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| Oil Change | Utilities |
| Keeping your
software up-to-date can be a full-time job. The Internet has made it easier to find and
download patches, but it's still an essentially manual process. Recently, however, several
programs have entered the market that can automate this process. Oil Change from
Cybermedia (now owned by Network Associates) was the first product to fill this role and
remains the leader. Installing Oil Change is quick. Pay attention to the program's registration and serial numbers because they are your passport to a one year subscription to the Oil Change update service (subsequent years will cost approximately $20 per year). When you first start Oil Change, you'll need to register the product and choose a login name and password. These settings can be saved so that you don't have to enter them each time you sign on. Next, you will be logged into the Oil Change server where it checks to make sure that you have the most recent copy of Oil Change. Oil Change scans your system for applications to check against its database of updates. Patches, fixes and add-ins from almost all of the major software vendors are available, including Adobe, Corel, Microsoft and Lotus. Less well known products may not be represented. Cybermedia doesn't include a system for requesting additional vendors. For shareware and game junkies, lots of files are available, although filtering out games makes the list more manageable. After installing updates, the list is refreshed the next time you launch Oil Change. Installing an update or patch is easy. From the list, just double click on the desired update. Oil Change connects via the Internet and begins downloading the patch. After the file is retrieved, it can be installed automatically or manually. If it's installed using the automated process, a backup of the installation can be created so that you can back out later. Oil Change is an invaluable product that will keep your system humming. The only problem with Oil Change is that you can end up spending a lot of time loading and installing patches simply because there are just so many available. You'll have to exercise some degree of control and discretion to prioritize the patches you'll need. Nevertheless, Oil Change is an essential utility. |
Cybermedia (408) 988-3832 www.cybermedia.com Windows $29.95 Reviewed by J. Michael Jimmerson, attorney, author and consultant, Chicago, Ill. PROS |
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