New is Better? (Not Necessarily)

Does anyone realize just how "busy" Outpost is with regards to its logging? A screenshot of the two reads/second from outpost.exe illustrates this.

Besides that, I have installed the C++ Redistributable package suggested from Rick here:

and I have not been able to reproduce the one-time crash that occured to me earlier when I tried changing my router's WAN select speed. Browsing speed with Outpost seems to be pretty much on par with speeds I get using other firewalls I have tried. my machine is nothing special either: P4 1.7GHz, 512 MB RAM running XP. It is unfortunate Outpost 4.0 is still causing so much grief for a number of people, including those running better hardware, and because Agnitum largely keeps its customers in the dark about its development, no one seems to know for sure if the issues are going to be fixed.

 

Given the amount of logging it has to do (every network connection, allowed or blocked, plus a wide range of Windows events now with AntiLeak, I'm surprised it isn't busier.

And what exactly do you expect them to say? "We're working on a new build to fix reported problems"? They've always produced new builds after a release to fix problems, so that should go without saying. A release date for the next build? Not possible to predict - builds have to be tested internally and are only released when satisfactory. If they have to add new features to deal with issues along with fixes for existing ones, then that will require more time.

However information is available both in the Agnitum User Feedback forum (for major issues) as well as the Agnitum blog for more day-to-day items. If there are further details you want that these don't cover, then by all means contact Agnitum or post in the Outpost forum - they do monitor it to varying degrees.

 

Fair enough, but they could take a page out of the System Safety Monitor Development Team's book with regards to participating in the forums and responding to questions, bug reports and other miscellaneous concerns posted by customers and even non-customers, as SSM developers are excellent at doing.

 

Nope, what I would like then to say, is "due to several complaints recieved, There will be no further release of updated versions of Outpost 4.0 untill our developers can resolve the issues at hand" Like I said before it was a rushed release,and they screwed up and know it!

 

I'd agree that SSM's participation in their forum is currently excellent. But their forum is also small with a few hundred posters - once it grows into the thousands, forum maintenance (moderating abusive posters, dealing with spam, etc) becomes a significant burden and it is very likely that they will have to ask for volunteers to assist, or become user-run. This happened with the Outpost forum (Agnitum participated very actively in its early days) and there are plenty of similar examples too (ZoneLabs, Kaspersky, etc).

So (a) you think that a few complaints should outweigh all other requests and (b) you don't want updates despite having problems with the current version. How are fixes supposed to be done without an update?

Ultimately what I think you are asking for is what Agnitum has supplied with every past Outpost release from 2.0 onwards - updates to fix reported issues. If you can't honestly wait for the next build then I would respectfully suggest that you uninstall Outpost and switch to another product - that way either you get an easier experience or someone else to complain to.

 

Now look just because you suport Agnitums forums by being a member of their forum, there is no need to defend them at such a level, if you cant accept other peoples views on Outpost 4.0 then just dont reply to them, Its as simple as that. I paid for this product, and I'm entitled to complain as much as I damn well please untill I get satisfaction, Are we crystal clear on this? Good! untill you actually become a Director or Technical Help person employed by Agnitum, I would kindly ask you to mind your own business as your replies in the past have been nothing short of Belligerant. This forum is for people to post their problems or ask for advice from other members who have similar problems, your singular Comararderie with Agnitum isnt going to stop peoples dissapointment with unsatisfactory merchandise, Get over the fact your not the only person on here.

 

Paranoid beloved, as "Security Expert?" you are totally failed, because if you had the shiny mind, and no unfortunately paranoiac, you should tell the consumers that non usable firewall is not secure firewall (instead your suggestion is, patch it)??
As salesman should change thunder of communication with consumers, especially if want to sell a bullshit!

PS:
Last news, dear kronckew rest RC-1, for most-stupid comment of the year, may the best man win!

 

To all,

Technical discussion and opinions are welcome. Running commentary on posters is not. It is as simple as that. Let the discussion continue accordingly or end here.

Blue

 

What Paranoid2000 pointed out was that there are other complaints/suggestions/feature requests that need to be adressed also. And that fixes for your particular problems have to be solved by updates. There is no other way.

He wasn't turning this into a personal battle of opinions. Just pointing out to the fact that it's not that easy to do what you ask AND everything else others ask, since there are plenty of users.

For me the answer is easy: another Firewall no? (free ones, that cost zippo, nada, zero? )
At least until they fix what you want, if you want to keep it. Ultimatly you chose this FW because you prefered this one somehow, and the developers are still the same, remember.

Cheers and cool down everyone!

 

Back to the Original topic I started here, and the title is new is not Necessarily better, Its my opinion and people can agree or disagree, Obviously my view isnt going to be verified by everyone, but to those experiencing problems with the current version of the aforementioned,then obviously they agree. If people didnt complain,then nothing would be done,and nobody would be any the wiser. Lets hope I can be allowed to continue to voice my opinions, As BlueZannetti said opinions ARE allowed. I mentioned before, I paid for a product I'm not satisfied with,and as it stands at the moment I'm voicing that here,and so far I still havent had any satisfactory answers from the Software Company in question, and looking at the replys neither have several others. I guess we'll just have to continue to complain untill we do.

 

That was awesome. It said what I wanted to say. Sygate Personal Firewall Pro 5.6 build 3408, FTW!!

I've tried Outpost FW Pro v4 several times (whenever it was updated) and it wasn't very stable at all. Especially with all the p2p programs I run and the online games I play. I don't want to have to shuffle program files and rename DLL's to get my software to work. I want it to just work.

Agnitum needs to do more beta testing and have quicker follow-up on bug reports.

 

Since a few weeks I have major problems with Outpost 4 (latest update) and the free AVG Antivirus 7.5. Every time AVG has an update available, Outpost pops up, saying that AVGINET.EXE has changed. Since 2 days it now also complains about AVGW.EXE having changed. If I am not at my PC when AVG runs it's automatic daily update (around 2:00pm every day), the update is blocked from being installed, and then AVG complains it can't update, I should reinstall AVG!

I currently have an open support-ticket running with Agnitum. I've installed Outpost Debug and submitted the logfiles and config files. The only answer I keep getting from Agnitum, is that they have not yet heard back from the developers.

I have also complained to Agnitum about Outpost becoming 'bloatware' with all that anti-spyware crap. Their answer:

So much for having faith in your own program!
I agree with DVD+R that Outpost gets worse with every new release. They should stick to it being a firewall, nothing more, nothing less!
One more glitch like this and Outpost will be thrown off my PC

 

Other than the one crash with 4.0 - as disturbing as it was - it has worked flawlessly for me, and I did update the MS Visual C++ Redistribution, whatever it is , package and the crash has not happened since. I have gone back and tried older versions as far back as 2.5, but in the end I still feel 4.0 is the best - for me, anyways. It is unfortunate that 4.0 is not working out for some, and I hope that Agnitum can resolve the problems soon.

In spite of what P2K has stated, with all due respect to him, I still feel Agnitum could do a far better job of communicating with their customers on their development and bug-fix progress. They don't have to post a novel in the forums, just a few words to the effect: "We are aware of problem x and working to resolve it" would be enough to at least reassure some of us that a fix is in the works. Why can't they drop a line in the forums once in a while? It is evident from what I have read here and the Outpost forum that many are seeking out a competitor's product after enduring ongoing ordeals with Outpost. Obviously this is lost revenue (at least renewal) for Agnitum, and something they must find "disturbing".

 

Look, look....glance at!

http://www.outpostfirewall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19545

The things are changing, also shop guys they change the communication. Good boys. Is always better late that never!