Process Lasso
Process Lasso
Reviewed May, 2010
What’s It Do?

Process Lasso allows you to adjust priorities of running programs so that badly behaved processes won't substantially impact the PC's responsiveness. You can choose at what priority processes should run, disallowing certain programs from running, log programs, restart programs, etc.


Does it do what it promises?

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: Absolutely! The Web site makes only a single claim, that Process Lasso . . . will improve your PC's responsiveness and stability. After several months of testing, it lived up to this claim 100%.

Reviewer 2 - Name Withheld By Request: Process Lasso monitors the computer's system and, through the program's Pro Balance feature, lowers the priority of any process that uses excessive CPU. This is supposed to prevent the computer from slowing down or freezing due to excessive CPU usage. In most cases, I noticed little or no difference in the behavior of my computer when Process Lasso was running with Pro Balance enabled and when it was not. It's possible that this is because my computer rarely freezes in high-load situations and therefore did not need the kinds of adjustment Process Lasso offers.

Reviewer 3 - Name Withheld By Request: Yes. Process Lasso monitors the CPU and resources use and effectively "throttles back" any program that is using a disproportionate amount of resources, or provides extra resources to a program that is being starved. It ran unobtrusively on both of my systems; however, compared with my previous experience with earlier versions of this program, I did not see much improvement in my system's performance. Perhaps this is because my system has become more fine-tuned, because I have been doing less resource-intense (i.e. Photoshop) computing, or because I moved up to a more robust system.

Reviewer 4 - Dana Bostick: Process Lasso is promoted as a program offering a "unique new technology" that is supposed to improve responsiveness and stability. When running, a PC has dozens of "processes" (small subroutines) active all the time. These processes are controlled by a built-in function of the Windows operating system called the CPU scheduler. This scheduler is supposed to allocate priorities to various processes based on what applications are currently running, which application is currently "active" in the foreground, and other parameters. Windows, by design, can allow some programs to monopolize one's CPU without restraint. This can cause freezes, hangs and "micro-lags". Most have observed this phenomenon from time to time and I have noticed that printing seems to do this fairly consistently, since a large portion of CPU cycles are captured in the print process for a few moments, causing the computer to be momentarily unresponsive. Process Lasso claims to eliminate these problems. During my testing of this application, I did not really see any observable benefit. Of course, every system is different and as they say "your mileage may vary". On an older system with limited RAM and a slow CPU, Process Lasso could make a significant impact on a computer's usability.

Reviewer 5 - Peter Royle: Yes. I have had Process Lasso running on my computer for over three months. This computer had not been "cleaned up" for some time and is used extensively to install and uninstall different programs that I am trying out. During. working hours, it is constantly running three of four programs that often compete with each other for computer resources. Since installing Process Lasso the conflicts that used to result in slowdowns and hang-ups have been reduced considerably, and I cannot remember when I last had to do a forced reboot.


Was it easy to install?

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: Yes. It is an amazingly small 1.62MB zip file download that took only two seconds to download on a reasonably fast broadband connection, and occupied only 4.6MB of disk space. There is a choice of components to install, each with a full description when mousing-over each item with a default installation (seemingly the best choice) prechecked. There is a multitude of ways that the user can configure the program to his personal preferences or need, but again the default configuration seemed the best choice. The EULA was by far the shortest, most simple and easily understood licensing agreement I have ever seen, and provides a 30-day trial period and unlimited use. In short, the installation process and EULA should both be models of how a software program should be written and licensed. They demonstrate from the start that this is a developer who has the end user first in his mind.

Reviewer 2 - Name Withheld By Request. Yes, the first time. I simply went to the download page on the company's Web site, put in the username and password the company had sent me by email, chose between 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and downloaded the very small (630 KB) zipped file that downloaded almost instantly. I unzipped the file and ran the set-up file, which installed the program quickly and easily. The End User License Agreement (EULA) stressed the need for the user to accept all risks. It also pointed out that the software could be used as a freeware version for home and academic use, but that some features are only available on the commercial (Pro) version (the Help file outlines these features). The installation process also gave me the choice of having Process Lasso start at startup for all users, just for me, or not at all. Useful balloon tool tips explain each option.

