You've seen 'em: miracle Internet-accelerator cures that vow to wring every last drop of throughput from your modem connections. Most have proven to be empty promises. But CheckIt NetOptimizer 1.0 from TouchStone Software is different.
NetOptimizer offers maximum transmission unit (MTU) system Registry adjustment tools made popular by shareware and freeware products like TweakDUN and MTUSpeed Pro. Then it adds TouchStone's CheckIt modem- and comm port hardware-diagnostics tools. Finally, it throws in a Dial-Up monitor that tracks dial-up time and displays basic connection details, such as the current rate of connection.
Solid performer
NetOptimizer can diagnose, repair and fine-tune your Internet connection to a T, so you'll likely notice improved browsing and download performance. I tested NetOptimizer on three PCs with five modems and three dial-up connections to ISPs. In all but one case, the utility improved my dial-up throughput from 7% to 30%. It also found minor glitches with my modems and TCP/IP stacks, and helped me fix, recon figure or update them.
NetOptimizer works best when you use only one dial-up connection, since each ISP has a different way of configuring its servers. Although TouchStone doesn't market NetOptimizer for network-card and cable-modem connections, I saw modest improvements with the cable modem I tested.
One of the best things about NetOptimizer is that after making a Registry change, you can revert to your previous settings or revert to Windows defaults.
Where rubber meets road
NetOptimizer's optimization process, called Auto Tune-Up, is very well conceived and designed. The program starts by dialing the TouchStone servers three times and measuring your connection to create a baseline. Then it changes the Registry settings that control the maximum size of data chunks your PC can download. After each change, the program restarts Windows, retests the throughput, and compares it to the baseline. At the end, the utility shows the percentage of throug hput improvement.
If there's a place that NetOptimizer falls down, it's the Internet Monitor, which measures connect time, displays connect rate and offers basic connection controls. It's a bit wimpy. What's more, it can be a resource hog. I recommend doing without it. A final feature, Dial-Up Recovery, automates the process of exporting your dial-up connections from the Registry to a backup, so you can reinstate them later.
NetOptimizer does not support NT-and TouchStone has no immediate plans to do so. NT users can find much of NetOptimizer's functionality from shareware like TweakDUN 2.2 and MTUSpeed Pro 4.1, though these are better suited for power users. Some NetOptimizer features even support AOL connections.
Modest, yet noticeable, changes
NetOptimizer 1.0 won't work miracles, but it will provide modest improvement to your throughput rates. Every little bit helps, and NetOptimizer delivers on its promise, which is why it earns a spot on our WinList.