Too Funny!
You forgot AOL... Must.. takeover.. entire.. computer
And to expand on java... You need version 1.4.2.3.22 for this program to work.
My most hated ones:
- Adobe Reader (Bloatware)
- Norton (It went from ok, to horrible. Why would you need more than 60% of your CPU for other programs)
- Flash (Leave me alone!)
- JukeBox (Which is actually better than its predecessors!)
- iTunes/QuickTunes (who cares what you want or need, I run the show)
Gallery: 10 most annoying programs on the Internet
Preinstalled software bundles
After quarter of a century of the IBM PC, we still don't understand why so many companies feel obliged to create swathes of below-par software to install on the computers they sell. Notebook makers are the worst, and Sony the king of them all: the first job for any new Vaio owner is to strip out the layers of desktop 'enhancements', media 'managers' and system 'control software' that serve only to get in the way of doing things the way you know how to do them, interfere with other software packages and suck up such enormous amounts of resources on start-up that two weeks after you've bought one, you're still not sure whether it's broken or not.
After quarter of a century of the IBM PC, we still don't understand why so many companies feel obliged to create swathes of below-par software to install on the computers they sell. Notebook makers are the worst, and Sony the king of them all: the first job for any new Vaio owner is to strip out the layers of desktop 'enhancements', media 'managers' and system 'control software' that serve only to get in the way of doing things the way you know how to do them, interfere with other software packages and suck up such enormous amounts of resources on start-up that two weeks after you've bought one, you're still not sure whether it's broken or not.
Just In
The article was hilarious. I went to Macs a couple of years ago, but I was on Windows boxes for a long time before that. I used Foxit to read PDFs. Small, light, fast and free. I stopped using Norton (and McAfee) years ago. You don't want to know how much trouble and time it was to get RealPlayer/RealJukebox out of my Registry. iTunes has got to be one of the worst programs on this planet. Apple had to have outsourced this to some robot programmer that has no idea how real people do stuff. AOL; there's a blast from the past. I can still picture all the crap that fell out from magazines.
so true, but how will we ever survive w/o the latest and constant bug fix from every app on the planet. just wait till everone else wants to verify if your stuff is legit
on an hourly basis.
on an hourly basis.
The only one I use on the list is Java & it doesn't bother me much, but you totally forgot Mozilla Firefox & all the add-ons. You usually have to restart the program for the updates to take effect but better than IE!
I'm so glad I don't use most of them anymore!
I'm so glad I don't use most of them anymore!
Loved the list. Couple of comments:
(1) Firefox is a GREAT browser, and with certain add-ons it becomes a SUPERLATIVE one, i.e. "AdblockPlus" gets rid of all the neon crap on any webpage.
(2) Flash is a tool. That's it. Don't blame the creator if someone overuses it on a page.
(3) Flash video is one of the greatest improvements of the past decade. Before, my wmv-based videos on my websites couldn't be seen by a third of my audience, due to various reasons. After converting the videos to the flv format, anyone can see them. That's how it should be.
(3) Regarding downloads that install processes that constantly run in the background, just download a terrific freeware utility called "Startup Control Panel" by Mike Lin. Then you can just go in and uncheck any undesired startup programs without affecting anything else. Beautiful.
(1) Firefox is a GREAT browser, and with certain add-ons it becomes a SUPERLATIVE one, i.e. "AdblockPlus" gets rid of all the neon crap on any webpage.
(2) Flash is a tool. That's it. Don't blame the creator if someone overuses it on a page.
(3) Flash video is one of the greatest improvements of the past decade. Before, my wmv-based videos on my websites couldn't be seen by a third of my audience, due to various reasons. After converting the videos to the flv format, anyone can see them. That's how it should be.
(3) Regarding downloads that install processes that constantly run in the background, just download a terrific freeware utility called "Startup Control Panel" by Mike Lin. Then you can just go in and uncheck any undesired startup programs without affecting anything else. Beautiful.
Flash can be a pain. It is used to deliver up epileptic inducing advertisements and open pop-up windows in violation of the preferences that a person specifies in their browser. Since I've started using a Flash disabler my pages load much faster.
While the Firefox browser itself isn't updated often, there is one plug-in (flashgot) that bothers me all the time with updates. I'm not sure why the author thinks he has to update the code so often, but he abuses the privilege and as such updates from this author are disabled. I complained on the forum about this behavior and my post was deleted.
Hopefully in Firefox 3.0, the browser loads much faster, because I really like it.
While the Firefox browser itself isn't updated often, there is one plug-in (flashgot) that bothers me all the time with updates. I'm not sure why the author thinks he has to update the code so often, but he abuses the privilege and as such updates from this author are disabled. I complained on the forum about this behavior and my post was deleted.
Hopefully in Firefox 3.0, the browser loads much faster, because I really like it.
If you have some more advanced skill with the computer, I'd recommend AutoRuns. It tells you EVERYTHING that is loaded on startup: services, programs, everything! It may not look fancy, but you can clearly see what is being started from where, has a tab with everything in it, then other tabs breaking down the loads by type. You can also delete entries to remove some of the registry clutter as well. I will say though, you really do need to know some about computers and windows, or you can get into really deep doodoo really fast. It help out, it does list in grey critical MS entries, so you aren't as likely to botch and need to reinstall windows if you mess up (or repair the registry).
Hey, Drakaran,
How about a link to "AutoRuns"?
I'm sure others are interested, as well.
How about a link to "AutoRuns"?
I'm sure others are interested, as well.
for the software tips.
Don't forger the QuestionMarket.com POS that slides across your screen while you're trying to read the comments - can reaslly do without THAT!!!!
Wow, one of those just slithered onto my screen while I was reading your post.
These are the most annoying of all!
These are the most annoying of all!
FireFox + Adblockplus + filtersetG
I've never seen those ads with Firefox + Adblock + FiltersetG. I also add Flashblock for selective flash blocking.
That damned IBM (i)Rational AppScan ad is right next to the posts, triggers my epilepsy.
From my experience with Firefox for the past several years Add-Ons have not been a problem. I install only the ones for which I have a specific need or preference. Resist the temptation to install an Add-On just because it looks spiffy or sound cool.
If you don't need it, don't install it.
If you don't need it, don't install it.
At least, you only have to restart the program. You don't have to reboot the whole computer and endlessly wait for the boot-up process to finish.
Most of these I agree with, but Outlook? I think it's rather useful, esp. since I can work on email-related issues when I am off-line. Exchange? That's all about who's doing the admin on it.
the web mail packages require remote indexing on your machine and in many cases (GOOGLE ANYONE) they store your data on THEIR REMOTE servers for a time not defined to the end users.
Ummm, please note with Vista, when Outlook is installed it automatically is set by default to index it, and it's lightening Fast. Much faster and *safer* than an open hole to the internet with Google.
Ummm, please note with Vista, when Outlook is installed it automatically is set by default to index it, and it's lightening Fast. Much faster and *safer* than an open hole to the internet with Google.
it will indiscriminantly popup updates with no warning, *unsolicited* onto your screen stealing focus and bombing any important scripting jobs.
It also doesn't show that SUN runs advertisements on it's splash screen and any subsequent screens if you take the update.
That is the worst case of *Spamming* your PC known. Unsolicited popups from SUN with advertising. NiCe!!!
Windows update, meanwhile, is setup when you first turn on a new preloaded machine which accounts for most sales of windows, by choice, so the settings are prompted to the user and explained very well. Windows update is a process that the user knows when it will run, or in many cases it is initiated by the use so it's not a surprise of anykind, and it has no totally unethical advertising on the install screens like SUN.
You'd think your own desktop with nothing running and you not initiating anything would but a *sure* place to get away from advertising. WRONG, not SUN pops up banner ads on your private desktop everytime it decides to send you an update notice with no systray notification first, not one warning it's coming so that you can avoid it. It's just splashes on your entire display with advertising. I think this should be near the top, with Apple's windows update screen that tries to sneak Safari onto your machine by preselecting it.
And some of the people here, well many of the ppl. here claim MS is unethical? Newsflash!! SUN and Apple are worse.