I had to go through the installation process again when new versions came out. I found it a bit annoying that I couldn't simply say "yes, update this version." Instead, I had to go back to the download page on the Web each time, search my files to find the password I had been assigned, and then download and install the new version. I found no instructions telling me whether I needed to uninstall the old version first, so I assumed I did not. That assumption proved to be correct, but I would have preferred guidance before installing the new version.

Reviewer 3 - Name Withheld By Request: The installation process was one of the quickest and clearest ones I have encountered. Options are presented but the publisher kindly gives guidance about which settings should work for most users. The license agreement was also simple and straightforward.

Reviewer 4 - Dana Bostick: Yes, the installation was very straightforward. Simply download the 631 KB zip file installer from the Process Lasso website and run it. It self extracts and installs the program. On my computer, using all the default preselected options, it installed to a 3.5 MB directory at C.:\program files\Process Lasso. This default location can be changed via a "browse" button. Several installation options may be selected, such as installing Start Menu shortcuts, Documentation, Show the startup options, Reset options, Reset window positions and Launch Process Lasso. The next installation screen allows one to choose how Process Lasso starts. This is called the "Management Console" and "Core Engine" and gives the options of: "Start at login for all users", "Start at login only for owner" & "Do not start at login". Both modules offer the same options. The next installation screen covers options for computers with several users called the "multiuser option". Here one may select options: "normal rights" and "highest rights" (essentially admin rights) on completion of the installation. Finally, Process Lasso asks if it should periodically check for product updates.

After the application installs, it will then launch and a three panel screen divided horizontally will be displayed. The top panel is an actively scrolling "oscilloscope" type display of the current CPU use. The middle panel has two tabs; All Processes & Active Processes. The bottom panel is called the "Actions Log" which displays the activity and actions that Process Lasso has performed such as constraining a process to maintain responsiveness.

I did have the opportunity to update, and it downloaded and installed right over the top of the existing installation while it was running! I thought this was a very nice implementation for an update, unlike other programs that require a reboot.. After the application installs, it will then launch and a three panel screen divided horizontally will be displayed. The top panel is an actively scrolling "oscilloscope" type display of the current CPU use. The middle panel has two tabs; All Processes & Active Processes. The bottom panel is called the "Actions Log" which displays the activity and actions that Process Lasso has performed such as constraining a process to maintain responsiveness.

Reviewer 5 - Peter Royle: Yes, it is a standard windows installation process that allowed me to place the program and its icons in the locations of my choice. The EULA (End Users Licence Agreement) is one of the shortest and simplest that I have ever seen, with very little of the standard legalese so common to most of these documents. One is allowed to chose which components to install, and which are to be included in the start-up process of your computer. I appreciate this touch, as I feel that users should always have control over which programs they wish to run on their computer, particularly those that begin automatically when Windows starts up. Registration is a simple copy-and paste operation.


Good points.

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: I think that for the first time in over 20years of writing software reviews I can honestly say that this is a perfect program. Those who are familiar with my reviews know that I am often harsh in my criticism and the word "perfect" is not in my vocabulary-at least up until now. But Process Lasso does one thing and does it perfectly, using a minimum of resources and no user interaction in a highly sophisticated and well written program that is not only efficient and effective, but attractive as well. It is truly, to borrow a phrase from those Infomercial pitchmen, set it and forget it. I hesitate to delineate any "good points" as everything about the program was "good," so I will simply say that while using this program and allowing it to keep all of my running programs' CPU use balanced for best responsiveness of my computer, my computer never ran smoother; has never been as responsive; and has never felt so stabile. Programs open quicker and run smoother, the computer never slowed down or lagged when a more intensive program was in use, and there were no momentary (or sometimes not so momentary) freezes when a large program is loading. And while Process Lasso does not make this claim, by allowing it to autostart on log-in (one can chose to allow it to start with Windows, on log-in, or not at all), my desktop became useable with full responsiveness much faster, so in fact it shortened boot time by approximately eight seconds! Best of all, it did this running only two processes with a combined memory use of 944K each for a total of 1.8MB of RAM. Now that is amazing!

