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1. 
   Review - QuickTime Alternative (QT7)

   1.76 Beta 1 (Sep 15, 2006)

   Great program that reduces the clutter of QuickTime Player.
   
   Installed it and works fine with iTunes 7. Make sure you uninstall QuickTime Alternative, restart your computer, then install iTunes 7, then install the new QuickTime alternative and it should work fine.

2. 
   Review - Windows Media Player for Windows XP (32-bit)

   11.0.5358.4827 Beta (May 25, 2006)

   In one word: Excellent
   
   This is a vast improvement over all previous versions. The interface is excellent, but is a little less simple to use. I prefered the one button click for the "Show Enhancements" screen, but oh well.
   
   Sound quality is steller as well as the options. All the free features for video playback and such work great. Unfortunately WMP has a really bad codec system so I still use K-Lite Codec Pack.
   
   The program starts up fast and works really well even with numerous other applications running.
   
   I would still recommend VCL player for previewing video files while downloading them however.
   
   Install was a breez without any problems, a bit slow though.
   
   Overall, all the functioning is great, even the new option to view your iPod is great.

3. 
   Review - Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows XP

   7.0 Beta 2 Preview (Jan 31, 2006)

   Alright, so the installation went smooth... And so did the quick uninstall.
   
   The interface is kind of nice, it's less cluttered so you see more of each webpage. That's about the only nice thing about the interface. In this release you are very limited in the amount of customizing you can do. First off, the "Classic Bar." The bar with: File Edit View Favorites etc is gone unless you select it. If you choose you want it, it sticks it under the adress bar and navigation buttons. I prefer by "Classic Bar" over everything else, it just looks weird. You can't move any of the toolbars around except for the Links bar. So if you like your interface a specific way then you should stay with Firefox or Opera.
   
   The browser is alot faster as seemed just as fast as Opera, but it's starting up time is still slow. Now since it is still a beta release its got some bugs, but I had some webpage issues where it wouldn't show the page properly.
   
   If you don't want to use tabs you still have to put up with an extra toolbar you can't get rid of and the only thing in it is a button to access your favorites, and to subscribe to RSS feeds.
   
   There really arn't enough new featurs to keep me interested, and the interface is a big problem for me.
   
   Be sure to give it a try however, the install/uninstall is a breeze so even the most novice user can give it a try, but make sure you backup your stuff just in case.
   
   Well, that's my opinion, but to sum it up: Long live Opera

4. 
   Review - Yahoo! Messenger for Windows

   7.5.0.333 Beta (Dec 14, 2005)

   Yahoo! Messenger is a good client in my opinion. It's got a nice clean interface, and is pretty easy to use.
   
   For those that like lot's of feature all in one, this is a great package. It's got everything you need in an IM client plus a bit more for advances users.
   
   Unfortunately there isn't a second lighter version, because much of the content isn't very useful. The network is a bit bumpy, I've had lot's of issues with chatting, voice service, and some messaging. It's very slow on computers with less then a 800mhz processor.
   
   Yahoo has the right idea with what they got, and could really make this a great client if they fix up the speed, reliability, and give some options for content.

5. 
   Review - ZoneAlarm Pro

   6.1.737.000 (Nov 23, 2005)

   Ok, first off, it's really easy to use. The interface is pretty simple and is explained very well.
   
   The firewall works awesome, catches everything from what I've seen. Most of the advances features are complicated, but most of them the average user isn't going to use.
   
   It's very stable, it has never crashed on me, and is fast loading.
   
   Installation is a bit buggy and the file size is pretty big even for a small build update.
   
   The only features I use is the firewall from the Pro version, nothing else. The pro version has some extra protection elements that I like, thus I don't use the free version.
   
   Sure it's bloaded for us advanced/itermmediate users, but for newbies and computer illiterates it's does everything you need in one package.
   
   The spywear checker and internet chache cleaner is meant for computer newbies that don't understand that you can clear the same stuff off your computer using tools that come with windows.

6. Comment - XP SP3 distribution proceeds after auto download filter put in place

   6.1.737.000 (May 7, 2008 - 1:27 AM)

   Install went smooth, and didn't take very long. The download is significantly smaller if you download from Windows Update though, however....
   
   Issues I had with SP3:
   1) 3rd party themes didn't work any more, I had to download a new version of Uxtheme.dll
   2) Windows Live Messenger 8.5 would ask me to insert my Windows XP CD every time I started it. I uninstalled it, but the Windows Live installer wouldn't work, so I had to reinstall that before re-installing Messenger (I hate that installer), but everything works fine now. (Was closed during install)
   3) Every time my computer starts the Windows Security Centre informs me that my ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall isn't turned on. Simple fix: Turned off security centre (Was turned off during install)
   4)PerfectDisk 2008 wouldn't start. Fixed it by repairing the installation. (Was disabled during install, including services)
   5)Added a process to my MSCONFIG Start-Up list called "Watson Subscriber for SENS Network Notifications" Apparantly it's an error reporting tool for Office?... disabled it.
   
   That's it for now, although I assume most of those problems were due to 3rd party add-ons/cracked version of software, such as using MessPatch on Windows Live Messenger to remove ads,using Ux Multi-patcher to endable 3rd party skins and using a cracked version of PerfectDisk.
   
   Otherwise, it's a smooth update.

7. Comment - Sprint to Stream Movies to Cell Phones

   6.1.737.000 (Sep 10, 2006 - 1:03 PM)

   I think everyone is missing the point of a Cell PHONE. It's a phone, not a damn mp3 player or tv or camera or anti-missile defense system.
   
   It's bad enough I have to listen to peoples phone ringing at the checkout counter as it sings Jessica Simpons's less then impressive renditions of "These Boots are Made for Walking."
   
   Now I have to put up with some putz watching "The Son of the Mask" while I wait on the subway.
   
   Oy, good bye simple life.

8. Comment - Microsoft Opens New Mail Client Beta

   6.1.737.000 (Jul 27, 2006 - 11:02 PM)

   Well, I got an invitation for this program a little while ago and gave it a try.
   
   It's nice to be able to get your Hotmail e-mail on a desktop client, but it's not much different then the web based Hotmail.
   
   It takes a little while to start up, at least on my computer, and the ad in the right hand corner is a real drag. It's not gigantic, but it's a fair size, and I really don't see the point. Outlook Express has no ads, so why bother with this? As well, I'm sure Microsoft, a mutli-billion dollar company could just take the ads out and they would do just fine financialy... But that's only a guess.
   
   I wouldn't recommend using it, especially when you can get other free ones with no ads and more features.

9. Comment - Video Clips Replace Ads in Messenger

   6.1.737.000 (Dec 28, 2005 - 1:58 AM)

   I use MSN every so often and this is my opinion:
   
   So then Microsoft, a company that makes billions in profit headed by Bill Gates with a fortune of over 40 Billion, has to sell ad space on MSN Messenger to bring in revenue.
   
   I'm I to believe that Microsoft is going to go bankrupt if they take advertisments off of their free products?
   
   I mean come on, this multi-billion dollar corporation doesn't want to loose a single dime do they?