When Freeware isn't

[golfingdude]

I want to say straight up, I always check this site for the reviews of freeware I am thinking of installing. I realize the reviews are by nature subjective and what one reviewer might love, I might personally hate. I still appreciate the various areas most reviews cover, resource usage, installation size, reported glitches, and functionality.

My beef comes when suggested freeware is anything but free, or when for whatever reason a major problem with the freeware is ignored. NCH software, which is recommended as freeware, is really trialware, every software they offer is trialware. This sight has reported some of their software as trial and others as limited freeware, which is not true. After 14 days you will no longer be able to access the software even in limited formed. Big deal you might think, but let me tell you NCH software roots deep its tentacles so uninstalling is time consuming and can be hazardous. My other real complaint is with OpenDNS which is considered so highly by this site. I love the idea behind the security offered by OpenDNS but I do not appreciate or approve of their role as my moral compass. I also believe Gizmo should be much more vocal in stating how OpenDNS wants to control where or what it will allow you to search for and make it known that OpenDNS is funded by advertising dollars. Does this mean you are blocked from finding a search request because of a conflict of interest? No it does not, but it easily could and possibly might be.

Possible nit-picking, I am sure, but this site is so outstanding in most everything they do I hope they will at least give these issues some thought. I have mentioned a couple of freewares but there are others reviewed and suggested here that are only trialware. Still I look here first for insights when looking for some freeware and I will continue to. All in all a great site,

[kendall.a]

I've looked briefly, but I cannot find any place on the main site where we recommend NCH software as one of the top software programs. Can you point out where one of our editors lists a NCH software as a recommended software?

I see lots of places where people post comments recommending NCH software, but I cannot find where one of our editors makes one of their products a top pick.

[kendall.a]

My other real complaint is with OpenDNS which is considered so highly by this site. I love the idea behind the security offered by OpenDNS but I do not appreciate or approve of their role as my moral compass. I also believe Gizmo should be much more vocal in stating how OpenDNS wants to control where or what it will allow you to search for and make it known that OpenDNS is funded by advertising dollars. Does this mean you are blocked from finding a search request because of a conflict of interest? No it does not, but it easily could and possibly might be.

I can not vouch for OpenDNS as I switched a while ago to ClearCloud. So, I'm not familiar with it recently. However, I'm not sure why you say that "OpenDNS is considered so highly by this site". We mention others like ClearCloud and Comodo and DNS Advantage as often. There might be a few more references to OpenDNS, but that's only because it was basically the first.

We do list OpenDNS as a first choice in "Parental Filter". That's because it does sort of serve the role of "moral compass". If you don't want or need that role, then clearly you could pick one of the others.

As far as being funded by advertising dollars, there is a LOT of freeware that is supported by advertising dollars. Some is not, but still, a lot is. Should we do a better job of mentioning that, probably. But, to not recommend a freeware just because it is ad-supported, I disagree with.

I'm not trying to argue as you raise some interesting points.

[Ritho]

Well part of the story behind this is that some of their products used to be completely free with no limitation at all. But they have converted a number of these to limited products with a Pro version or only offer a trial. I think that is the their business model.

Some of the editors may not realize when a product has changed, or some of the categories containing NCH products may be without editors.

[garth]

I can think of one particular NCH software that was discussed fairly recently and rejected for pretty much the reasons you stated golfingdude, and the fact that even within the "trial" period many features could only be accessed through additional downloads. I've subsequently reconsidered this software and still i don't feel it belongs on this site, regardless of the core quality of the product. As for advertising dollars, i can hardly think of anything that isn't at least partially funded by advertising these days, and that includes this site. In the spirit of ridiculous irony, two of the main sponsors for the UK 2012 olympics are McDonalds and Coca Cola.

[golfingdude]

I do stand corrected and apologize for mis-stating the position for the recommendations of NCH software. They have not been picked as best but only recommended. As for OpenDNS I have no problem with them seeking and requiring financial funding through advertising dollars; my contention is since they will arbitrarily block some search results it could and does smell a little like conflicted interests. I must also point out, I read this site's reviews constantly, and OpenDns and Comodo are the only two programs I can remember being highly recommended with OpenDns always being the top choice.

Thank you again all for your responses. One little favor, does using a program like OpenDns cause much slower internet connection speeds, thanks

[J_L]

Where are these software recommended? Can you post the links?

As for the speed of OpenDNS, that depends. You can use this to help you find out: http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm
Sunbelt ClearCloud and Norton DNS are far more secure though.

[kendall.a]

I must also point out, I read this site's reviews constantly, and OpenDns and Comodo are the only two programs I can remember being highly recommended with OpenDns always being the top choice.

You have apparently missed these articles:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...omatically.htm

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...under-hour.htm

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...d-websites.htm

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...list-world.htm

They all mention or recommend ClearCloud.