There are various additional tools available such as the ability to assign priorities to process; disable processes; set parameters as to CPU use, threads, and throttling; exclude processes from the "balancing" process, and on and on. These can all be seen at the developer's Web Site so I will not list them here. There is also a very informative, attractive, and easy to understand graphic display of how the program is working. This can be toggled from system tray icon, and from this same icon one can also change configurations or access additional tools. I will specifically point out, however, that one of these tools-the ability to disable a running process-solved a problem that has been impossible to solve. About a year ago, a hotfix was installed which also installed a new running process: CTFMON.exe. This process ran at start-up and no matter whether it is removed through msconfig or disabled through the Windows Services applet or a Registry hack, it could not be eliminated. In fact, the Internet is rampant with solutions of how to rid this process-none of which worked effectively or permanently. The process' only real and primary purpose was to enable Asian languages if using the on screen keyboard, but Microsoft in its infinite stupidity thought every user should have this running in background all of the time using up resources! Process Lasso disabled it with a single click. That alone is worth the meager and truly underpriced $19.95 for this program, and, combined with excellent support from a caring and customer conscious owner/developer, there is simply no reason not to have this program one's computer.

Reviewer 2 - Name Withheld By Request. Though the developer stresses that Process Lasso can be used by those with minimal technical knowledge, Process Lasso gives tech savvy users a wealth of information about the computer's processes and the ability to tweak many different settings to optimize performance. Both novices and more experienced users will appreciate the vivid graph at the top of Process Lasso's interface showing in real time the computer's Processor Use, Responsiveness, and Memory Load, as well as occasions when a process's priority has been temporarily lowered. It is also possible to select one or several specific processes and have the graph track their behavior as well.

The developer recommends that users download and run a small program called CPUEater that is designed to use excessively high amounts of CPU. It demonstrates quite compellingly how such excessive use can bring a computer to its knees and how Process Lasso's ProBalance feature can restrain CPUEater so that the computer can function effectively even while CPUEater is running. With ProBalance enabled, I was able to load and run a video and simultaneously use several other programs in spite of CPUEater's excessive CPU usage. When I tried the same thing with ProBalance turned off, I could still run the video, but nothing else.

One feature that computer game enthusiasts may find especially useful is Process Lasso's Gaming Mode. According to Process Lasso's documentation, Gaming Mode uses a proprietary algorithm that "safely and effectively manages process priorities in a way optimal for full screen games." Since I do not play computer games and have none on my computer, I could not test this, but because many people do play these games and are often concerned about their computer's ability to handle a game's high demand on resources, I thought I should mention this feature.

For me, one of Process Lasso's most impressive strengths is its tech support. This is evident both in the program's very clear and accessible written documentation and in the developer's responsiveness to questions sent via email. I sent several email messages to tech support asking questions or seeking help. The developer responded to each one within just a few hours (in some cases, in a few minutes), and his replies were clear, thoughtful, and very helpful. There was none of the defensiveness or hype that questions to some companies' tech support at times elicit. I came to feel that I could trust him; his responses were not designed to sell a product or make himself look good, but simply to provide clear and honest answers to the questions I had raised. I should also note that in addition to the written documentation and tech support via email, there is also a Web forum in which the developer actively participates.

Reviewer 3 - Name Withheld By Request: The main window gives a nice, clear display of the system's resource utilization, a detailed list of the running programs and their associated resources, and a log of Process Lasso's actions.

It monitors one's system and will automatically intervene to temporarily reduce the priority of any program which is over-utilizing the system's resources.

Many users will be able to run this program with the default settings with good results. There is a high level of customization available should one wish to, or need to, tweak the settings and priorities.

Reviewer 4 - Dana Bostick: On an older, slower system, Process Lasso could make a difference in its responsiveness during daily use. Right clicking the Process Lasso icon in the system tray brings up a submenu that has several options such as enabling or disabling the ProBalance feature and also something called "Gaming Mode". This "Gaming Mode" temporary places one's PC into the high-performance power scheme and gives the foreground process (the full screen game) a higher priority over background processes.

The primary support function for the software is provided via an online Forum. This forum is actively monitored by BitSum personnel and most questions were answered very quickly. Installation issues can also be addressed via an e-mail to: support@bitsum.com. I submitted two questions to the forum; one addressing excessive CPU use by one of my malware scanner applications and another that was more of a "feature request" about the pop-up tool tips on the graphical CPU display. Both were quickly answered, one saying "malware programs often exhibit this behavior", suggesting that I exclude the offending program from Process Lasso's ProBalance constraints and that the pop-up tool tips would be implemented, most likely, in an upcoming release.

