Product Trends Magazine

About CompleteTax: CompleteTax offers customers a quick and simple way to prepare their taxes online. Why pay someone else to do the work when Complete Tax provides you with all the tools and resources needed to complete your own tax return? Although most taxpayers are somewhat familiar with filing returns, many are a little hesitant because of all of the forms and details involved. Complete Tax provides a wealth of information online regarding some of the most common tax questions such as those involving dependents, credits, investments, and IRA’s. Whatever topic you need assistance with; you’ll be pleased at the amount of resources available at this company’s website. For those that need further assistance, help is just a click away via email support.

The big pitch: Stop paying a fortune to have your tax returns prepared. Instead for just a small fee of $24.95 for federal and $9.95 for state, you can now prepare and file your own tax returns via the Complete Tax website. Included with these low fees, all customers can file their returns via e-filing at no extra charge.

Complete Tax services are provided by CCH Tax and Accounting. CCH was founded back in 1913, the same year that the federal income tax went into effect. With experience like this, CCH is one of the most trusted names among accountants and tax professionals nationwide.

Compete Tax also provides additional information to customers upon request. Their free tax tips newsletter gives customers valuable advice on a number of topics such as what to expect if you are audited and how keeping good tax records can make the filing process a lot simpler.

If after completing your return you discover that you owe a balance on your taxes, Complete Tax allows you to pay the amount online with a credit card. This option is available for all federal tax returns and for many state returns as well. At Complete Tax you can relieve yourself instantly of the financial burden associated with taxes. By paying online, your payment is processed at a much quicker rate.

While free tax advice is available by email, customers should note that there is a charge for online chat service support. However, by paying a small fee you are entitled to chat with a representative to answer your tax related questions on two separate occasions. Compared to traditional tax preparation services, customers can save a great deal of money by processing their own returns through Complete Tax.

Product Trends Rating: Complete Tax offers customers an affordable way to process their tax returns online. The service is both easy to use and provides a wealth of tax related information. Three and a half stars.

About the company: "Under the McAfee® Protection-in-DepthTM Strategy, we deliver the industry’s only complete set of system and network protection solutions differentiated by our intrusion prevention technology, which can not only detect, but block attacks. The McAfee System Protection Solutions and McAfee Network Protection Solutions portfolios are designed to assure the security and availability of the technology that powers our customers’ businesses - from the desktop to the core of the network and across the servers that our customers rely on to deliver their competitive advantage."

The big pitch: Proven, comprehensive PC protection for home users.

Here’s the thing, you already have enough problems worrying about the possible avian flu pandemic and terrorists and killer bees and hurricanes - why lose additional sleep over computer viruses? McAfee designs computer protection programs for corporate entities as well as home PC systems, and even wireless technology, which are considered the benchmark in the industry.

McAfee’s software can be instantly downloaded from the website or purchased from a retailer, such as Best Buy. Either way, the cost is about the same - the current online price as of the time of writing was $59.99 for the internet bundle (with a $20 mail-in rebate). This provides basic anti-spam, anti-spyware, anti-worm, and anti-pop-up ad protection. All services can also be purchased separately if you prefer, and a handy-dandy checklist allows the website to recommend the level of security you will need depending on your average computer usage.

In addition to filtering that pesky online junk, McAfee also offers automatic system scans and security updates that continually monitor your pc for new threats. When a new outbreak is detected, new security measures are downloaded immediately.

So while you are dozing softly in dreamland, the Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team (AVERT), a dedicated band of technophiles, are on duty 24 hours a day, monitoring potential worldwide viruses that could harm your computer, and sending out software patches to keep them at bay. Additionally, the customer service center provides free around-the-clock technical assistance for any questions you might have, so relative newbies can get the same protection that advanced users can get.

It all sounds great - but what about that new internet software you just received in the mail? Didn’t they say something about FREE protection………?

Yes, AOL 9.0 now offers a security edition that features complimentary McAfee protection (separate activation is required). However, for maximum PC protection, the McAfee internet bundle ($59.99) is definitely the way to go. The AOL/McAFEE software only offers firewall protection on broadband services and their other services are not as extensive as the bundle.

McAfee is a great product and, according to their website, one of the largest subscription providers on the internet. If you store personal records and financial information on your PC, be advised that hackers can access this information even when you are not on the net, and the peace of mind that McAfee brings is well worth the money. The downside is the subscription price. Norton Anti-Virus (a leading competitor) offers the same bundle service for $39.99.

