Zen Internet Support Forum

 

I've used SmartFTP for a long time (home use only) but the last forced update (which I've always detested) would appear to have moved this program to paid-for-only, no free version option.

And it started doing more things I don't really want such a simple utility to do, really.

So I thought, sod this, there must be an alternative.   There is: FileZilla.

And, IMO, it's a much better product by far... and free if you want.

So, Zen, how about recommending FileZilla and using that in your FTP FAQ examples?; being as SmartFTP seems to have gone Pay-For-Only and has gotten way, way, way too 'busy' on its own account for my liking.

Personally I'd agree - we recommended smartFTP back when it was version 1.5 & free for home use - and IMO the interface has gotten far worse since then (I wasn't aware they'd dropped the free option)

I guess its a decision to be made by the technical support dept now whether to start recommending an alternative & re-do the knowledge base articles (which if its now pay-only will probably happen!) 

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Kindest regards,

James Sweet
http://www.zen.co.uk

Agreed on Smart Ftp seems to be going the way of Nero!

If you use Firefox the Fire Ftp add on is very convenient.

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Chris

> If you use Firefox

Only on occasion.

MSIE does very basic FTP; enough for most people I expect.   But slightly too basic for my needs, although I could probaly manage if it were forced on me.

> going the way of Nero!

as have/and are many others...

AVGFree appears to be one of the more 'important' apps to be going down hill fast at the moment, IMO.

It was a lightweight app that did a superb job without getting in the way; however, since version 8 has been forced on me it's turned into somehting that's impacting my system, especially on start up (possibly the rootkit stuff?); and the email scanner seems to think it needs to be more informative.

LinkScanner is utterly apaling (IMO): although you can, and I have, turn that nonsense off.

I've never seen a pressing need for an /experienced/ user to run background anti-virus software but AVG had little to no impact on my system previously (so what the hell), but since version 8 was forced on me I'm considering removing it completely.

Must agree about AVG. I ran AVG Internet security Pro foe a long time and still have version 8 running on one machine untill the license runs out as it seems to have got out of control like Norton.

I now use Avast (both free and Pro) and I like it.

I also have Nero 8 but it is getting harder all the time just to do simple things. Again Cheetah seems to be taking over most burning tasks now.

I think all software as a limited life span as the companies who produce it have to keep adding more bells and whistles each year to get us to upgrade which in the end transforms all software to bloatware.

A regretable fact of virtual life  

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Ken

Zen Active 8000

By the time a family pays off the mortgage for a home in the suburbs, the home isn't home,and the suburbs aren't suburbs.

http://filezilla-project.org/

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Chris

Hi,

No.1 The moral of this tale is "NOT ALL software upgrades are equal" or automatically mean a better product (many many users seem to think or assume the word upgrade is synonymous with improved or better, wrong, wrong, wrong!!!). Software development is a process of evolution but there comes a point in time when the product i.e.software reaches its peak. Meaning a good balance of form, GUI, ease of navigation, functionality (the task its designed for) & performance.

After a product reaches its peak of development its all down hill I fear, you cannot re-invent the wheel once you have created it & already improved it. Many upgrades are in fact a quick way to totally ruin a good piece of software. This is precisely why I have stuck with some older software products because I don't rate the newer versions. Zone Alarm is a case in point.

**A classic example of this is in MS windows XP & MS windows Vista. (IMO Vista is an example of a step backwards in windows client/desktop OS. Its become like an overstuffed cream cake. Its become cumbersome, its made a complex piece of software even more complicated & Vista suffer's for it as a result).

No.2 Personally I have been using FREE AVG for some time & I now have version 8.0 and I have found zero problems with its use, nor has it impacted negatively on my system. It could be with how the program was installed initially & which options you asked set up to install. I always run a custom set up & select just the components I need.

No.3 I can HIGHLY recommend CoreFTP (its free for personal use, its an excellent FTP client)

SEE:- http://www.coreftp.com

Ivan

I will give CoreFTP a try Ivan and also FileZilla too. I have been using FireFTP add on for Firefox for quite a while and I am happy with it but I have not been adventurous with software for so long now.

I presume they will all run in Vista as I have just bought my second Vista laptop.

I remember when Nero was a program for burning disks and don't think I will be upgrading this time from version 7 as I now use Cheetah most of the time.