Reviewer 5 - Peter Royle: At its most basic, Process Lasso can simply be installed, allowed to run in its default settings, and left alone. From then on, it will sit in the system tray looking exactly like the Windows Task Manager icon when that program is left running. A small graph shows when some program or process increases CPU usage. Hovering the mouse over the icon displays see the percentage of current CPU usage, percentage of the total active RAM being used, and how "responsive" the computer is to new demands on its resources. A particularly neat option is to "Show balloon notifications." When this is activated, each time that Process Lasso intervenes in the way that CPU and Memory resources are being handled, a balloon explanation will appear, explaining what it has been doing, and which programs it was managing at that time. For example: "iexplore.exe. was consuming a lot of CPU resources, so its process priority was temporarily lowered." I was frequently surprised by which particular programs that Process Lasso was dealing with, as they often did not seem to me to be needed at that particular time. This also helped me to decide which programs I actually did not need to have running all the time and that I could take out of my start-at-bootup time.

Double-clicking on the icon will bring up the main Process Lasso Window. At the top is a constantly-changing graph of the CPU, Memory and Responsiveness, with a new item called "Process Restraint". This one will activate when new programs start which may try to compete with each other for system resources.

Process Lasso interventions work well, and the inevitable conflicting demands on CPU time, memory and other system resources are more quickly sorted out now than they were previously.

Below the graph is the "Processes" screen to view "All Processes" or "Active Processes". The latter will change dynamically any time a program is started or shut down. Twenty columns of information are displayed in the "All Processes" window but the "Active Processes" screen is limited to 9. The 9th one is actually a "CPU Utilisation Graph" with a bar for each process, as the CPU usage of any one of the processes increases, its bar shows its demand on the CPU. Beside the bar is the CPU (%) column so that numbers represent what the graph is displaying. I found this to be particularly interesting, for here I can see what demands are being made on my system by programs that I normally run all the time, but use only infrequently. Again, Process Lasso helped me to remove a couple of other programs from automatic startup.

Below the Process Window is the "Actions Log" where Process Lasso records all its activities. This log reveals which programs cause Process Lasso to intervene. To be listed here is not necessarily "bad", as they are usually programs that you are using: email, browser, applications, etc. Applications listed here that came into action on their own will help explain why one's computer slows at unexpected times. I noticed, for example, that my anti-virus program would often be listed, so it would seem that it is doing its job.

By right-clicking on any of the processes in the Processes Windows, more than a dozen actions are offered, with several having their own drop-down choices. Here, for example, one can terminate an individual program. much like the "End Task" in the Windows Task Manager. I like the refinement here; instead of the blunt "End Task" of the Task Manager, one can: Restart (terminate, then restart), Gracefully terminate, or Immediately Terminate. More drastically, one can Terminate always (disallowed process). Or, one can Set auto-startup type : Do not start at login, Start at login for current user, or Start at login for all users.

When an update announcement appeared, I downloaded the full program from the Web site and installed it. It did not mind that the older version was running, but installed itself very cleanly without the need for any user intervention.

I first installed Process Lasso on a computer that has many programs running, and is quite "messy". The computer had been hanging up frequently, at least two or three timer per day, in the previous weeks. I left the messy situation as it was, and even installed a couple of other programs, which also demanded system resources. The computer has not yet hung up, frozen or crashed. Very impressive!


Weak points.

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: None. I simply could find neither a weakness, a bug, a personal pet peeve, or even a suggestion for improvement.

Reviewer 2 - Name Withheld By Request. I'm not sure this is a "weak point," but my major disappointment with Process Lasso is that it did not make much if any difference in my computer's performance. Although the computer is four years old and often rather sluggish, it almost never experiences the system freezes that Process Lasso's Pro Balance feature is designed to prevent. I do not play resource-intensive computer games, make architectural drawings using CAD, edit videos, nor engage in other activities that would hog my computer's CPU. Perhaps for that reason, I noticed little difference in my computer's performance with Pro Balance enabled or disabled except when I ran CPUEater (see Good Points, above). One thing that does seem to seriously impact my computer's performance is scanning activity by my anti-virus program; however, that program has been assigned a "high" priority that Process Lasso respects.

