Entered CNET Catalog: 08/20/2003
SKU: 10067443
Manufacturer: Symantec Corporation
Manufacturer description
Symantec's Norton SystemWorks 3.0 for Macintosh is the smartest way to solve computer problems. Norton AntiVirus 9.0 for Macintosh, the world's most trusted antivirus solution for Macintosh systems, removes viruses automatically - without interrupting your work. Now it also detects PC viruses. Norton Utilities 8.0 for Macintosh finds and repairs disk problems, helps you recover files, and improves hard drive performance. Dantz Retrospect Express Backup lets you quickly and easily back up your files. And Aladdin Spring Cleaning safely and completely uninstalls unneeded programs. Protect your computer from dangerous viruses and keep it running smoothly with Norton SystemWorks.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/12/2003
 If you use a variety of the SystemWorks tools, you can save space by using the new Norton Launcher to make one alias in your Dock or preferred launch utility. |
Ironically, since the overall look and feel of SystemWorks has remained largely unchanged for years (aside from some Aquafication in the OS X version), some long-learned Mac-user behavior can get you into trouble during the install process. For instance: Setting the start-up drive in the OS X System Preferences to the SystemWorks CD means you can't access the Preferences while booted from the CD. Instead, you'll either have to eject the CD during a reboot or know the trick of holding down the Option key while rebooting so that you can select a start-up drive. We recommend booting to the CD by holding down the C key instead.
Installing Spring Cleaning and Retrospect was an easier process, though both recommended logging out and logging back in. Also, it would be nice to see an integrated installer for all Symantec and third-party apps in the package.
Once installed, however, SystemWorks opens a new Norton Launcher listing all the main tools, such as Speed Disk, UnErase, and Norton AntiVirus, grouping them by use. Additional tools such as Spring Cleaning and Retrospect are found separately in the Applications folder. SystemWorks 3.0 has been called a Swiss army knife of utility suites, and it doesn't disappoint. The latest version includes support of the new Panther Mac OS X release.
 One of Spring Cleaning's core functions is to identify and delete duplicate files; unfortunately, it can't distinguish between different versions of applications that have the same name. |
Norton Utilities 8.0 now scans removable media when it starts up, automatically boots the OS X version from the CD, and schedules regular runs of the FileSaver utility, which saves a snapshot of your hard drive to assist in data recovery in case of a kernel panic or an application crash.
Norton AntiVirus 9.0, included with SystemWorks 3.0, now has the ability to detect PC-specific viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Although these maladies don't affect Macs, it's still possible for Mac users to pass along infected e-mail attachments to Windows users.
 Norton Speed Disk scans hard drive blocks, theoretically improving overall system speed. In this image, Speed Disk is not being run while booted from the Norton CD, which is recommended. |
Also included is Dantz Retrospect Express 5.0, which adds Mac OS X and 9 compatibility and improved handling of Unix permissions. Retrospect's automated backup ability, which allows you to designate an array of vital files to back up with one click, now works with DVD-R drives, DVD-RW drives, and Apple's SuperDrive.
Aladdin Spring Cleaning 5.0.1 adds compatibility for Mac OS X 10.2 and also includes related utilities for finding and clearing out orphaned aliases and preferences, Internet caches, and empty folders. Unfortunately, in our informal testing, Spring Cleaning identified different versions of the same application as duplicates (iChat 1.1 and iChat 1.0, for example). If you keep older versions of apps for compatibility purposes, be careful that you don't delete them.
On a 700MHz iBook with 384MB of RAM, running each individual utility took enough time to get a cup of coffee--pretty fast, for utilities. However, running Speed Disk (a disk optimization tool) from the CD, which Symantec recommends, took more than an hour, though faster CD drives might yield faster results. There is no estimated-time-remaining feature, unfortunately, and if the computer goes to sleep during Speed Disk, there is the chance you'll need to reboot instead of waking your Mac. Unfortunately, Symantec phone support is pricey at $29.95 per call or $2.95 per minute. Phone support is available only from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
As with the PC version, online help for Norton SystemWorks 3.0 for Mac relies primarily on a mix of its own Help tool and Web-based FAQs and forums. The Norton and Spring Cleaning components have fairly good built-in help files, while Retrospect points users to Dantz Web pages.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3
User Rating: 
3/10
Systemworks 3.0 is NOT compatiuble with newer Macs
Pros: None for anyone using a 1.5 GHz PowerBook
Cons: Causes Powerbook to freeze; poor customer service
Review:
I purchased Symantec Systemworks 3.0 (System protectionware and Antivirus software) from a retail supplier. Following manufacturer's instructions I booted from the Symantec CD on my new PowerBook G4 (1.5 GHz) 12" computer. The CD warns that booting will take 5-7 mins !!! (Why??) When finally a Symantec window finally appeared the computer was frozen. the only way I could switch off was to crash using 'Option-Power On'. The problem was reproducible. Not much use as an emergency Boot disk one would think!
On calling the retail supplier's Tech Services they immediately said Systemworks 3.0 was not compatible with the PowerBook. Symantec's Website describes a list of computers for which v.3.0 is incompatible and offers an upgrade CD with version 3.0.1 and Norton Utilities 8.0.2 (Why don't they make this commercially available?).
Symantec's tech service were extremely vague as to whether v3.0.1 will work on the PowerBook but are sending a "free" upgarde CD for me to try. March 25. 2005
On calling the retail supplier's Tech Services they immediately said Systemworks 3.0 was not compatible with the PowerBook. Symantec's Website describes a list of computers for which v.3.0 is incompatible and offers an upgrade CD with version 3.0.1 and Norton Utilities 8.0.2 (Why don't they make this commercially available?).
Symantec's tech service were extremely vague as to whether v3.0.1 will work on the PowerBook but are sending a "free" upgarde CD for me to try. March 25. 2005
User Rating: 
2/10
weak product
Pros: nice interface
Cons: speeddisk unmounted one of my partitions while defragging (MacOSX), which then would not remount
Review:
User Rating: 3/10
Application crashed and no CD was shipped
Pros: It will correct problems that Apple's Disk Utility will not touch. (not hard to do)
Cons: After using the app. once I could not open it again and after several weeks the startup and app. CD that I ordered with the download purchase had not come. When I called about it they had no record that I ordered it even though I had an email receipt for
Review:
