WebSite-Watcher: Save Yourself Time with Automated Site Monitoring Do You Need It? Adam Stone
Ease of Use
In regard to its most basic functions, WebSite-Watcher is a simple application. It installs easily and offers intuitive means by which to specify the sites one wishes to monitor. The AutoWatch feature also gets high marks — it's easy to launch and easy to configure, with settings allowing the user to set updates anywhere from once a week to as often as every couple of minutes.
That being said, there were some more complex configurations that did not come easily.
We tried to check for updates in a password-protected email application, and after considerable fiddling finally emailed tech support. Turns out you need to use the macro function to do this. It's medium-easy to set once you find it, but the application's rather slim documentation makes it difficult to find instructions on the use of this and other more sophisticated functions.
On the plus side, tech support replies quickly to queries, at least while the sun shines in Europe. Tech support, it turns out, is the developer himself, who speedily answers email himself from his office in Austria.
It that good news or bad news? On the one hand you go straight to the top. On the other hand it raises questions about the long-term viability of the product. If WebSite-Watcher really takes off, developer Martin Aignesberger is going to have to get some help.
Do You Need It?
Before you drop up to a hundred bucks or more here, it's important to consider WebSite-Watcher's overall business value to you.
First of all, you can get a similar program for free with WebMon. While it certainly doesn't have all the muscle of WebSite-Watcher, it will get the basic job done.
Beyond that, the big question is, do you need a Website monitor at all?
In our experience, those Web sites that do change, change often. We asked the application to check in on CNN.com, but it turns out they update their front page almost constantly. News of the day has become news of the minute, all of which means in many cases, WebSite-Watcher might end up providing more information than you want or need.
Now consider your competition's Web page. Does a tractor manufacturer really make that many changes to the front page, or even to the news page? A good rule of thumb would be to look at the frequency of updates to your own Web site. That will probably give you a good idea of how often the competition is making changes.
For those that decide they do need a monitoring tool, it is worth noting that the program's finest feature, AutoWatch, is not included in the basic version. For that, you'll need to purchase either the personal or business version.
Pros: Keeps track of Web site changes with minimal time and effort, extensive collection of options and features available, easy to use and run
Cons: A little thin on the documentation, which makes some of the more complex features a bit difficult to work with