I found the abundance of unfamiliar technical terms in Process Lasso's main interface somewhat intimidating. I have no idea what "CPU affinity" is nor what the difference is between "Memory (working set)," "Memory (private working set)," "Memory (private bytes)," and "Memory (commit size)," and while I've heard of threads, handles, and page faults, I don't understand these terms well enough to benefit from information related to them or to adjust settings involving them. To be fair, the developer claims quite rightly that the user does not have to understand these terms in order to use Process Lasso. Indeed, one question in the FAQ is devoted to refuting the notion that "Process Lasso is only for geeks." Still, a program that uses so many terms I don't understand and so many settings I cannot use makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable.

I was also somewhat disappointed in the amount of information Process Lasso provides in the system tray icon. Though the icon shows changes in CPU usage, it gives me no information about which program is the heaviest user. If I put my cursor over the icon, I can usually see readings for Responsiveness, CPU, and Memory, but nothing about which program is making the most demands on my system. (In an earlier version, Process Lasso provided that information, but, even then, the program it cited most often was "Unknown." Version 3.84.2 no longer attempts to include that information.) When ProBalance restrains a process to maintain system responsiveness, the system tray icon will change to a traffic light, but it offers no information about which process was involved. To get more specific data, I have to open the rather large Process Lasso interface.

Reviewer 3 - Name Withheld By Request: The software upgrade process is unnecessarily onerous. There are frequent minor updates for which the detection and notification process is automatic. To install the upgrade requires the user to step through all of the same setup menus as when doing a fresh installation. This process should be refined to install the upgrades with a one-click process where all of the original settings are retained.

Reviewer 4 - Dana Bostick: After many weeks of testing and observation, I did not see any significant improvement in system operation. To be fair, I really wasn't experiencing a significant lag issue to start with, so there may not have been anything to "fix". The one area that was a bit problematical was during full screen gaming. There, I did experience some "micro-lag" issues. Unfortunately, Process Lasso did not cure them. Again, this may have not been a CPU utilization issue but instead was due to latency issues caused by my Internet connection and server load on the game sites end.

I found the "oscilloscope" graphic display of CPU activity interesting to watch for a short period of time, but in the end it really didn't give me any useful information and was just "eye candy" in my opinion. It displays a right to left scrolling graph of CPU activity, showing spikes in activity that occurred now and then. It also highlighted some of the higher spikes indicating Process Lasso had "constrained" this particular process at that time. By looking at the timestamp on the activity log one might be able to make a correlation and determine what actual process was in fact constrained, thereby identifying the offending program. Unfortunately, this is not a very useful technique. A pop-up tool tip that appeared when hovering over the indicated constrained process in the graph would be much more useful and user-friendly for troubleshooting.

Reviewer 5 - Peter Royle: I really have not run into any serious problems with Process Lasso, so my comments here are more in the area of suggestions for improvement than criticisms of the program.

Like many programs that portray the processes running on a computer, Process Lasso presents an almost overwhelming amount of information that is, at first glance, more confusing than helpful. I suspect that most users will look at the Process Lasso screen, then simply shut it down. It is true that one can go into the options, and change many of the settings, but the very complete array of possibilities in each of the settings are far beyond the comprehension of any but the most advanced users. I would not like to see any of this limited, for it is in these options that dedicated tweakers can fine-tune the program to their own exacting needs. I would recommend, though, that the Process Lasso developers develop a simplified version of the interface, that would be less intimidating to the average or even beginning user. At present, most people really will simply install it, then let it run all by itself and hope that it is helping. I would like an intermediate stage between what appears now on my screen when I bring up the Process Lasso Main Window, and the icon occasionally flashing in my system tray.

In the same line, some attention could be paid to the documentation. It is very detailed and complete. That is both its strength and its weakness. Such detail is needed for those who wish to exploit the program to its fullest but is a bit intimidating to the more casual or average user.


Developer's Web site.

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: The site is excellent and what a software Web site should be. There are no exaggerated claims; no snippets of anonymous and thus questionable reviews; no flash ads to waste bandwidth; no over-sell. In fact, it is really little more that the developer himself (and yes he even identifies himself by name) talking to the customer about how much he believes in his software program as well as the customer.

Reviewer 2 - Name Withheld By Request: The Bitsum Technologies Web site features two main products, Process Lasso and PE Compact. Clearly-labeled buttons across the top of the homepage link to pages for each of those products, a page listing other Bitsum products, a Web forum, a page where one can request support, and a page offering more information about the company and the developer, Jeremy Collake. The Process Lasso page offers a description of the software, an explanation of Process Lasso's ProBalance feature, a link to a program that demonstrates how excessive CPU usage can cripple a computer and how Process Lasso can prevent this, screenshots, download links, and links to documentation, the developer's blog, and reviews. I found the site visually unexciting but easy to navigate.

