bit-tech Shopping: Symantec Norton SystemWorks 11.0 (Full Product)

• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 10

Time with product: 9 Months

Strengths: Easy to use; online security and system performance tools all in one.

Weaknesses: Must remove old version before installation to avoid any problem.

Summary: Norton SystemWorks 11 is very easy to use. It is almost like install and forget since it could be set to automatically run in the background to diagnose and fix your computer problems. Installation would be another story though if you failed to remove the old version first. Besides blocking malware, Norton SystemWorks 11 also removes internet clutter--cleans up unwanted cookies, cache files, and temporary files that slow your computer's performance. I often use the simple One-button checkup to optimizes Windows and hard drive performance. Highly recommended.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Automatically diagnosing and fixing hard drive problems

Weaknesses: Consuming significant system resources

Summary: Norton SystemWorks 11.0 is slighter better than the previous version but it still takes up a lot of system resources. Its overhead will slow down your PC noticeably if your CPU is only a single core. I found the One-button Checkup feature very handy to maintain my PC running at peak performance. Some new features are added to this version 11.0 such as Windows Vista compatible, enhanced performance AV, and SONAR (Symantec Online Network for Advanced Response) technology which provides additional protection by identifying new threats based on their behaviors. I have used Norton SystemWorks for many years and found its tools very comprehensive. This version further bundles some additional utilities programs such as CheckIt and Performance Test which require user to install them separately. The Premium version of SystemWorks 11.0 also includes Save and Restore 2.0, a powerful disk imaging tools based on Ghost for system backup and recovery. I recommend this version 11.0 for Vista machine if your system could take its overhead.

Rating: 6

Time with product:

Strengths: Many utilities and new features, free after rebate

Weaknesses: Resource draining, installation not straightforward

Summary: Like most other norton utilities/protection software, Norton SystemWorks is reliable and does it job in blocking threats and it comes with other system checking utilities. But it also bogs down the computer and I uninstalled it in the end. Installation and uninstallation also are not easy.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 30 Days

Strengths: many new features, compatible with Vista, good protection`

Weaknesses: occupying too many spaces, low running speed

Summary: This is a qualified product with a lot of new features at the cost of slowing your system down. So it really depends on whether you wanna protection based on sacrificing the hard drive spaces. The price is a little bit higher among the similar items. Definitely not the best choice.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 60

Strengths: free after rebate

Weaknesses: wonot install!

Summary: I have used Norton for the past 20 years, but no more. I took my CD out of the box, but it did not work.I contacted Symantec live chat and got the technician 'Sreedevi' who said that he could take control of my computer and install the program, however, I need a custom install and need the CD. I was refused, I asked for a manager and was told he was out on 'emergency' so I am out the bucks with no program. I will never, ever buy a Norton product again, there is no customer service not even for faulty software.