Dear Reader,
As you maybe already know there are three diffterent types of softwares available: 1) System software, 2) Application software and 3) Utility software. System software is about programs that create the computer environment by interacting with computer hardware, whereby it makes the computer function (e.g. Windows OS). Application Software is a very user- or output-oriented software, it creates a lot of data and it allows the user to perform those tasks, the computer is intended to do. Some examples of application software include software that creates documents (e.g. Windows Office), games, or Internet browsers (e.g. Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Internet Explorer).
But what exactly is utility software?
Utility software focuses on how the computer infrastructure operates. Although there is some user interaction, utility software does not produce a lot of output or data. Its main task is to maintain the computing environment Therefore, utility software analyze, diagnose configure, and finally optimize the computer infrastructure. For instance if the computer gets slower over time, you could use utility software to improve system performance and speed. You could also use utility software to improve your computer security, speaking in terms of viruses, trojans and other malware.
There are a lot of different types /categories of utility software available. You can group them into the following main categories:
o Disk maintenance (Disk defragmenter, Disk cleaners and checkers, Disk partitions, etc.)
o Security (Antivirus, Firewall, Sandbox, other defense services)
o File managers (System profilers)
o Registry cleaner
o Backup software
o Achieve
o Encryption
Utility software shares a lot of characteristics and features with application software. For instance, utility software is available on the one hand as standalone software (e.g. Registry Mechanic), on the other hand as software suites. The usage of utility software suites like Internet Security Suites (e.g. Norton Internet Security), is nowadays more common, as it combines several related functions like antivirus, firewall and other defenses in one program and thus reduces conflicts, resulting from the incompatibility of different software vendors. Beside Internet Security Suites, PC System Utility suites are also widely used (e.g. Tune Up Utilities or Magix PC Check&Tuning) in todays private and business computing environment. Those programs focus on improving PC performance, by optimizing system processes, removing data trash, repairing structures (e.g. registry) and a lot of other processes.
The following video introduces you to the world of PC System Utility suites: PC Utility Software
If you do not use any utility software so far, the following download links (freeware programs) help you to test the functionality of utility software.
Internet Security Suite:
PC Utility Software Suite:
Sources:
- Video lectures
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_software
- http://pc-system-utilities-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
- image: http://software-dungeon.co.uk