Reviewer 3 - Name Withheld By Request: The Web site contains a good description of the program and its potential benefits without being overly commercial. There is an active forum with timely and thoughtful responses from the support team.

Reviewer 4 - Dana Bostick: BitSum Technologies offers two main programs: Process Lasso and PECompact, the latter being a developer's tool for compressing executable files. Clicking the "More" link navigates to a page of more developer tools that are available from BitSum. Both main programs are prominently displayed on the Home page. The site is clean and simple, containing no Flash animation or other distracting features. Navigation was simple and clearly marked. The developers contact information, physical address and fax number as well as their mission statement and a small paragraph about their history is available via the "About" link. Depending on the visitor's status, the Support navigation button either takes one to a page where licensed users can login and create an account or, if already registered, to a list of "Your Licenses" where one may perform upgrades and/or download the version needed for the particular system. It also lists the expiration date of one's current license. On the non-registered user page version, there are links along the left side for bug reports, feature requests, questions and comments & a link to the forum. Overall, I felt the site was clean, professional and quite user-friendly.

Reviewer 5 - Peter Royle: This is a well laid out site, easy to navigate, and easy to read. Although there are the inevitable pages that deal with sales and so forth, most of the pages on the site are dedicated to information about Process Lasso. There is a specific section on the site for PECompact, a program for professional developers and IT personnel, and another one for a number of specialized utilities, but most of the site is dedicated to Process Lasso. The presentation of Process Lasso is more than a description of its features and functions; its philosophy is also explained. There is also a graphical demo that demonstrates quite vividly how effective Process Lasso is in managing the "process priorities" of the programs on your computer.

Support is one of the main Tabs at the top of the site with a direct email address. On the occasion that I sent a request this way, it was answered in less than 3 hours, and dealt with my question quickly and courteously. Many of the large software developers could learn from this attention to their clients.

There is also a users forum, which is actively monitored by Jeremy Collake, the program developer. I recommend the "About" page that tells about Mr. Collake himself and links to his own blog. This gives the program and the site a personal and human touch.


Other comments.

Reviewer 1 – Mark Snyder: I am going to use this space to quote the developer, Jeremy Collake, who solely owns Bitsum Technologies the small U.S company that produces Process Lasso:

Our mission is simply to develop quality, affordable, and innovative software. We want to provide solutions to problems not previously solved. As a small business, we remain closely connected with our users. We want our software to have a personal touch, and want our users to be partners in helping us develop continually better software.

Some companies want to sell you products without any concern about how well their software works, or how bloated their software is. Their software may come with flashier user interfaces, written in high level languages for easy development, but they also come with a much larger footprint (RAM and CPU use). Their strategy is to create software that works just well enough to be sold.

Bitsum Technologies is different. We truly care about the quality of our software and about providing features users want and need. Furthermore, we use our own software every day. We are more interested in developing a quality product that works than we are selling licenses. This may not be best for our business profits, but financial gain is not what we are about.

I work hard on my software and I thank all those who have purchased it. My liberal licensing doesn't always force people to pay to use my software, and I'd like to keep it that way. If, and only if, my software meets your needs, I encourage you to purchase a license. Thank you for your support.

Nuff said! Bravo! Have I missed something else? Yes. As soon as you are finished reading this, go immediately to the Process Lasso Web Site and download this program. Even better, there is a free version available that will probably satisfy the needs of most users and contains all that you will need to accomplish what I have described here. I promise you will thank me.

Reviewer 2 – Name Withheld By Request: Process Lasso exists in both a free and a modestly-priced ($24.98) commercial version. Home and academic users may use the free version. After a trial period, some features of the free version are disabled, but most of the software’s main functions will continue to work. A comparison of the two versions can be found at http://www.bitsum.com/prolasso_purchase.php#about_pro.

Reviewer 3: Name Withheld By Request. If one’s computer sometimes becomes non-responsive when resource-intensive tasks run, Process Lasso is likely to regulate this behavior.

Reviewer 4 – Dana Bostick: Most of the functions that Process Lasso accomplishes can be manually adjusted using available Windows Operating System tools. Process Lasso simply automates the function and uses an algorithm they have developed to do so.

