WSTBar

WSTBar -- Like the Internet Control Center, WSTBar allows you to run all of your favorite winsock apps from one central toolbar manager. WSTBar allows for up to ten standard internet clients in its toolbar, including winsock, email, news, WWW, FTP, gopher, telnet, finger, phone, and IRC clients (you can actually launch any program you desire from the toolbar), as well as five new user-configurable buttons for launching apps. Also, one of these clients can be configured to load on the startup of WSTBar. One of its advantages over ICC is the ability to include icons to represent the clients available. The newest release has the ability to use any icon file or BMP file as an icon, regardless of the file size (a definite improvement over the previous maximum allowable size - 11x19). Thankfully, the newest release has also dealt with the lack of integrated configurability obtions -- i.e. it is no longer necessary to load an external editor to configure WSTBar. The setup program is extremely intuitive and easy to use. The author has obviously listened and implemented many of his customers suggestions; I only wish all authors did the same. My only unpleasent surprise was the fact that WSTBar has no checkbox for letting the user determine whether WSTBar should always stay on top or not. Also, WSTBar only allows one app to be automatically loaded upon startup, whereas ICC allows up to six. Overall, WSTBar, like ICC, automates the routine and often boring task of connecting to the 'net and then manually launching several apps in succession. However, at half the price of ICC, WSTBar is definitely the better value. Pros: Efficient management of internet apps via a toolbar, automatic launching of 'net apps Cons: Limited to fifteen applications, lacks 'always on top' checkbox New: Windows 95 version, released, resizable toolbar, five new user-configurable buttons Version Reviewed: '3.x - 2.61. '95 - Beta 1.2 Date of Review: 4/27/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud apps conference Main Menu