SIW review
SIW lets you explore your computer's hardware and software information through an intuitive interface. This portable app comes with a free trial where some of the system values will be hidden. Overall, it manages to provide you with every piece of information you need and even comes bundled with a few other handy utilities.
Pros
Extensive: In addition to providing detailed hardware specifications, SIW also has extensive support for various software and network settings. It even comes with a Tools menu filled with additional utilities not directly related to the software's main function, including the handy Eureka!, which reveals the text written in password fields.
Quick: We were very impressed with the on-demand method for loading system information -- each tab containing a certain type of data, like CPU details for example, will only load once you click on it. Although a one- to two-second delay is added to opening a new section, this approach ensures that you can use the app immediately after opening it and that the information in each tab is up to date.
Report generation: SIW can generate system reports that contain all available information on the computer in HTML, TXT, CSV, XML, and JSON formats. We were able to generate a full HTML report in 23 seconds.
Cons
Poorly optimized utilities: Some of the utilities found in the Tools menu caused parts of our system to slow down or crash. We had most trouble with Eureka!, which crashed each software it was used on, and also with the CPU and Memory Usage meter, which slowed our system considerably.
Bottom Line
Due to its extensive hardware and software support, SIW is well suited to be used as a troubleshooting tool. You may also try using the bundled utilities, but be sure to save your work just in case you experience system or app instability.
Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of SIW 4.10.1016b.
