New information about Comodo Firewall (minor)

[Richard Steinfeld]

A week ago, I suggested to Comodo that they post the program's
requirements on their web site. They've done so.

It's:
Windows 2000 or Windows XP Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 5.1 or above
32 MB Ram
15 MB Hard Disk space

This seems too restrictive for me, considering that I plan on bailing to
Firefox soon. Since this is a brand new product and they're in the
beginning stages of getting their act together for it, it'll be
interesting to see if and when they add coverage for non-Microsoft browsers.

Richard

 

[MLC]

domenica 4 dicembre 2005 Richard Steinfeld ha scritto:

A week ago, I suggested to Comodo that they post the program's
requirements on their web site. They've done so.

It's:
Windows 2000 or Windows XP Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 5.1 or above
32 MB Ram
15 MB Hard Disk space

This seems too restrictive for me, considering that I plan on bailing to
Firefox soon. Since this is a brand new product and they're in the
beginning stages of getting their act together for it, it'll be
interesting to see if and when they add coverage for non-Microsoft browsers.

Richard, I think they mean that IE has to be installed on your system, not
that it has to be your default browser, or that it covers only IE.

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

domenica 4 dicembre 2005 Richard Steinfeld ha scritto:




Richard, I think they mean that IE has to be installed on your system, not
that it has to be your default browser, or that it covers only IE.

Yes. I think you're right. But we don't know from the way that the
requirements are worded. Indeed, lack of information has been the
biggest obstacle with this application.

As you may surmise from reading the prior long thread about this, it
appears that this product has been announced before an adequate public
face has been prepared. I believe that the product is being developed in
multiple locations in third-world countries, which has caused
communication problems inside and out. Development is not being
well-funded because it will be a free product from a company that is
engaged in other, profitable, software ventures. I expect that the
quality of the coding is/will be excellent; note the quality and
quantity of good security programs from the former "Eastern Bloc" (and
even Cyprus).

I've reached the limit of trying to figure out how to make this program
work; I can't even get to the evaluation stage. There's not enough
documentation provided even to begin using it (I can't, in fact, on my
existing stable computer, which still runs Windows ME).

Three severe obstacles still remain that prevent user tests:
- Insufficient documentation even to begin use: missing essential
information (a good technical writer is badly needed, one who at least
knows English very well).
- Multiple sites that seem to offer the program and link inexplicitly to
one another.
- Convoluted, barely functional, and frustrating procedures for
downloading and installation. Overuse of rickety automation. These
procedures should be streamlined or made manual, with good instructions.

My gut sense is that this will be a superb program when they get the
bugs out. But this is total guesswork on my part. Meanwhile, I'm
sticking with Sygate.

Richard