So yeah, you may find virus protection that is cheaper, but you won’t find virus protection that is more comprehensive, more readily updated, and more effective than McAfee.

The Product Trends rating: Both McAfee and Norton websites provide detailed charts that list the services included in each of their packages, but personally, if I am getting the same thing for my money on either option, I would rather save $20 immediately and forget about a mail-in rebate altogether. For this reason only, McAfee gets 3 ½ stars. —Reviewed by Teresa Wentz

To try McAfee for yourself, click the image below:

About the company: “UpgradeMemory.com is a computer upgrade sales and information provider offering memory upgrades, great content about upgrading and links to other popular upgrade resources. We use a low cost, highly automated model to provide the ideal memory upgrades sought after by the on-line memory buyer and consumer markets. ”

The big pitch: UpgradeMemory.com specializes in memory upgrades for Laptop memory and Desktop memory upgrades for Dell, HP, Compaq, IBM, Gateway, Apple, e-Machines, Sony and Toshiba computers.

This online enterprise was founded by four computer memory industry veterans who, combining their thirty-five years of experience working with RAM, decided that memory could be sold at low prices online more inexpensively than it could be through stores. The result is UpgradeMemory.com, which now boasts one of the “most comprehensive databases in the industry”, with memory solutions for almost 15,000 laptops, and servers.

Their website is a pleasure to navigate, designed simply and without clutter. On the home page, the consumer is offered three ways to find the best memory product for their particular computer. Option one lets the consumer find a memory product by selecting the computer’s manufacturer, option two involves entering a manufacturer, model, UM part number or word from a description to be found in a box below the option, and option three suggests clicking by choosing from a list of major manufacturers listed below the directions for the option. The options are well laid out and it’s pretty obvious how to use them. That’s great, particularly for those of us who are not computer geeks.

There is no guess work for those coming to this website sure of only one thing–the need for memory. The company provides a memory configurator which is a tool for locating the exact memory product needed to upgrade a particular computer, installation guides, memory buying guides, product spotlights, warranty and guarantees, as well as a section dubbed information and resources.

As well as providing comprehensive information on their products the section of questions and facts provide information on their policies to do with customer service, ordering, payment, contacting them, products, returns and shipping. UpgradeMemory.com has done a very thorough job of covering every contingency thus providing the prospective client with all the information needed to make an informed purchase.

In setting their website up in such an orderly, comprehensively informative manner, they also inspire confidence that the rest of their services are provided in the same way. A clumsy website probably indicates less than sterling business practices whereas this group inspires confidence that a transaction with them will result in a quality product, backed by their expertise and acumen.

Their customer service department boasts actual human beings answering the phones. As one customer put it, “a knowledgeable, intelligent, professional and articulate person” responded to her call. Such a feature is a major plus in these days of automation and lengthy waits forcing us to listen to a recording, consoling us with repetitious statements declaring that our business is important to them and they’ll be with us shortly.

Shipping is facilitated through Federal Express with the customer deciding which of their many offerings they wish to use. Orders received prior to 2PM PST will be shipped that very day, provided the item is in stock. If the product ISN’T shipped that day, UpgradeMemory.com will ship it out the very next day, automatically upgrading the shipping, at no additional cost to the consumer, in order to make sure it arrives in the prearranged, specified time. You’ve got to love that kind of dedication to customer service.

The Product Trends rating: I was impressed with this company’s attention to detail and its informational resources. Offering an easy to use website coupled with outstanding customer service, speedy shipping, fair pricing, and a vast inventory of quality memory components earns UpgradeMemory.com the best rating we can give - five stars. —Reviewed by Jane Lytle

To try UpgradeMemory.com for yourself, click the image below:

About the company: "WriteExpress.com is one of the world’s largest software writing companies. It is owned by the WriteExpress Corporation and has been selling writing software since 1997. We offer assistance with letter writing, rhyming, and editing."

The big pitch: WriteExpress offers the perfect letter in just minutes, as well as a 30-day money back guarantee, and free shipping.

In 1989 Dr. Melvin Luthy and Robert Stevens created a rhyming dictionary for Word Perfect. In creating this project, they realized that non-writers had a real problem with respect to writing, and there were no tools available to help amateur writers sound like experts. It took until March of 1997 for them to make their breakthrough, but that month the pair released the WriteExpress Interactive Business Letters program as a tool to assist amateur writers, which eventually eveolved into the WriteExporess website. The company has won a number of awards, including the Zdnet 5-star Editor’s Pick, which means they’re not fooling around.

