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| Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users) | 
 enlarge | From: Microsoft Software
Category: Software
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $21.88
You Save: $28.07 (56%)
New (57) Used (5) from $19.89
Avg. Customer Rating:  186 reviews
Sales Rank: 40
Format: Dvd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows Xp
Media: CD-ROM
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.5
MPN: C7S-00135
Model: C7S-00135
UPC: 882224494274
EAN: 0882224495134
ASIN: B000V6YPAY
Release Date: November 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Seamless/Integrated/Expensive March 3, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
The jury is still out for me and this product, not to determine whether or not it's any good - I think it is - but whether or not it's something I actually need. That said, I bit the bullet and purchased the subscription, but:
1. I am probably a savvier user of technology since it's my career to do so, so I am not prone to most of the common 'attacks' on security that many people are (opening attachments from strangers, accepting cookies and the like from questionable websites, installing 'free' toolbars and other assorted crap like 'free' games or 'free' anything)
2. I already have redundant copies of 'critical' files saved in multiple locations, either at work or at home or on backup CD's/hard drives.
3. My home network consists of my desktop and my laptop, and the only resources I need to share (wireless internet, external hard drive) are able to be shared using capabilities already included in those systems/drivers/Vista.
I do like that MS has streamlined this product for Live users, as I've had MSN as my internet email account since 2002 and not having to sign up for yet another online ID/account is one less opportunity for spam. However, many of the features of Windows Vista (performance tuneups, easier home networking) are more than adequate for what the 'average' home computer user needs and therefore I am not 100% convinced that most of us will receive tremendous value from this (which might be one of the reasons that, with the current rebate, you can get this software for free).
MR
Adequate, but nothing stands out as compelling. Some kinks and nuisances. March 3, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Live OneCare is a product that feels more like an afterthought to promote another one of Microsoft's many services and products. The entire software package is designed around and as an effort to promote Microsoft's Windows Live concept. The software itself is a collection of frequently used utilities, including virus protection, personal firewall, backup/restore utility, tune-up utility, and spyware protection. The collection offers nothing new or value added compared to other all-in-one security/utility suites, like those offered by Norton, CA, or McAfee. Also, most if not all of the components included in the OneCare package have their open and freeware alternatives and counterparts. Granted, it is convenient to have everything neatly packed in one package. However, this only advantage is negated by the awkward and consumer-hostile pricing plan. First, the software assumes and REQUIRES a Windows user to have an activated Windows Live account. Secondly, once installed, you only have 90 days to decide if you want to activate or not. In order to activate, you need the aforementioned Live account and also get ready to shell out $49.95 for annual subscription. And from my testing, there doesn't seem to be a way to cancel your subscription OTHER THAN CALLING Microsoft customer service - which is not exactly something I want to schedule in my calendar, ever. If you choose not to activate, the whole thing is useless and does nothing but to bug you with endless pop-ups reminders for activation. Based on these two things, I'm not entirely enthused about the whole product. As I said, even on a purely technical performance perspective, nothing about OneCare is overly compelling to the point I can overlook these extremely costly and irritating annual pricing plans.
 It works like it says but... March 3, 2008
I ordered this program because I have a free antivirus program running on my Vista HP. I was curious to see if a paid subscription would work better. This program does everything that I wanted, Anitvirus, Antispyware, and Firewall. The Peformance Tune-up sections is not as easy to use as what I have now.
I only use my computer for home/personal programs and I'm not very savvy when it comes to programming and such, but for my personal use, this program does what it says.
 Easy to use and does a lot March 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Windows Live OneCare monitors up to three computers for spyware and viruses and provides a firewall and phishing filter. It conducts weekly "tune-ups" and enables you to back-up your files. It defrags as needed. Installation is very easy; every step was clearly explained so even a novice like me could understand. The system sensed I had Norton and uninstalled it for me during installation.
On the plus side, I feel confident using a Microsoft product specifically designed to protect Windows. It's easy to tell the status of my computer by the color of the icon at the bottom of my screen - green, yellow, or red. Weekly tune-ups scan my files quickly for dangerous viruses and spyware. Doing a back-up is fairly fast and easy.
On the down side, I get two or three annoying pop-up messages everyday telling me to click on the icon for updates instead of updating automatically like Norton did. Another negative is the price: Its $50.00 annual subscription price is higher than Norton.
It may take a year for me to decide whether I keep OneCare or go back to Norton/Spybot. So far, so good.
Uninstall McAfee first March 3, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Of course you need to uninstall your current security system to install a new one, but OneCare is supposed to do that as part of the install process. It was happily installing on my PC, getting as far as partly uninstalling McAfee, when it locked. I rebooted and found that I could neither complete the install of OneCare nor the uninstall of McAfee. I had corrupted software and no virus protection. In the end, I did a system restore to the previous state and started from the beginning, but this time uninstalling McAfee before attempting to install OneCare. This time, no problem.
OneCare seems to be working well, but you can't get away from the fact that everything it does is either available elsewhere free, or is already part of Windows. It is convenient having it available in one place, and being able to schedule a complete tune-up, but I shall think long and hard when subscription renewal time comes around. OneCare really needs some value-added, a killer app, to make it really worthwhile.
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