Iolo: System Mechanic 5 Professional

THE New and Improved System Mechanic

.System Mechanic has moved beyond the dated interface of old with a smoother easier to mange one that improves workflow.  Gone are Panda Antivirus from the Iolo tool kit and welcome to an improved Spyware killer and a host of under the hood improvements making this a strong contender in the Utility Market for PC users. For power users there is a great deal of power and for your average end user enough value to make this a real bargain.

Monday, October 04, 2004

Iolo Systems

 System Mechanic Professional

Company: Iolo Technologies, LLC

www.iolo.com 

Select Product lines (Check web site for additional titles): 

System Mechanic 5

Pricing: $ 49.95, Upgrade Price: $ 29.95

System Mechanic 5 Professional

Pricing: $ 69.95, Upgrade Price: $ 39.95

Search and Recover 2

Pricing: $ 39.95 Ugrade: $ 19.95

Coming Soon System Mechanic 5 Mobile

(This is a mobile version that operates from the CD and is designed for technicians working on multiple systems.) 

Requirements 

1. 128 MB of Ram
2. 60 MB of Hard Drive Space
3. Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP and 2003

System Mechanic Pro Version 5

By: Kurt von Behrmann 

With Windows XP taking on more and more functionality, a new and improved Firewall with the Service Pack Two, and several other utility features built into the most recent operating system, it appears that Utility Suites could be a thing of the past.   Before rejection that idea, there is still need for extra help. Windows still lacks anti-virus protection, and still needs assistance in some very critical areas, namely the registry. 

No doubt the legal action against Microsoft in the past has to some extent prevented them from entering the Utility market.  This still leaves the door wide open for third parties to fill the void.  For the longest time, Norton Utilities was King of them all.  Slaying competitors left and right, their dominance was undisputed. That is until recently. 

Over the years recent incarnations of the Norton product line were showing their age. Symantec was taking a rather casual view towards some parts of the market. While they maintained a sterling reputation with their much favored Anti Virus application, Ghost and their recent Spam Killer, when it came to the core program, much of the functionality in older versions did not support Windows XP Home or Pro Edition. Do note, they are ready to  launch a new set of utilities that will be reviewed here soon. 

Picking up the slack, Iolo Systems rolled out the true all in one solution. This time, they are celebrating their sixth year of operation, and a new version of System Mechanic Pro – version Five. 

Clearly feeling the pressure from users not too thrilled with the solid, but very system intensive Panda Anti Virus, Iolo has found a new outside vendor.  For this round they have switched to a new anti virus program and a new firewall provider. As additions that incorporate greater value to the suite, one cannot argue with their inclusion here. 

Where the value of System Mechanic comes is in the system tweaks and other areas of PC up keep. The chances are very good that most users will already have either Zonealarm, Symantec’s Firewall or McAfee already in place. With anti virus protection for the most part the domain of McAfee and Symantec, most power users are going to stick with either flavor of anti virus. With the war between the two virus programs in full swing, I am not sure how much time Kapersky, which is included here, will get. 

Rather than breaking up the suite into sections that force you to purchase them piecemeal, Iolo’s System Mechanic is a complete arsenal of tweaks and registry utilities.   However, the true value of a package is that it is a package. When taken together the whole is much great than the sum of its parts. 

This is not to say that the parts are bad. Collectively, this is a much more detailed product than most. 

Spython, with its glossy new site and sleek snake, are actually good alternatives to separate applications devoted to this function. What Spython does is perform the basic functions of keeping prying spy ware off of your system.  This is defiantly a good thing and much needed update to the Iolo Suite.  As a solid form of protection, it is a decent program. Plus, Iolo does a great job of keeping their software updated.  In addition to definitions, Iolo periodically rolls out improvements to their considerable product line. 

Having been dependent on outside vendors for Anti Virus protection and Firewall protection, they have wisely opted for Kaperksy.  

The range of tools includes a pop up blocker, a drive scrubber, assorted clean and delete tools, a full registry optimizer and compressor along with a slew of other windows optimizing tools that are often difficult to access, if you can access them at all. 

If the exhaustive list includes most everything, the entire program has been given a total make over. Tools that were once hampered by a less than contemporary interface are now much easier to locate and update.   

One great tool here, and one not often addressed in tool sets is the registry compressor and registry tool.  Leaning on the more conservative side, these tools are excellent and time and time again have not lead to system failures or mistakes. As is often the case with the all in one programs, there is usually so much under the hood, it may take a novice a bit more time to appreciate what he or she has on his or her hands.  

In addition to providing software for stand alone systems, Iolo offers System Mechanic as a program operable from a disk. Designed for those working with multiple systems and performing maintenance, Iolo has available for pros a full featured tool set that works without being installed on individual machines. The advantages of this system becomes obvious when you consider the complexity of keeping, maintaining and repairing a wide spectrum of devices on a wide spectrum of operating systems. 

Summation 

Contrary to the idea that the utility suite is dead and losing ground, Iolo has managed to create a viable solution.   With a much more simplified interface and a smoother workflow, much of the new functionality could be difficult for new users to digest. For an application like this one, it is perhaps best to err on the side of over kill rather than under kill.

Pros will no doubt like the configurability here, while the new user can take a more back to basics approach. Designed with the idea of filling in the cracks in PC up keep, Iolo has come to the table with a formidable well equipped solution. 

When factoring in price points, features and other significant features, namely the fact that Iolo makes a point or regularly updating their applications, System Mechanic is a well outfitted well designed utility that is the best buy going.