WriteExpress.com offers software with ready to use business letters, sales letters, and Microsoft Office templates. Additionally, they offer software that helps edit styles and creates rhymes. New offerings include novel writing software, dictionary software, a living will writer, e-mail help, instruction manuals, and PowerPoint templates.

In terms of delivery format, the website offers its product via software download, or you can purchase the CD and have it shipped to your home or office. If you have an Office Depot or Fry’s Electronics nearby, you can also pick up a copy at those venues.

There are no surprises with WriteExpress. The company offers samples of their work on the site, so it’s possible to see what you’re getting in advance and avoid any ugly surprises. Moreover, your satisfaction is guaranteed, since they will gladly refund your purchase price within 30 days if you are unhappy with the software for any reason. At all. Like, for anything. And since the company is a member of the Better Business Bureau, it is a fairly safe bet that they will ensure your happiness with their product, one way or another.

The product catalogue of this corporation is incredible. It seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, almost daily. For professional writers, these products can be a real time saver for ‘grunt work’, but for amateur writers, or simple businessmen who need a boilerplate business letter in a hurry, this software can greatly assist with expansion and the improvement of long term writing skills.

Their letter products, which are the most popular items on site, cover a variety of topics. These range from $20-$50 in price. If you choose to download the software, the download time can be a bit slow with a dial-up connection, but live in the now, slowpoke, and get a cable connection already!

The Product Trends rating: Five stars. If you’re looking for software that keeps you from writing some of your correspondence, this is it. They offer a great product to meet most writing needs. — Reviewed by Mindy Matter

To try WriteExpress for yourself, click the image below:

About the company: GoToMyPC allows you to remotely access your computer from any other Internet-connected computer in the world with almost any operating system through a secure, private connection. Acess files, programs, email and your network, increase flexibility and productivity, work on your office PC from home, and travel and use your PC remotely.

The big pitch: 45-day free trial, and additional $10 discount upon joining.

You’re on the road, you’re staying at some crummy Motel 6 off the interstate somewhere near Lincoln, Iowa, and all hell is breaking loose. Important documents are needed for tomorrow’s meeting, but the templates needed to load them are on your office computer, and it’s now past midnight so there’s nobody in the office to get the files to you… Basically, you’re screwed. This will cost your business thousands.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. GoToMyPC is a piece of remote access software designed to allow you to ‘log in’ to your computer from anywhere in the online world, from any web browser, or any wireless device - with just a 2 minute installation.

Imagine that same situation as mentioned above breaks out - while you’re in the meeting itself - and you tell your client, "Excuse me for a moment, I’m just going to use my cellphone to access that file on my office PC…" - Well, hello Mr Slick!

Here’s how it works: You simply join GoToMyPC at their website, then you install their software on the computers you want to remotely access. Your home computer, your office computer, your laptop, a fax server - in fact, you can install the program up to 20 times on different machines if you use the GoToMyPC Pro option - even more if you use GoToMyPC Corporate.

Once you’ve done that, whenever you’re away from the computer, just go to GoToMyPC.com, log in, then choose the computer you want to work on. GoToMyPC then connects to that computer and lets you access it from your remote desktop, as if you were directly connected to it - which, in essence, you are.

So, let’s understand what this means. It basically means that, from any computer, anywhere on the internet, you can connect to your home or office PC like you connect to Hotmail now. You can access your email, your files, your company intranet, Excel spreadsheets, and you can do all that from a hotel internet connection in Kowloon, or an airport internet cafe in Bangladesh, or your buddy’s home computer that you use to play Halo on.

This is not entirely new as far as concepts go. In fact, traditionally, the remote access market has been dominated by Symantec’s difficult-to-install PC Anywhere program, but the beauty of GoToMyPC is that you don’t need to have two pieces of software loaded on the two computers you’re using. With GoToMyPC, all you need is a web browser and you can connect to home base as if you were hooked up with a USB cable.

with goToMyPC, you can work from home, administer your office systems from the road, get to your office computer after hours, even stop dragging around discs and CDs and flash drives with business documents on them. It’s all there when you need it.

