Entered CNET Catalog: 07/25/2006
SKU: CNETAOLTOTALCAREBETA
Manufacturer: America Online, AOL
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 07/25/2006
Like Microsoft Windows Live OneCare, the AOL interface quickly assesses your system, giving it an overall rating. Unlike OneCare and more like McAfee Total Protection beta, AOL delineates several specific areas of concern, and those that are deemed to be in poor standing are given a one-click option to fix. Unlike McAfee Total Security, which quickly performs the steps necessary to secure your computer, AOL Total Care one-click takes you to a more-detailed page where you can learn about the problem and, if necessary, tweak the settings before fixing it.
The PC Optimization section consists of tools from Iolo Technologies. Here, Total Care can remove junk Internet files, repair your system registry, improve start-up speed, remove spyware, and defragment your hard drive.
The Backup and Restore section features tools from FarStone Technology. Here, Total Care can automate backups to CDs, DVDs, and external drives--similar to what's currently offered in Windows Live OneCare. When the final product ships, AOL plans to include an online backup option. McAfee includes online backups, but Microsoft does not.
Coming in September will be a handy feature called the AOL Total Care Home Network manager. McAfee includes its own network manager, but Microsoft does not.
The Customer Support section is where AOL Total Care truly shines. Here, you can quickly see known issues along the left nav or access specific FAQs by either typing out a question or drilling down through a menu. Online chat and telephone support will be included at no extra charge. Future versions may also include a live, in-person house call through an AOL partnership with Gurus2Go.com. McAfee has made improvements to its customer support section of Total Security, as has Microsoft with its OneCare Help Center, but neither makes it as easy as AOL does.
AOL Total Care is still in beta and may undergo more changes before its final release. Check back to read our review once the final version becomes available, expected sometime before the end of this calendar year.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
Great Product,.. changes are building it stronger
Pros: Ability to have everything including online support in one place
Cons: Processes still have to be the con but they will fix it I am sure.
User Rating: 
8/10
Pretty Good
Pros: Free , overall good suite compared to the other ones.
Cons: have tiosign in. Memory usage.
User Rating: 
10/10
Aol Total Care
Pros: Cool Program
Cons: don't have none
It has all The tools to maintain a computer
Live support is Great
The Product is looking better all the time
What will the final version be like!!!
User Rating: 
1/10
What a JOKE it is.
Pros: There are no pro's
Cons: If you can think of it, it is there.
paladin 71.
User Rating: 1/10
At best, it was fun to delete off my computer.
Pros: There are absolutely no Pros to this software
Cons: Hmm. Where to start....
User Rating: 
3/10
Horrible, Horrible, and Finally, HORRIBLE
Pros: Good Interface
Cons: Horrible Service
