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The Most Annoying Software Out There

Posted by timothy on from the to-kick-while-down dept.

superglaze writes "ZDNet UK has a very entertaining round-up of the most annoying software out there, and everything from RealPlayer and Adobe Reader to Java and Norton Antivirus gets a kicking. 'The internet has brought us many joys. It's rewritten the rules of business and pleasure. And pain. For it allows what may have seemed like bright ideas at the time ('let's use it to make sure our customers have the latest software', for example) to turn into a stinking pit of misery — usually, but by no means always, after marketing gets its fangs in.'"

28 of 885 comments (clear)

  1. Why just Windows Update? by hyperz69 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think they could have just said VISTA... Done! Though seriously this app misses, a few apps. Mainly... GOOGLE BAR? Dear god, does every application on the planet now try to install google bar? Completely removing it requires a virgin, 2 brillo pads, a priest, plus 6 gallons of goats blood.

    1. Re:Why just Windows Update? by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

      Please do not speak ill of Google Bar. Google does no harm to anyone, and all of its software is useful and error-free. Speaking negatively of Google is unwise. Remember, they know where you live.

  2. What? by Daimanta · · Score: 4, Funny

    No Microsoft Bob?

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
    1. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think they are talking about software somebody has actually used.

  3. What about Lotus Note? by paradoxSpirit · · Score: 4, Funny

    How could they have forgotten Lotus Note?

    --
    "Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane" -PKD
    1. Re:What about Lotus Note? by Uncle+Focker · · Score: 2, Funny

      Aren't they only talking about software that people actually use?

  4. Antivirus + Java by grassy_knoll · · Score: 2, Funny

    For the vortex of suck, get stuck with an antivirus package set up to scan everything at launch ( no exceptions... thanks, corporate ), then fire up some Java. Bonus points for utilizing a .jar file.

    --
    A Human Right
  5. The answer is right there in front of you by HungWeiLo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look at the top of your window:

    "The Most Annoying Software Out There - Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 5"

    I didn't say it - the browser did!

    --
    There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
    1. Re:The answer is right there in front of you by JimR · · Score: 3, Funny
      Hmmm, the title bar on my browser window says:

      Slashdot | The Most Annoying Software Out There
      --
      #exclude <ms/windows.h>
    2. Re:The answer is right there in front of you by oodaloop · · Score: 3, Funny

      Mine says The Most Annoying Software Out There - Microsoft Internet Explorer. I'd kill to have any veriosn of Firefox here at work.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  6. + Nintendo DS by tepples · · Score: 2, Funny

    For the vortex of suck, get stuck with an antivirus package set up to scan everything at launch ( no exceptions... thanks, corporate ) If your employer is paying you to sit and watch an antivirus package scan the entire hard disk, that's what a Nintendo DS is for. If your employer bans that too, it might be time to weigh whether you should exercise your "right to work" for someone else.
  7. Make Microsoft Look Good day? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 5, Funny

    I like this quote from the article, about Apple QuickTime: "... what is this, Make Microsoft Look Good day?"

  8. Re:Did they mention linux firefox? by Bloodoflethe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mmmm. Cereal.

    --
    "Little is much when little you need."
  9. Re:Quicktime Browser Integration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Delete the plug-in dll, its the only way to be sure

  10. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by toleraen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sure, sure, and I'm guessing there was nothing wrong with your usage until that piece of trash program started winning CODiE awards?

  11. pages by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's the software that spreads an short article across a dozen, ad laden pages like the site in this story. I vote for that.

  12. Simple? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 2, Funny

    Removing Norton is simple, it just takes few steps.

    Just ... uninstall it... Reboot... password ... uninstall ... reboot... download... run

    Yep. Simple.
  13. Re:Honestly, these problems are solveable by manwal · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...it's many.

  14. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by Roughmar · · Score: 2, Funny

    This should be tagged as Funny. =P

  15. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 4, Funny

    More on point, though: By deleting the file (or doing this little hack I proposed) you're still "changing your usage." It would be easier to just disable it in msconfig.

    Of course, even that is fallible: Next time the app updates itself it'll be re-enabled. Removing all Apple software is a good first step in prepping any Windows computer for use. When Apple has no attack vectors into your system you don't have to worry about qttray coming back at all.
    --
    "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
  16. Re:ANY Enterprise AntiVirus by felipekk · · Score: 2, Funny

    Have you hear of Corporate Security Policy?

    Do you ask yourself every now and then why the IT admins on your company hate you?

  17. Re:Norton Products... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    and then thing goes off at 4AM or when you're busy with your girlfriend. If your AV sends off an alarm while you're busy with your girlfriend, it might be a sign that it's actually trying to tell you something useful for a change.
  18. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by mrraven · · Score: 2, Funny

    This week on Survivor:

    "Quicktime opens its maw and barfs up a new version of it. Then it turns it on and puts it back in the task tray."

    Ewwwwwwww.... :)

    --
    Tired of all the isms, don't exploit people as an employer, or a government, mmmmK?
  19. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    For whatever reason, no one has perfected awaking from sleep yet. I think it's the lack of a proper snooze button.
  20. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by supun · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nice reference to Office Space. :)

    Samir: No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It's not that hard: Samir Na-gheen-an-a-jar. Nagheenanajar.
    Michael Bolton: Yeah, well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton.
    Samir: You know there's nothing wrong with that name.
    Michael Bolton: There was nothing wrong with it... until I was about 12 years old and that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Grammys.
    Samir: Hmm... well why don't you just go by Mike instead of Michael?
    Michael Bolton: No way. Why should I change? He's the one who sucks.

    --
    :w!
  21. Re:Norton Products... by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 2, Funny

    WTF does everyone in the world and their brother want to install a toolbar in my web browser? If I said yes to all of them, I'd have about 2 pixels of viewpane left to look at.
     
      http://worcester.typepad.com/pc4media/images/toolbar400gif.gif

    --
    If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
  22. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by Trogre · · Score: 2, Funny

    You should try to remove Norton virus checker.

    And that, sir, is the best advice I've seen on /. this week.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  23. Re:Print Version (and my Apple woes) by Geek+of+Tech · · Score: 2, Funny

    >>Jeez, do guys you turn off lights by hitting the switch with a hammer?
    Yes.

    --
    Stop the Slashdot effect! Don't read the articles!