RSSTips on using free software
Posted by callthatgirl on March 15, 2010
Many of us today are using Gmail, Google applications, AVG free, etc. Free software is usually great, but the support you get if you need help is usually not up to par. About a month ago, I decided to start using Google documents to store a few files because I needed to have them on 3 computers. I worked on a massive “to do list” and after I was done, I hit the “cut” button to move something and it all disappeared. I could not get it back, even though it had saved just a minute before! I was LIVID to say the least. I had been saving it too for a whole day or so and I’m not sure how easy it is to put in a support ticket to Google and have it checked out for a restore, but decided then and there…to only rely on myself for such needs from now on.
Support is very important when it comes to things you need to use.
Here are my opinions:
- AVG free is a good product, but not a great product. The download for AVG 9.0 takes a very long time to install (up to 45 minutes) and we see that program on virus infected computers. It works, but I quit recommending it to folks who want free software because it doesn’t work either. Toss up on AVG free! AVG free offers online FAQ/Knowledge Base and Forum help. No email or phone support that I could find online. If you upgrade to the paid version, then you get the premium support.
- Microsoft Security Essentials Antivirus so far is doing well with the clients who I have recommended using it. Only one client so far has had a problem with “real time protection” and Microsoft will support that issue via chat or email.
- Google calendar can have glitches that can’t be fixed easily (from what my clients have told me, I am having success using it for now, but am looking at paid alternatives). Again they have the forum/FAQ help, but put in a ticket and wait a few days for help, if they help….Google decides if they support you due to the millions of users.
- Gmail is not something I am fond of, but many of my networking friends use it frequently and are happy with the product. My problem with Gmail is, what if you woke up one morning and your emails were all gone. Do you have time to wait for Google to figure it out? Who do you call? With Gmail, you have to search their support and help forums first, then put in a ticket and wait a few days. If you’re using Gmail for business (or hotmail, yahoo, etc..) do you have a few days to wait? Business is on the line!
For the sake of your business, please move to a paid email hosting solution. There are many affordable solutions out there, if you need some recommendations, please email us at info@callthatgirl.biz
Feel free to comment on the blog!
Lisa
There is more than one solution to backing up your gmail, but a tool that I like to use is called “Gmail backup”. There’s not much to it but set it up (along with setting up IMAP within gmail preferences) and click the button.
http://www.gmail-backup.com/download
Thought I’d pass it along.
You can use gmail with *any* email client with no ads. (IMAP or POP) Outlook.. etc etc .. thus your worry about mail loss is solved. You can also use it with your own domain, and for multiple email addresses. Also it has apps for smartphones. Also never have to worry about backups. The odds of a person loosing their own email is higher than gmail loosing it.
(their IS a paid version of google calendar)
You’re absolutely correct on all counts.
While free is free, “you get what you pay for”, at least in most cases.
I’ve actually stopped recommending AVG for customers and have changed several of them to another AV product (paid). I’ve also stopped recommending Firefox in lieu of Chrome (ok, so they’re both free) due to a lot of issues I’m seeing pop up – including Microsoft and others figuring out how to install updates without verification.
GMail, I have 2 or 3 accounts, but only use them for testing. I maintain domain names for home/work and use plain old email for home and Exchange for work.
Some free things are great, but I honestly think that AV software should be chosen for what works best, not what’s cheapest. Don’t know about you, but I would rather pay than get infected.
Keep up the good work Lisa!
Justin
Hosted Exchange from Microsoft is proving good. They recently upped the responses times for support issues. Sometimes they contact you within an hour.
Jamie
I concur on all counts. I’ve also stopped recommending AVG Free as I have found Avast! Free edition a vast free improvement to AVG. Free doesn’t have to be poor. There are still some quality free products out there such as the aforementioned Avast! and OpenOffice.
-Ade-