As far as pricing goes, the 1-PC monthly plan runs at $19.95 per month, or 25% off that price if you pay for a full year up front, or you can add a second PC to that plan for just an extra $10 per month. Additional PCs after that are $15 per month, per computer (or $135 per year), so you could conceivably be hooked up to every computer in your office… if you wanted to be. Heck, you can even print a document on your office printer from the Starbucks across the street!

To make calculation of your final price easy, GoToMyPC has a plan calculator on their website, and they offer a free 45-day trial where you can use the product at no cost, with no commitment, if you prefer to try before you buy.

Personally, we say don’t even bother trying things out - just get straight into it. Laptop Magazine gave GoToMyPC an editor’s choice award, and the program isn’t feature heavy, so it’s really easy to use if you’re a bit of a newbie. And if you’re worried about it working with your company firewall - don’t be! It’ll work just fine on the majority of systems and can be tweaked to work with the others.

The Product Trends rating: Without question, this program is awesome. Five stars; well worth the money, well worth your time.

To try GoToMyPC for yourself, click the image below:

About the company: "Musicmatch’s combination of personalized music software and services lets music fans manage their music and listening environment in one place. With Musicmatch Jukebox and music services, consumers can buy, record, burn, download, discover, enjoy and organize an entire music collection. At the same time, Musicmatch delivers exceptional personalization through technology not available elsewhere. The patent-pending Musicmatch personalization system learns from millions of community members to deliver tailored music, artist recommendations and valuable services unique to a listener’s own tastes."

The big pitch: The internet’s best (and free!) music jukebox software. Play and organize your music collection, create custom playlists, burn and rip your own music CDs, and transfer music to your MP3 player - at no cost!

When people talk about music software, they inevitably either mean Windows Media Player, or Apple’s iTunes. But those people are missing one very big, very good, very free addition to the jukebox software field - Yahoo’s incredible MusicMatch Jukebox 10.

Never heard of it? That’s kind of the problem - MusicMatch leaves iTunes and Windows Media for dead in just about every category, from the free music playing software, to the ‘pay per download’ music store that sits behind it. But the real beauty of Yahoo’s MusicMatch store is that, even without paying a cent, you can get a whole lot of value out of it, including an hour per day of MusicMatch’s Artist Match radio, which is AWESOME.

Here’s how it works. When you start up MusicMatch Jukebox 10, you click on the ‘radio’ tab, which gives you a whole host of free radio stations that you can listen to to your heart’s content without spending a cent. These range from hip-hop to comedy to world music to techno, but the real gem in the rough is the Artist Match option.

First, type in the name of your favorite band. Let’s say you’re digging Dashboard Confessional right now (I know we are), so you type them in. What you get next is a page of their music that you can, if you want, sample for free, or download. But hit the ‘artist match’ button and you get one hour of random music from other bands that MusicMatch says are very close to Dashboard Confessional’s style. In this case, we get music from The Shins, Something Corporate, Jimmy Eat World, The Ataris, Brand New, Matchbook Romance, Death Cab for Cutie, The Used, Senses Fail, Incubus, Boxcar Racer, John Mayer and the always amazing Bright Eyes, among others.

Now in case you don’t understand the gravity of this, remember all those times you got bored of commercial radio playing the same bands over and over? Haven’t you ever wanted a way to find new bands that are similar in style to stuff you already like? Well here it is.

MusicMatch’s Artist Match radio, even if you decide not to spend a cent on monthly subscriptions and pay-per-download tracks, gives you a litany of bands you’ve never heard of, but which you will absolutely like enough to pursue in the future. And if you REALLY like what you hear, you can purchase the track for download with a single click of the mouse.

And even if you don’t, an hour per day of music focused on your own likes and dislikes is an incredible deal - especially for free.

We LOVE this software, and the service behind it is a heck of a deal too, at just $19.95 for the premium service, but because we’re cheapskates we use ArtistMatch to find new bands, and then we download the hell out of them, using MusicMatch to play the downloads later. It’s a great deal, and MusicMatch also allows us to burn CDs, rip tracks, send music to an MP3 player, burn MP3’s, and they even offer personalized tech support.

Yahoo may be a huge company devoted to eating all their competitors and spitting out the bones, but in the case of MusicMatch, they simply have the greatest piece of jukebox software available. And it’s free!

The Product Trends rating: Absolutely five stars. This is a piece of software that leaves iTunes and Real Player in the dust, with a music store behind it that competes very well with anyone else out there. MusicMatch gets our strongest recommendation. And it’s free - try it now!

To try MusicMatch for yourself, click the image below: