Picks: Reviews of AccuPlan, Bopup Messenger, NovaPDF, UltraEdit, and more.

---

Greetings and Welcome! Ahh, spring is inthe air. Flowers are blooming and we've been working in the yard everyweekend. Pretty soon we'll be able to go in the pool. All this niceweather makes it just a tiny bit more difficult to sit inside and lookat software. If it gets really bad, though, I'll go outside with mylaptop. In any event, I've got some software Picks to tell you about.So, if you're all set just grab something to drink, sit down, kick yourfeet up, and lets take a look.

---

• AccuPlan
• Version: 2.0.2
• System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/2003/XP
• Get more info
• Download AccuPlanNOW!
• View A Screen Shot

AccuPlan, by i-ssis Inc.is a full-featured project planner. I'd say it was great for both smalland medium sized businesses. In testing it out I found it to be easy-to-use and quite intuitive. To me that makes it perfect for both new andexperienced users. It clearly lets you see your budget, your resources,and lets you plan things out. I like the fact that it provides you withgraphs that are colorful and informative.

AccuPlan also lets you print reports that let you know whereyou're at and where you're going. If you see problem spots you can makethe necessary adjustments. This is a great way to handle projects so youget things done on time and within your budget. In working with theprogram I can see where it would be great for managing projects bothlarge and small. So, if you'd like to get your projects done moreefficiently this may be just what you're looking for. Check itout!

---

• Bopup Messenger
• Version: 5.0.1
• System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/2003/Vista/XP
• Get more info
• Download Bopup MessengerNOW!
• View A Screen Shot

Bopup Messenger, by B Labsis a nicely-done instant messaging program that's secure.Security is important especially in a business situation. BopupMessenger lets users communicate securely across a local areanetwork (LAN) and gives them some nice features to pick from. I like thefact that the program lets you have groups so users within a"team" can communicate with each other. You can also change fonts andfont colors so you get some personalization.

In testing out Bopup Messenger I found it to be easy-to-use andintuitive. Unlike some similar products I've evaluated this one uses aserver and client setup. I think that makes it more stable than messagesystems that don't use a server. The interface is nice-looking and givesyou security. Each message is encrypted so you know the data you sendback and forth is safe.

Bopup Messenger is powerful, secure, and flexible. It gives you agreat messaging system that's also easy to manage. All messages arelogged so you have a history of message activity. Messages can also besent when users are offline. It's a impressive system that works verywell. Remember, this is the client of a client/serverrelationship. So, if you want to test it out be sure to install theserver portion. Bopup Messenger is impressive. So, if you need asecure messaging solution, give it a try. I recommend it.

---

• novaPDF Lite
• Version: 4.2.205
• System Requirements: Windows 2000/2003/XP
• Get more info
• Download novaPDF LiteNOW!
• View A Screen Shot

novaPDF Lite, by Softlandis a program I found when I had a need and it was so good I decided toreview it. The program I had been using to create PDF files startedacting quirky so I looked around for a replacement. This is whatI found and it really did the job! To start with the program is veryintuitive and extremely easy-to-use and that makes it perfect for bothnew and experienced users. Unlike some similar products, novaPDFprovides you with lots of power for creating PDF files. You can utilizefunctions like compression, shared printing on a network, security, andmore. The program makes it a snap to turn your Word documents intoindustry-standard PDF files. You can also convert files from Powerpointand Excel. Nice!

novaPDF lets you set it as the "default" printer. What does thatmean? Well, it means that in any program when y the features you couldwant. You can compress them, password protect them, print them, savethem, and lots more. This is truly a full-featured program that lets youtake advantage of the many features PDF files offer. So, if you've beenlooking for a product to help you create PDF files, you have to take alook at this one. Very nicely done -- I recommend it.

---

• UltraEdit-32
• Version: 11.10
• System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/2003/XP
• Get more info
• Download UltraEdit-32NOW!
• View A Screen Shot

UltraEdit-32, by IDM ComputerSolutions, Inc. is a full-featured editor that's loaded withoptions. And I do mean loaded! For one it comes with an excellent spellchecker and includes support for foreign languages, including: German,Dutch, French, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, and more. This editor has beenaround for years and it's got lots of options for you to pick from. Infact, it has so many slick features that it would be impossible for meto tell you about all of them, or even come close. It's one of thoseprograms that can be simple if you need simple, and if you need it to dosomething outstanding, it can be outstanding too, because it's all inthere.

UltraEdit can handle multiple files at once as well as very largefiles. It features syntax highlighting and comes already configured forJava, HTML, C++, and others. A really cool feature is that it has abuilt-in FTP client so you can edit files and then upload them to yourFTP site. Other features include column editing, keyboard configuration,and HEX editing. The HEX support shows you both the binary and the ASCIIview, making it easier to edit. The program is a winner of the SharewareIndustry Award and numerous other awards. It has an intuitive interfaceand is easy-to-use with lots of configurable options. So, if you'relooking for a text and HTML editor that can pretty much "do it all",take a good look at UltraEdit. Very nicely done.

---

---

• DiskShop 3.1 Build 1776 by DigitSoft
• Check ItOut!

DiskShop 3.1 Build 1776 is a cool tool you can use to manage allyour files and folders. It even works with Vista and it works quitewell. You can use the program to access files, view photo, movies, andso on. You can manipulate file attributes, clean your disk, and look atfiles on your LAN. The program is nicely done and very easy-to-use.Perfect for both new and experienced users. I want to spend some moretime playing with it, but don't wait for me. Check it out and I'll getto my full review as soon as I can.

---

• Contacts Scrubber for Outlook 3.0 by TeamScope Software
• Check It Out!

Contacts Scrubber for Outlook 3.0 is a nifty tool for those ofyou who use Microsoft Outlook. It'll zip through all your contacts andfind duplicates for you. What I like is that it shows you the differencebetween two records so you can keep the one that has the mostinformation. Or, you can merge them. Pretty slick. So, all you fans ofOutlook can check it out. Nicely done.

---

Never enough time. You may have gathered that I really likelooking at software. Always have and I guess I always will. Every day isexciting when you have a whole batch of new software programs to lookat. I hope you'll look at these and see what you think. I'll be backnext week with more software Picks to tell you about. I hope you'll joinme. Till then have a great week, a wonderful weekend, and happydownloading.

---