It also doesn't show that SUN runs advertisements on it's splash screen and any subsequent screens if you take the update.
That is the worst case of *Spamming* your PC known. Unsolicited popups from SUN with advertising. NiCe!!!
Windows update, meanwhile, is setup when you first turn on a new preloaded machine which accounts for most sales of windows, by choice, so the settings are prompted to the user and explained very well. Windows update is a process that the user knows when it will run, or in many cases it is initiated by the use so it's not a surprise of anykind, and it has no totally unethical advertising on the install screens like SUN.
You'd think your own desktop with nothing running and you not initiating anything would but a *sure* place to get away from advertising. WRONG, not SUN pops up banner ads on your private desktop everytime it decides to send you an update notice with no systray notification first, not one warning it's coming so that you can avoid it. It's just splashes on your entire display with advertising. I think this should be near the top, with Apple's windows update screen that tries to sneak Safari onto your machine by preselecting it.
And some of the people here, well many of the ppl. here claim MS is unethical? Newsflash!! SUN and Apple are worse.
You could just turn off the updates from the Java control panel if you really have important scripts running.
Hello, why would you even think you NEEDED to turn off the updates option to allow scripts to run..
and when exactly did you think someone would do this? "oh yeah ... I forgot to turn off the auto update, so at any minute now, my script that has been working fine for such a very long time will be intterupted and unable to continue running, because Java wants to update..."
if the solution is to turn off an updater, to be sure that your script is able to run, *because* the updater interrupts script processing .... your updater might be a redneck.
and when exactly did you think someone would do this? "oh yeah ... I forgot to turn off the auto update, so at any minute now, my script that has been working fine for such a very long time will be intterupted and unable to continue running, because Java wants to update..."
if the solution is to turn off an updater, to be sure that your script is able to run, *because* the updater interrupts script processing .... your updater might be a redneck.
And exactly how many installs of java do YOU need?
Unless they've changed recently.. each java update merely piled another version of java up onto the system..
100 megs per instance..
not "updated" the already installed version.. no.. was a full copy of the new version of java.. and what was suns' reason?... "we don't know what people are running and the new version of java might break something the person already has"
uh.. wasn't the point of Java to be able to run scripts on ANY machine platform without haveing to do a full re-write? So then if you're breaking java from one implementation to the next, why does the updater set the newer one as the default? And why doesn't the updater ask, "do you want to upgrade/update, or run several versions at once?" Or even ask if the person is an end user, developer, or enterprise user..
Unless they've changed recently.. each java update merely piled another version of java up onto the system..
100 megs per instance..
not "updated" the already installed version.. no.. was a full copy of the new version of java.. and what was suns' reason?... "we don't know what people are running and the new version of java might break something the person already has"
uh.. wasn't the point of Java to be able to run scripts on ANY machine platform without haveing to do a full re-write? So then if you're breaking java from one implementation to the next, why does the updater set the newer one as the default? And why doesn't the updater ask, "do you want to upgrade/update, or run several versions at once?" Or even ask if the person is an end user, developer, or enterprise user..
For home email, everything I use is web based.
Whether you use a client or web based, spam will get you either way.
Whether you use a client or web based, spam will get you either way.
and that constitutes Anti-MS Crap?
Sorry, your fanboi is showing.
Sorry, your fanboi is showing.
Norton?? Never again. I HATE their software.
Adobe? Not real useful and often a PITA.
Flash?? I'm close to believing it should be illegal. Nothing sucks more than a Flash web site (except maybe a root canal). Just generally annoying to use. FlashBlock software is one of my best friends.
I mostly agree in regards to the other mentioned as well.
Adobe? Not real useful and often a PITA.
Flash?? I'm close to believing it should be illegal. Nothing sucks more than a Flash web site (except maybe a root canal). Just generally annoying to use. FlashBlock software is one of my best friends.
I mostly agree in regards to the other mentioned as well.
Back in 2003, even 2004 Norton was a feasible security system, but by 2005 it was getting out of hand.
