Your July article "All-in-One Security" left out a major ratings factor, renewability. Until my latest subscription ran out, I had been running Norton's Internet Security Suite 2002. The only part of the suite I was still using was the antivirus segment. When I contacted Symantec about renewing this year, I was told that it no longer supported that program and that I would have to purchase a brand new one, despite my protests.

Philip Strom, Santa Fe, New Mexico

I was disappointed you did not mention V-Com's SystemSuite 6 Professional. I have been using SystemSuite for several years, and I have found it very adequate in protecting my computers. It provides a full range of utilities such as antivirus, firewall, antispyware, hard-drive maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs.

Carl Osborne, Milford, Connecticut

Surprisingly, you did not mention how much of a slowdown some of these programs cause. I recently purchased a dual-core Dell laptop that came with McAfee Security Center. This may be the most bloated software I have ever encountered. Fully installed, it loads no less than ten startup programs and adds a good 20 to 30 seconds to my Windows load time, with a noticeable slowing while the suite's programs run.

Howard Marans, Fairfax, Virginia

The July cover story, "The 100 Best Products of the Year," does not mention Gmail. I have used Gmail for almost a year now and--even though it may still be considered a beta product--I have been very pleased with its easy-to-use interface and features. It has a huge amount of space for saving all your messages, and it is very well organized. (No annoying ads, either.)

Barb Valdez, Tularosa, New Mexico

I've grown extremely tired of everyone heaping praise on Apple and its iPods. The player sounds terrible. A player that can't offer anything but simple audio and video playback? And has no radio, no type of recording, and no easy way to serve as a portable hard drive? I would gladly pit my Cowon iAudio X5 against anything from Apple--the sound quality alone should change your mind.

Michael S. "Boomer" Mullin, Silver Spring, Maryland

I was disappointed that you chose Yahoo as Web Company of the Year. I think Shi Tao, Li Zhi, and Jiang Lijun would be even more disappointed. They are Chinese cyberdissidents who are in jail because Yahoo opened their private e-mail accounts to the Chinese police.

Yahoo's products deserve to be considered objectively, but the only award that the company should receive is Moral Disgrace of the Decade.

Bruce Burger, Seattle

Regarding your online story "The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time," I must comment on Free-PC.com (number 23).

Even though its business model was flawed, it had a great impact on my life. I had my Compaq Presario Free-PC for only a month when the company went under; they let me keep the machine and helped remove the marketing software.

That PC got me through four years of college, providing a box to start a Web design company that paid my expenses. The PC died once I graduated, and I had to pay $1000 to get the hard disk recovered, but I am now a systems integration analyst at Lockheed Martin, and I still run that Web design firm on weekends.

Ian Lotinsky, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Your list is very funny and sadly true. Remember Windows 2.01 and 3.0? Or OS/2 and the gazillions of floppy disks to install? Aren't we using Windows XP only because most competition has been killed? Today, as products go from bad to worse, we need more healthy competition for the sake of technology advancements and better quality. Printing a "10 Worst" list every year could help.

Ralph Joedicke, San Jose, California

PC World has recently reviewed Internet mapping services and GPS devices ["Sony's First GPS Comes Up Short," July; "Never Ask for Directions Again," May]. They are not always trustworthy.

Two people perished in early April in our part of Montana after using a map downloaded from the Internet. They were sent onto a road that local people know is closed a good portion of the year. They became stranded in an area with no cell-phone service and died of hypothermia while trying to walk in the snow for help.

These mapping and navigation services do not take into consideration extreme weather or road conditions. You should ask about your route when you stop for gas or a meal at a restaurant. People will certainly tell you if you are making a mistake following these maps.

Barbara Welborn, Trout Creek, Montana

Corrections

In the August Internet Tips, we should have said that the 'about:about' Uniform Resource Identifier works only in Mozilla, not Firefox.

In July's "All-in-One Security," we should have said that Windows Live OneCare does not have integrated antispam protection.

In the July Hassle-Free PC, the item on using the blind-copy feature of e-mail should have said that, in Outlook Express, the first step is to create a new message; then select View and check All Headers.

In July's "New Applications Make Backup Chores Easier" (Reviews and Rankings), we should have noted that to restore files with NTI's Shadow 3 you must use Windows Explorer.

The July edition of Gadget Freak should have said that the Philips SRU9600 universal remote control is available at Sharper Image stores.

PC World regrets the errors.