 

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Ken

Zen Active 8000

By the time a family pays off the mortgage for a home in the suburbs, the home isn't home,and the suburbs aren't suburbs.

cyteck: Some thing must be dreadfully wrong because I agree with you 100 percent! ;-)))

If we could dispose of vested interest then what a wonderful world it would be. (You'd have to cure stupidity first, though, so I guess there is not much chance, eh).

Hi Ken,

YES! coreFTP is Vista compatible as far as I am aware.

**Just as a matter of comment, I used to have Roxio Easy CD creator on XP and but then they changed it, upgraded it by several versions and now it's a totally dreadful package. I ditched it and found Ashampoo FREE burning Studio version 6, which is frankly a wonderful program. It has all the features I needed & is clearly a well thought out (constructed, coded) program yet without the hassle & difficulties of Roxio.

**SEE (if its of any interest?) http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/home_2.htm

Ivan

 

Hi pwhyles

YEP!! I have to agree with your comment too, human stupidity knows no bounds 

**Ahh! but it keeps an entire computer support industry employed fixing other peoples F**** ups doesn't it if truth be told!!?

Ivan

 

> **Ahh! but it keeps an entire computer support industry employed

Exactly: just follow the self-interest chain.

XP is a superb desktop operating system (I like linux, I use it but I don't think any one can say that any version is actually more easy to use than XP for the average user) so why would any one in their right mind ever consided 'upgrading' from XP. Give me a single killer reason...

Just think of the savings if you stay with XP: the direct one of not paying MS it's dope fee; the less direct of being able to sack virtually all of your support fairly quickly (in-house, bought-in etc) as everyone and his dog will know the system inside and out fairly quickly (as they already do) and won't need any support other than the person sat next them; no need to buy any computer rags out of fear of missing out (all those journos sacked). etc etc etc

Hello again pwhyles

Yes! I think linux is an extremely good OS & has much to offer in contrast to MS. However, I did find myself rather put off linux due to the steepness of the learning process that would have been required i.e. all those new terms, lables, acroynms etc. I just couldn't face turning my brain inside out after so many years of MS terminology (you might accuse me of being lazy perhaps?). Linux is impressive & has come on leaps & bounds in recent years, especially Ubuntu & Kubuntu.

**Windows XP pro is in my humble opinion the very best version of windows since MS created windows 3.1, XP has a great deal of depth to it as an OS and there is a huge amount to can learn & know under the hood so to speak. Even though I know XP really quite well I'm sure there are tons of things I still don't know about it.

**The problem with Vista apart from being way way to complicated is that XP already has a good track record of 7 solid years. Microsoft now has the difficulty of trying to convince the world (computer users, inc those that already have & use XP) to move to Vista. I think MS shot themselves in the foot because frankly Vista doesn't really offer that much of an incentive to change away from XP.

**Frankly, why should I buy a brand new expensive computer (in a time or recession when money is tight) with a ridiculously high hardware specification just to run MS's latest product. x3-x4 GB of RAM just to run the OS before you can do anything useful with it?

Also AERO GLASS GUI is NOT enough of an incentive for me personally to change OS. Only people who want the latest version of windows Vista for ego jewelery purposes (show off) would be daft enough to shell out around £700 to £1K for Vista.

**Vista will be history & gone in 12months by the look of things too, replaced with Windows 7?

Ivan

 

It's Ubuntu I use these days but I've been using Linux (well Xenix) since the mid '80s so I've no problem using the thing; what I have a problem with is hardware, or rather drivers; some things ssimply don't work under Linux (on this machine, they do on others) whereas they all work under XP (apart from my old Epson scanner that does not have an XP dirver).

I don't think I'll ever be upgrading from XP.   If I get a new machine that comes with Vista or Windows7 (or whatever) I'll probably wipe it and put XP on it.   It's irelevant (to me) if MS supports XP or not.

Hi pwhyles,

Ah! your obviously of the same opinion as myself when it comes to XP. Unless windows 7 or whatever it ends up being called by Microsoft represents a significant step forwards for the OS (I am open minded about the future) I wont be rushing out to buy it. The Bill Gates Pension plan has already had quite enough cash out of me already. And I'm NOT planning to  making further payments in the near future without a really really good reason.

**YEP!! I've been using XP Pro for the last 7 years nearly without any need for support from MS.

Ivan