Reviewer 5 – Peter Royle: One of my usual complaints with programs is their restrictive licence requirement; however, Process Lasso has a flexible and very reasonable set of options. Any licence can be used as long as desired, but costs vary based on the upgrade period, from three months to a lifetime upgrade. There is also a free version of Process Lasso and a Web-site comparison of the Freeware and the Pro Versions. Overall, I am happy to recommend Process Lasso.


Will you continue to use it?

Reviewer 1 - Mark Snyder: Absolutely. I will never again own a computer without having it installed. In fact, I have already installed it on everyone's computer that I have thus far had occasion to work on.

Reviewer 2 - Name Withheld By Request: Probably not, since my computer doesn't tend to freeze in high-load situations.

Reviewer 3 - Name Withheld By Request: I will keep it in my repertoire, but I will probably uninstall it from my main computer that has a fast, multi-processor chip and plenty of memory until I detect the slow-downs that Process Lasso is designed to address.

Reviewer 4 - Dana Bostick: Probably not. While the program appeared to function as intended, in my case it didn't really do anything useful or provide any information or tools that I did not already have access to with other applications previously installed. Due to the fact that I am continuously testing software, the application load on this computer might be considered excessive by some. I really do not have the space or the resources to keep applications that duplicate or overlap the functions of previously installed applications unless there is a compelling reason to do so. I did not find one in the case of Process Lasso.

Reviewer 5 - Peter Royle: Yes, I am very pleased with this program and intend to keep it running on both my "test" and "work" computers.


Jeremy Collake, Owner/Operator of Bitsum Technologies, replied:

I thank all the reviewers for their time and feedback. For those that are unaware, a graphical CPU Eater demo is on my site. It allows you to see the impact on responsiveness when your CPU(s) are under a heavy load of normal priority threads. The difference with and without ProBalance is remarkable. You can create your own demo just as easy by simply writing an infinite loop (in any language). Just make sure to run it as normal priority, because ProBalance by default ignores non-normal priority processes. Similarly, it will ignore the application whose window is in the foreground. Why are these defaults set like this? For safety. The #1 rule of Process Lasso has always been 'do no harm'. Unlike other applications, Process Lasso (by default) takes a very conservative approach to priority optimization.

In the new beta I have a new feature, Emergency Stall Recovery, to handle cases outside of ProBalance's reach - such as a High priority process that has brought the PC completely to its knees. This feature utilizes the unique system responsiveness metric Process Lasso provides.

While ProBalance can improve responsiveness in periods of high loads, it is certainly true that some people just don't 'need' any more responsiveness. Still, ProBalance (and/or ESR) is nice to have as a safety in case you have an application ever get out-of-control to the point that your PC has virtually stalled. Some have experienced this type of stall scenario, others have not. When it occurs, the PC is so unresponsive that opening the task manager to close the offending process is nearly impossible. Low-end and single core processors are most susceptible to this worst case scenario, although multi-processor systems are susceptible as well (it just takes more threads).

This is where the extremely low resource utilization and self-contained core engine comes in -- there's no harm to leaving Process Lasso installed just for emergencies. It will NOT be yet another resident application sucking up gobs of system resources. The code doesn't get any 'tighter' than Process Lasso. Its GUI can be completely closed and the core engine will continue doing its job. Of course, the GUI can also be left running, as it goes into a sleep-like mode when minimized to the system tray. All of Process Lasso is native C++ without any large abstraction layers (e.g. no third-party GUI libraries). So, it's fast and sweet. I personally use it on all my PCs and am obsessed with ensuring it consumes no more CPU cycles or memory than it absolutely requires.

Process Lasso is not just ProBalance though. Its other features are often equally popular. For instance, specifying processes that should induce the High Performance power scheme (e.g. your media player), or processes that should be restarted if virtual memory use exceeds a certain threshold (new in beta). Of course, default priorities and default CPU affinities are always popular. There are too many features to list these days. If there is some automated process management you want done, there is a good chance Process Lasso offers the feature you need. If it doesn't, submit a feature request and perhaps it will in the near future.

I thank all those that support Bitsum (me) and my software.

OPERATING SYSTEMS USED IN THIS REVIEW
Windows 7 Pro, Vista Home Premium, XP Pro, XP Home, XP Media Center
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