Pop Off (Pop-Up Stopper)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Pop-Up Stopper
Date:	08/05/04 (104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Blocks most ads, Can be switched on and off, Free download, but updates can be bought

Disadvantages: Very annoying, Doesn't always work

I downloaded the Panicware ?Pop-Up Stopper? a couple of weeks ago after reading an overwhelmingly positive Dooyoo review, but I soon realised that in many cases it could be more annoying than helpful. This review is not meant as a criticism of the recent review that informed me of this software, in fact that was an excellent review that I nominated for a crown, but it?s not for me.


FREE DOWNLOAD


The pop-up stopper does what it promises, for the most part, and it is a free download from panicware.com. This immediately stops me from having any major problems with it, as a legitimate software upgrade that doesn?t cost anything makes the largely-corporate world of the internet a much better place. The file is not too large and is therefore quick and easy to download with any speed modem, and the install is straightforward.

Once Pop-Up Stopper (which I shall hereafter refer to as PUS to save time and space, and hopefully confuse readers who have not read this explanation in brackets) has been installed, the ?finger? icon sits obediently in that area of the screen?s taskbar next to the clock, where all you miniscule icons end up (on a Windows system at least, apologies if yours is different). Every time you log on to your area or your computer, the software brings up a brief start-up box in the centre of your screen in a similar way to applications such as Microsoft Word, when it is loaded.


ADVANTAGE& #83;


When one of those little and annoying pop-ups get ready to? um, pop up on your screen and taskbar, PUS detects them and stops them from appearing, although occasionally it slips up- but it is a freebie after all.

PUS is especially useful on sites that like to throw loads of pop-ups in you
r direction. Unlike Dooyoo, with its one permanent advertisement and its occasional friends, sites which are a chore to load up ? such as Dictionary.com and anything my brother goes on ? become a great deal less frustrating.


FAILINGS


Here we go then. I don?t have any major issues with PUS; in fact I admire its existence and its abilities, but there are lots of tiny aspects of the software that basically just get on my nerves. The main problem with pop-ups is that they get in the way when the internet user is trying to view, or perform actions on, a page, and the pauses that PUS takes when blocking an ad are just as annoying. The mouse pointer becomes a tiny symbol, an indication that it is operational and doing what it?s been told, so I?m not much better off having this software installed.

The additional features of the free version of PUS are limited, which is very fair, but even these do not always work; today I tried investigating a feature that would apparently tell me the history of its operations, but this soon crashed and took a while for me to cancel. But the real icing on the bitter tasting cake of minor frustration came when, after a day of using PUS, one of the Dooyoo adverts popped up anyway. It is quite fallible.


DOOYOO AND THE PUS


I haven?t deleted or uninstalled PUS, but I never visit Dooyoo with it switched on. Every single time a Dooyoo page loads, whether it?s the welcome page, my profile, a review, or a review after I?ve clicked the rating button, Dooyoo sends a pop-up and PUS blocks it. This means that I get the annoying dormant cursor effect many times, and it isn?t worth it; I much prefer allowing the permanent advert to
load, keeping it hidden, and continuing without it. As for the pus, it?s clearing up nicely. And my cat?s alright too.


VERDICT


A pop-up stopper is a nice asset to own, whether it has been downloaded, paid for, or part of an internet browser such as the popular Opera, but I found too many tiny grievances with this software, and have found myself audibly sighing and occasionally even swearing through clenched teeth when my mouse pointer suddenly ceases to be operational.

?Even better: switch me on, switch me off, like some battery-powered sex aid? ? Arnold Judas Rimmer, Red Dwarf

I have given PUS three out of five stars as it is still a very good program, especially as it?s free, and it has another excellent feature: it can be switched off. This may sound like a sarcastic comment, but this means that I can leave PUS running when I?m on sites that may bombard me with adverts, and a simple double-click can turn it off when I?m on Dooyoo (explained earlier) or viewing a friendly pop-up. It?s not a program that takes over your system, so on that basis I would recommend it, although there will definitely be better versions out there. Until I find an adequate substitute, I guess I?m stuck with the PUS.

Summary: