Tesco Software: Photo Restyle review

Virus and spyware detection is performed both by scanning hard disks for existing threats and in real-time by maintaining constant vigilance against new intruders whenever the PC is switched on. The main detection tool is a database of virus identification 'signatures' that is updated when you first install the program, and regularly thereafter, plus Panda's TruPrevent technology which detects viral programs for which no signatures exist, but which are behaving suspiciously in other ways.

The firewall is not a very sophisticated product and if you're running Windows XP, you'd be better off using its own built-in version. For a more configurable, protective firewall you should choose Tesco's dearer product called Internet Security. Though broadly similar to Antivirus & Antispyware, it adds features such as anti-spam control for email messages and a bar against passwords and other confidential items being transmitted over the web.

Probably the most convincing reason for buying Internet Security is to protect other users of your computer. It provides three levels of filtering (for children, teenagers and employees) to restrict them from viewing unsuitable material on the web. Each user is assigned an individual password and level of access. The purchase prices of both security programs include updates for 12 months - thereafter you'll have to pay an annual subscription.

Money matters

The programs mentioned so far have been so thoroughly Tesco-ised that they seem like original programs, but the origins of Tesco Personal Finance are not so well disguised. It's original name, Moneydance, appears in its File > Open dialog box.

This traditional double-entry bookkeeping system is optimised for personal rather than business use, but it can be used to run a small business. To anybody with experience of financial managers like Microsoft Money, Tesco Personal Finance looks primitive, but hidden beneath its austere surface are tools to plan and track budgets, calculate loan repayments and schedule payments in and out of your accounts.

What's missing is a sample data file to help you get the feel of things before committing yourself to setting up your own finances, and it would be nice to have a 'getting-started' wizard and some tutorials to help you through the early days.

Burning issues

Easy Record is Tesco's program for creating CDs and DVDs. These can be copies of existing discs or you can make compilation audio CDs based on audio files stored in MP3 and other formats on a hard disk. Data discs containing any type of file can be created on both CDs and DVDs, and the program is also able to store an image of a CD or DVD on hard disk, so that a physical disc can be burned in the future.

Easy Record is based on a Sonic Solutions program called RecordNow and of all the Tesco programs, it's the one with biggest split personality problem. Clicking on the Upgrade options takes you to Sonic's site where you're offered Sonic, not Tesco, products. If you view the web tutorials, you'll see Tesco Easy Record at the top of the page, but everything else refers to RecordNow and some of the features described, such as making jukebox CDs, are not even possible in the Tesco product

Most computers and CD/DVD drives come with free programs for burning CDs, and if you've already got one of these it's probably better than Easy Record, which is limited in scope and confusing in execution. We can't recommend it.