optimization

Vista Manager opens a nicely designed interface that's easy to navigate and tasteful. The tools in this package are comprehensive, with a set of utilities organized under each category: system info, optimizer, cleaner, customization, security, network, and miscellaneous doodads.

Vista Manager performed well in our tests. It quickly grabbed system info about hardware and software components, and we especially liked that it listed each installed video and audio codec. We were able to export the log easily to an HTML file. The Process Manager displayed far greater detail than its Windows counterpart, with a more useful presentation in a … Read more

PC Fixer launches an attractive, well-designed interface that's easy to navigate. The functional design complements its ease of use. The feature list is adequate for most users, although experienced techies will prefer a more robust toolbox with more detail provided by its analysis.

Still, this free optimizer package performed well in our tests. It responded quickly, and we liked that it prioritized "ailments" needing repair when it scanned the Registry. We also liked that we could select categories for tweaking, such as IE, individual apps, Startup, Performance, and Service. And, should your changes have a bad outcome, … Read more

RegSweep launches a nicely designed, user-friendly interface that melds colors, text, and buttons in a nice package. Determining how to direct this free app to analyze your system is very simple. However, our satisfaction level with this download is low.

RegSweep completed a system scan for ActiveX, invalid shortcuts, orphaned start-up items, and similar stray bits within 60 seconds and identified 343 problems. Great! We were all ready to clean up these loose ends to make our system zoom like the precision instrument we dream it could be. Unfortunately, RegSweep's demo download is just a tease; all its repair … Read more

While most system optimizing and management tool boxes include similar utilities, not all tool packages are created equal--which is evident once you launch this clutch of goodies with its robust feature set.

Wopti Utilities installs four modules for system info, optimizing, management, and cleaning. It launches a handsome, well-designed interface whose appearance doesn't get in the way of its functionality.

We were pleased by this package's performance in our tests. The performance benchmarking process was thorough and informative. We liked the availability of wizards for each of the optimization tools--very helpful for novices--as well as the Apply and … Read more

Easy to use. Quick performance. Nice, sharp-looking interface. Too bad all of the repair functions are disabled in the trial version.

Perfect Optimizer Registry Cleaner launches an appealing, nicely designed interface, with a colorful appearance that makes a good first impression. Unfortunately, after our tests, we can only say that Perfect Optimizer can't get by solely on its good looks.

In scanning and diagnosing our system's Registry, IE history files, and C and D drives, this app performed very quickly, locating more than 2,000 "problems" in each of its scans--all in less than half a … Read more

Developers are getting smarter by making their applications more appealing through improved interface design. But good looks don't necessarily mean good performance. But in the case of this toolbox, a professional-looking interface is nicely combined with ease of use and quick performance.

Memory Improve Professional launches a nicely designed interface that's easy to comprehend and simple to navigate. The dial-based gauge displays a quick-to-grasp visual of your system's memory use.

This app's tools performed nicely in our tests. We liked that the settings for configuring this utility's performance were on the launch window, so we … Read more

This suite of system maintenance tools had some notable features, but occasional glitches outweighed the pluses.

MZ Vista Force launches colorful interfaces for each of its several tools, each of which is designed for performing system maintenance and enhancement. Despite the candy-bright colors, each interface is a bit busy and cluttered. The provided tools include the usual suspects for this type of performance toolbox: Disk cleaner, memory optimizer, RAM booster, registry backup, and others.

We liked that each tool's options provided the user some control over the processes, unlike some one-click toolboxes designed for ease of use; the latter … Read more

It's easy to understand how to use this system optimizer and maintenance tool, but it's not so clear how it goes about getting the job done.

WinMultiFix launches a tabbed interface that isn't particularly well designed, but its plain appearance mirrors its all-business functionality. Despite its no-frills look, the program could use a decent Help file to inform users about its processes and how it works.

For instance, one tab offers a Temp File Cleaner. Operation is simple--enter the drive to clean and press a button. A progress bar provided the only clue that the application was … Read more

For Vista users not happy with Vista's built-in tools, this suite of optimizing and maintenance tools offers an easy-to-use alternative. The tools don't necessarily work better than their Vista counterparts, but they come in one easy-to-understand package.

Infibia Easy Tools for Vista launches a colorful, nicely designed palette of icons, each of which represents a tool for performing system maintenance and enhancement. The provided tools include the usual suspects for this type of performance toolbox, including a disk cleaner, memory optimizer, defrag utility, and a registry fixer.

The utility performed well in our tests. Some of the tools, … Read more