Physical access to DVDs under Windows 2000/XP can now read protected sectors. * Physical access to floppy disks under Windows 2000/XP is now 20% faster than before. In addition to that, it is now possible to view/edit physical RAM (under Windows 2000 and XP). * The RAM viewer/RAM editor so far was able to load the virtual memory of active processes. If anyone somehow manages to import the database, please share it :) Again, it's nothing to do with the software quality, but it's a bit limited at this stage. The RAM editor is ok, but I never use it because it's not easy to search and track changes. Not a vital priority, but it's nice to have. I know, it doesn't matter, and that's what I thought as well, but I have to admit that I like the way Total Commander looks now compared to the Win3.1 icons. The only things I'd like to see in winHex: Heck, it opens a 600MB disk image in a blink of an eye to start with. And again, no, there are no free alternative that even come close. Thus, I don't see new revisions as fixing a sinking ship, but as improvements over a, allow me to say it, a good product. I did however see new features implemented, and the author is responsive. Out of the many times I tried it, I never ever experienced a bug. When I don't see bug fixes for competitors, I laugh because I know serious bugs must exist, but they either aren't being discovered, reported, or fixed. When I see frequent bug fixes, I am glad that the bugs are being discovered and fixed. If you simply read the release notes, it should be plain to you that at least some of the fixes are important (though not necessarily to all users of WinHex). Proof of this is the suggestion that WinHex's updates include 'minor' or 'unnecessary'. The only software that doesn't have bugs is a day-one 'Hello, World!' program, and even that is debatable.

The only type of person who frowns on frequent bug fixes-especially that of software as heavy-duty and complicated in function as WinHex-is a person who knows nothing about software development.

I happen to know that the WinHex developer reads these reviews, but I am 99% sure he has never posted a review. How interesting that someone thinks I am the developer of WinHex! I guess it's totally implausible that a user could login and post positive reviews.

Downloading WinHex 20.8 SR4