It let something nasty in on me and as a result, Norton got buggered in the process and it had to be removed as well. That was an unspeakable nightmare. I realized after that the infection itself was manageable if it wasn't for Norton's incredibly intrusive and pervasive integration into my system. I would have been better of if I had just got the stupid virus without Norton collapsing in the process.
Mine is obviously far from the only story like this, who needs all those system resources robbed for a security system that will virtually lock your computer if something goes wrong with it. Then to ask you to pay yearly...well, what a crock that is. Sheer nonsense. I imagine we all know of at least a couple free anti virus/antispyware utilities that are free and don't give your computer "application cancer" in the process.
It let something nasty in on me and as a result, Norton got buggered in the process and it had to be removed as well. That was an unspeakable nightmare. I realized after that the infection itself was manageable if it wasn't for Norton's incredibly intrusive and pervasive integration into my system. I would have been better of if I had just got the stupid virus without Norton collapsing in the process.
Mine is obviously far from the only story like this, who needs all those system resources robbed for a security system that will virtually lock your computer if something goes wrong with it. Then to ask you to pay yearly...well, what a crock that is. Sheer nonsense. I imagine we all know of at least a couple free anti virus/antispyware utilities that are free and don't give your computer "application cancer" in the process.
...I've been telling clients that Norton is the virus that actually does gets people to pay for it.
I have seen that thing nearly destroy Windows many times over. As a matter of fact I have this very case coming to me this week from a client.
flash is a pain where you need it least. I use Ubuntu. Installing flash player, updating Flash just so my honey could put her Coke caps in was a waste of time.
I finally just got her an Acer notebook to use and guess what it came with? Norton Internet Security pre installed! Cant get rid of it. Even tried using Norton Security Suite. Could not install their own software without calling Norton to get the pass word to download the Uninstaller app. What a rip. Got to pay get something off your new computer.
F567 You very much Mr. Acer
I finally just got her an Acer notebook to use and guess what it came with? Norton Internet Security pre installed! Cant get rid of it. Even tried using Norton Security Suite. Could not install their own software without calling Norton to get the pass word to download the Uninstaller app. What a rip. Got to pay get something off your new computer.
F567 You very much Mr. Acer
Has anybody noticed that Nvidia graphics drivers now include a lot of ads for, right now Valve's software and puts an icon on your desktop for portal (one of their games)
I'm installing a GPU driver and it puts shortcuts for games on my desktop without my consent? wtf!?
I'm installing a GPU driver and it puts shortcuts for games on my desktop without my consent? wtf!?
Uggghh! This is totally related to the auto run update scheduler component apps of these programs. Java scheduler, Windows update, Real Player, Acrobat Reader, etc. These "features" are annoying. Sure, learning to do this type of cleanup was good for me over the years. I could see this type of pain in the you know what when I started supporting Windows 3.1. It was still in it's infancy back then when programs used to plug themselves into Win.ini's Run section. Now it's gotten more sophisticated almost viral in some cases. Very annoying.
I know, the companies spin it as "we're keeping the public current and ensuring the experience is as consistent as possible. Blah blah blah. I would much rather have one or two sources for updates, rather than 50. It could be a non-profit company that collects these submissions. People could run a client on their desktop which verifies what software you're looking for updates too and notify you. Click, zap and your system is updated. Or you run it whenever you want. Either or. Non of these auto start applications anymore please.
I know, the companies spin it as "we're keeping the public current and ensuring the experience is as consistent as possible. Blah blah blah. I would much rather have one or two sources for updates, rather than 50. It could be a non-profit company that collects these submissions. People could run a client on their desktop which verifies what software you're looking for updates too and notify you. Click, zap and your system is updated. Or you run it whenever you want. Either or. Non of these auto start applications anymore please.
That's one of the things I like the most about Ubuntu after 10+ years with Windows. Nearly all the software installed is from the Ubuntu repositories, and the Synaptic package manager makes installing programs and updates a breeze(no need to restart your computer either, except for kernel upgrades). I still use WinXP for a few work-related programs and some games, and I still dread MS' patch Tuesdays(not to mention all the other update notifications that pop up right when you're in the middle of something important.
