After three months of serving as a volunteer beta tester for what has now been released as TechTool Pro 4.0.1, I remain in awe of its power, speed, versatility, reliability and unique features.

It now works like a charm with Panther OS 10.3.1 on my 733-mhz G4 QuickSilver tower and with Jaguar OS 10.2.8 on a beige-generation 266-mhz G3.

IMPORTANT CAUTION: Use TechTool Pro's Volume Journaling Tool to disable journaling on a volume before running directory structure maintenance or optimization. The same Volume Journaling Tool operates quickly in re-enabling journaling once the directory structure maintenance or optimization is finished.

The e-Drive is a sensational innovation that acts like a built-in second drive for running TechTool Pro.

The prevention and protection features are awesome. My computers are programmed through TTP to send me an email alert if the SMART hardware routines or volume diagnostics that can be run at log-in or specific times find a problem.

I was amazed to discover that volume, file and a battery of hardware tests could be performed so quickly on 266-mhz and 733-mhz computers.

As a retired communications professor, I respect the clear, interpretive, definitive data and explanations that pop open in drawers when one clicks on an "i" (information) button. The Help program anticipates and answers a lot of questions a user may have.

The report summaries of tests and procedures are impressive and helpful.

I'm pleased that Micromat paid such close attention to what I and other beta testers found and suggested. Their painstaking quality control took more time than they planned but will spare users frustration, confusion and aggravation.