities (marketing purposes). Big advertisement slot front/center. It provides some very basic bots, but bots are always useless overhead; delete them if you live without them. But it does what it's supposed to, and typically you should choose an IM network based on who you know that uses it. I have one contact that still uses AIM, so I created an account with this and have tried Trillian to handle the messaging. But if everyone you know uses AIM, this seems to be a farly decent client.

Posted: 07-Mar-2008 05:56:55 PM

I would like to give it chance; pathetically limited trial

Pros: Nothing substantially good to say, since the trial is severely limited (5-error trial).

Cons: First, the main window is mighty small, and cannot be resized (making it very awkward to review all the errors it alleges to find.) But most importantly, the trial corrects five errors only. Even with a fresh install of Windows XP on a new computer, there will be more than five registry errors by the time all drivers are installed. Therefore, if you're investigating software designed to correct system errors, you're SOL until you buy it. After you take the time to download it, set a restore point, run the scan and review the proposed corrections, the five error limit is as good as none. Screw it. Now I simply don't trust Neurosoft.

Posted: 14-Feb-2007 11:15:49 PM