Some sort of centralized web update service which you could access when you want could ease these woes quite a bit.
Some sort of centralized web update service which you could access when you want could ease these woes quite a bit.
Good lord. How long has patch Tuesday been going on? I'm sorry about your fear, I realize MS patching systems have caused a few problems in the past for some people, but seriously, neither I or anyone I have ever known has experienced a problem related to patch Tuesday. So I suggest that what ever you are doing that is going wrong, you stop doing, or simply take a pill and relax. Patch Tuesday is, and has always been largely a non issue.
I haven't dreaded it since I switched to PCLinuxOS. 
I believe the OP was referring to the constant annoying popups asking you to download the updates, then if you did that, the resulting ones to install them.
And the ultimate one, the obligatory "every five minutes notice to restart your computer even though I've told it to go away (sometimes in much more vulgar words) countless times because even though you want me to restart my computer I really don't want to just now"
Whew... got that (almost) out of my system. 8-)
Glad I switched to Xubuntu
And the ultimate one, the obligatory "every five minutes notice to restart your computer even though I've told it to go away (sometimes in much more vulgar words) countless times because even though you want me to restart my computer I really don't want to just now"
Whew... got that (almost) out of my system. 8-)
Glad I switched to Xubuntu
Gave all that up when I heard about a neat little Firefox add-on called "WindizUpdate".
When you use that, you're not even communicating with Microsoft, but with a separate web site which takes care of everything for you, including checking your machine and telling you which updates are available and lets you decide which ones you want.
When you use that, you're not even communicating with Microsoft, but with a separate web site which takes care of everything for you, including checking your machine and telling you which updates are available and lets you decide which ones you want.
I'm surprised you are not aware you can simply turn off Windows update.
If you do that, you choose when to go to the windows update "repository" and can choose express install or custom, which allows you to pick and choose.
You also can choose for the update notification to show up in systray and you then download and install at your leisure, or you can tell it to download but not update, in which case you'll get the same systray icon but you'll only need to install in that case. Or you can choose full automatic, which if you do, you should obviously schedule for when you are not in the *middle* of *important* work.
I'm surprised you don't know of these options, none of which pop up on your screen at any point, unless you use full automatic and again, you choose the time it updates, so there is no reason whatsoever to "dread" patch tuesday.
What do you mean when you say "all of the other update notifications that "popup" right in the middle of something important?? that is not Microsoft related updates, since they don't just popup and are there are no updates that come outside of windows update.
You might be thinking of SUN's java update that pops up and steals focus and crashes any running scripting jobs. Or Adobe Flash updates that do the same, that is popup out of the blue and splash across your entire screen and steal focus.
You can't blame Microsoft for non Microsoft related updates. If you have itunes installed for windows, you'll get an annoying screen then as well that tries to trick you into installing Safari.
Windows update is the least annoying of them all and is completely and very easily changable to the notification(or no notification) that works best for you. You don't get those choices with these other non microsoft related add-ins or services that take control of your machine.
Windows update, if you are a daytime worker and sleep at night, is probably best left on automatic for 2:00am and then you'll find it's installed and rebooted your machine once a month at a known date, when you get up and have time to get to your PC, so you only need to login and get to work.
If you do that, you choose when to go to the windows update "repository" and can choose express install or custom, which allows you to pick and choose.
You also can choose for the update notification to show up in systray and you then download and install at your leisure, or you can tell it to download but not update, in which case you'll get the same systray icon but you'll only need to install in that case. Or you can choose full automatic, which if you do, you should obviously schedule for when you are not in the *middle* of *important* work.
I'm surprised you don't know of these options, none of which pop up on your screen at any point, unless you use full automatic and again, you choose the time it updates, so there is no reason whatsoever to "dread" patch tuesday.
What do you mean when you say "all of the other update notifications that "popup" right in the middle of something important?? that is not Microsoft related updates, since they don't just popup and are there are no updates that come outside of windows update.
You might be thinking of SUN's java update that pops up and steals focus and crashes any running scripting jobs. Or Adobe Flash updates that do the same, that is popup out of the blue and splash across your entire screen and steal focus.
