Picks: Reviews of Selkie Rescue Data Recovery, PolderbitS DVD Creator, DART CD-Recorder, and ZoneAlarm Pro.

Selkie Rescue Data Recovery, by Tugboat Enterprises Ltd. is a program I've reviewed before, but it just keeps getting better and I thought it was time to look at it again. Selkie Rescue Data Recovery has been given the "Tucows Editor's Choice Award" for excellence and it's appeared in our "Must Have Applications" also. The product is slick and easy-to-use, perfect for users with all levels of experience. If your computer is failing this is your solution. Anyone can use it and that's just one of the things I like about it. One of the benefits is that Selkie Rescue Data Recovery can recover your data even if the operating system won't boot. The program creates a bootable CD which gives you access to your computer even if Windows won't start. From there you have access to your computer and the program walks you through the process of moving data to another computer on your network. It's quick and it's painless. Even if you do regular backups, like I do, you'll still have files on your computer that you may want to save if you have a crash. Trust me, you don't always have warning when your PC is going to die. There are so many things that can cause your computer to crash. Power outages, viruses, rootkits, a failing hard drive, a burned out fan, and more. Sometimes the biggest problem is the ability to access the computer. Selkie Rescue Data Recovery eliminates that problem. It gives you nearly instant access to your machine and to your network. You don't even need any additional software because the downloadable package burns a CD for you. To me this is a program that everyone should have in their software library. Download it and check it out for yourself. I give it my highest recommendation.

System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/2003/XP/Vista

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PolderbitS DVD Creator, by PolderbitS Software is a cool tool for putting together your own video DVDs. In testing it out I used some video from home movies, some videos of various musical groups, and a few other things. The program is intuitive and easy-to- use, perfect for both new and experienced uses. You can use video from a variety of sources and combine it all on a DVD. In using it I can see that it would be great for putting your home movies together, like from a vacation, for example. You can do some cool "fade" effects so you can transition from one movie or one scene to another. The program gives you lots of control over the process and you can be your own film editor while using PolderbitS DVD Creator. The program even lets you make a menu for your DVD which is a cool feature. There are themes or template that come with the program or you can also create your own. Once you have everything in place you simply tell the program to create the movie image. You should keep in mind that depending on the length of your movies and the video quality, it can take a bit of time to finalize your project. I'd suggest creating movies when you aren't doing other things on your PC because the process takes some processing power. PolderbitS DVD Creator works well and does a nice job. So, if you're looking to put video on DVD, this may be the solution you've been looking for.

System Requirements: Windows XP/Vista

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DART CD-Recorder, by DARTech, Inc. is a product I first looked at when it was at version 1.x so I decided it was time to take another look at it. I recall buying that first version. This is a cool program for working with audio and I like the fact that it's a multi-faceted audio program. It has lots of features and plenty of functionality. This isn't just a program for playing CDs or ripping music. You can use it to record audio and it does a good job. You can even fade in and out to make your recording classy. The program supports all types of CDs and it makes CDs that you can play in any CD player. DART CD-Recorder is easy-to-use and perfect for both new and experienced users. It works really well to fix audio that may have problems with it. For example, you can use DART CD-Recorder to remove hiss and clicks from recordings. You can also use the program to create playlists and keep your music organized. There's a nice graphic equalizer so you can adjust the sound of your music. In testing it out I also found that it has a "normalize" function that will help you to set the volume to a common level for all songs. Another cool feature is a recording function that has a timer. You can use it to record online radio broadcasts that occur at a specific time and much more. DART CD-Recorder is a full-featured program for really working with audio. Create it, fix it, manage it, and play it. Take a look for yourself, I recommend it.

System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP

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ZoneAlarm Pro 7.1, by Zone Labs is a powerful utility for protecting your PC from viruses, spam, and spyware. It also provides a firewall and protects against identity theft, phishing, and monitors email attachments. I reviewed this product when it first came out and decided to take another look. This is a complete package for protecting your computer. For example, it detects wireless networks automatically and monitors any possible threats. At the same time it has a "Game Mode" that protects you while you play games without disturbing your fun. Slick. ZoneAlarm Pro also has an "Operating System Firewall" that gives you extra protection from rogue programs. This feature monitors program installation, including changes to the Registry, to help protect you from things like "rootkits". This product is simply loaded with features and even has parental control functions to protect children. I tested it on one of my machines for a week and it did a solid job. I liked the fact that didn't seem to bother me as much as some similar programs I've tested. Software is always a matter of personal taste, but I think system protection is an area where each person especially has to make their own decision. For years I used the same product and then I finally decided to look around and try out different protection software. ZoneAlarm Pro is a solid choice for keeping you and your computer safe.

System Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista

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If you have a question on how to do something on the computer you can ask me and I'll review some software that will give you a solution to your problem. You can email me by clicking HERE You may not receive a reply, but all requests will be considered.