Sidekick doesn't particularly WOW me. I've used this software since it's inception and used Network Location before that.

Sidekick is fairly handy, has a nice interface, and the customer support is excellent. However, most of the actions you would actually WANT this software to do, it does not. For instance, start/stop the firewall, start/stop file sharing (sharing anything actually), swapping the dock applications, change the browser homepage...etc. I understand that there are some security risks with many of these items, however I believe users are willing to accept the risks.

Sidekicks good points are that it has a few pluggins available and are integrated well. Adding more would put it over the competition. Additionally, the developers are quick to respond to questions and usually have gotten back to me within 24 hrs. Really though, you won't need to contact the developers as this software is fairly stable and reliable.

I like Sidekick... I just don't 30$ like it. Check out: Airport Location - a very powerful, but somewhat unstable alternative OR Control Plane. Both are free and generally do the same thing as Sidekick, if not more. Their downfalls, like I alluded to, are stability.

I have been using NetworkLocation for the past month and it has become an indispensable tool. I bought a Mac because I wanted a fun and creative experience and NetworkLocation makes the whole experience even more seamless.

I use my MacBook Pro both at home and at work and NetworkLocation automatically detects where I am and changes the default printer, the iChat status and makes sure the appropriate software is running. I was impressed to see that it integrates with third-party utilities - for example, one of my favourite utilities, Dialectic, automatically switches between using Skype and a land line depending on whether I'm at home or work.

Give it a try. There's a fully function 30-day trial that will allow you to put it through its paces before paying the registration fee.

Trouble: 3.1 on Snow Leopard simple starts then aborts with a unhandled exception -- crashlog time.... Perhaps not quite ready for prime time.

I know what folks will say "There are free apps that do the same thing".

Free doesn't necessarily mean better.

I was using Marco Polo for awhile and well when going from my office location, to
my mobile location a couple of things where happening.

1. My macbook pro would kernel panic on ejecting mounted SMB drives
2. My macbook pro would, and this is after I stopped mounting the above drives
kernel panic when I would remove my external monitor.

Once I tried out NetworkLocation and removed Marco Polo, guess what, the kernel
panics stopped!

Yes I wrote the developer, got a big fat zero info from them, and even posted my
problem to the Marco Polo web group again a big fat zero.

I had a question about a setting with this piece of software and in less than 24 hours
I had and answer.

Ok now down to the nitty gritty. I have four different locations (work, home, mobile, friend) all with different default printers or no printer with the mobile location. This always
changes locations (since mostly I rely on wireless) and the Skyhook option for physical
location works like a champ.

It launches the programs I need and I love that it has Growl support.

Tech support is fast (usually within 24 hours).

I really do love this program and I have even bought a couple of extra software licenses for
friends/co-workers.

It ranks up there with the "must install after getting a new Mac" programs.

Not very cool to make 3.0 a paid upgrade, fail to mention it, make it cost more than 2.3 cost (no upgrade discount) and then provide no way to download the old version.