You can't blame Microsoft for non Microsoft related updates. If you have itunes installed for windows, you'll get an annoying screen then as well that tries to trick you into installing Safari.
Windows update is the least annoying of them all and is completely and very easily changable to the notification(or no notification) that works best for you. You don't get those choices with these other non microsoft related add-ins or services that take control of your machine.
Windows update, if you are a daytime worker and sleep at night, is probably best left on automatic for 2:00am and then you'll find it's installed and rebooted your machine once a month at a known date, when you get up and have time to get to your PC, so you only need to login and get to work.
Many of the items on this list can be disabled. This is about "features" that are turned on by default such as Windows Update. Don't forget the mention of Windows Genuine Advantage which is Microsoft's own malware that they slip in as an important update. What else have they slipped in under user's noses?
No one supports older systems so your suggested web page could also continue to support all the old OSs which many are adequate for the user. Maybe all the old systems could form their own web connections, and since MS doesn't support them anymore we (yeah, you and me) could produce some amazing private uses for these "outdated" antiques.
Agreed. Instead of a gazillion auto update components, there needs to be a centralized system for updating, installing, and uninstalling. Linux's package managers do an excellent job, and Valve has a very neat system called Steam, but that's only for games. It would be great if somebody created something that is more centralized. I've no problem with it being automatic, as long as I can schedule it.
I thought the obligatory Linux geek had missed the boat on this - but noooooo.... you've risen like a small mouth bass to the hook and fastened on firmly.
Thank Dog for consistency..
Thank Dog for consistency..
I'm sick of it forcing updates, requiring me to be connected to the internet when playing, and the validation thing.
More-so I hate the fact I cannot *sell* steam-enabled games when I'm done with them; even the ones I bought on CD!
(Oh, did I mention that I can't lan-match with myself?)
More-so I hate the fact I cannot *sell* steam-enabled games when I'm done with them; even the ones I bought on CD!
(Oh, did I mention that I can't lan-match with myself?)
4 or 5 years ago CNet's downloads.com offered this service. It was extremely useful, but it probably didn't make any money so they ditched it.
Yes, the program was great. I used it constantly until they shut it down. Shame, now there are a couple of commerical companies out there that will do it for you too.
> It could be a non-profit company that collects these
> submissions. People could run a client on their desktop which
> verifies what software you're looking for updates too and
> notify you.
Isn't that what http://bigfix.com/ is supposed to be? I haven't used it in years and years so I don't know if it's still any good or not, but it used to be.
> submissions. People could run a client on their desktop which
> verifies what software you're looking for updates too and
> notify you.
Isn't that what http://bigfix.com/ is supposed to be? I haven't used it in years and years so I don't know if it's still any good or not, but it used to be.
Agree 100%.
The pieces of sw that I despise the most: Acrobat and Flash. Flashblock and Foxit reader cured those.
I'm now uninstalling pretty much any app that wants up autoupdate itself. If I start my machine and I get a "You need to update.. whatever". That app is unistalled inmediately. I mean, who are you to take time from my computer booting? The first to go unde those rules was of course, java.
Windows update I must live with, unfortunately, although it seems that with Vista you get less of those "I'll reboot your computer now that you're productive" messages.
The pieces of sw that I despise the most: Acrobat and Flash. Flashblock and Foxit reader cured those.
I'm now uninstalling pretty much any app that wants up autoupdate itself. If I start my machine and I get a "You need to update.. whatever". That app is unistalled inmediately. I mean, who are you to take time from my computer booting? The first to go unde those rules was of course, java.
Windows update I must live with, unfortunately, although it seems that with Vista you get less of those "I'll reboot your computer now that you're productive" messages.
A few months ago, a security update of Flash crashed the FlashPlayer on my Linux 64 bit system. It was not fixable. Now I rarely miss those cute little flash games, and I really enjoy the absence of all that flash advertising and the load time it uses.
You know what else is annoying? Online "list" articles that are spread over as many pages as possible to make sure you see the maximum number of ads.
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