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The Most Annoying Software Out There
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.'"
The only reason Linux has a unified update source (unless you add more repos) is because so few companies write software for Linux that the distros have to provide similar software themselves. If Linux ever does achieve desktop popularity, you'll be in for a rude awakening.
I assume you're not honestly serious. Or that you've never used any of the programs in question and didn't bother to RTFA.
Outlook -- You didn't read the part about "fast searching" and "threaded conversations" did you?
Flash -- TFA makes the same comment as you.
Use Linux -- some of us like to play games besides Nethack, Tux Racer, and Quake 3...and might even use Word from time to time. That and the learning curve. Oh. And we need to build our own computers and/or reinstall the OS so we don't have pre installed software bundles. All so I can use firefox to surf the web, cause honestly, that's the only EXCELLENT desktop application Linux has. Otherwise, it's like using Sam's club brand everything. Like Tide? Then you'll love Tibe! Like Photoshop? Limp with the Gimp!
(Typed from FireFox 3 Rc1 on Redhat;))
-- Political fascism requires a Fuhrer.
Signed.
Also, the repositories in Linux take longer to update than the Sun has spent on the main sequence. It's really aggravating to be a year or more behind on software updates via the repository. The alternative is to search a message board and follow some arcane spellbook of instructions where you have to type the exact right thing into the console in order to uninstall the current version, then install the updated version from its rpm. Then, find out that the method isn't working because it's for an older version of the OS. Oh, and while we're at it you have to install these dependencies because the package manager also doesn't have them available.
Oh, and please follow these arcane instructions so that you can add my personal server to your package manager. First, generate an SSH key. Then connect to my server using the key. Then use one of the numerous freely available programs to construct a right triangle in a hyperbolic geometry. When you're finished, be sure to sacrifice a goat to the new moon so that the package installs correctly, otherwise you have to start over again.
If all you're using Linux for is some web browsing and checking of the email, then it's great. But if you want to do anything cool like play games in wine, then be prepared to navigate through the unholy maze of updates, compiling, and make scripts. I liked it up until I realised that I would waste literally hours at a time trying to figure out how to install some package. Then I switched back to windows and had my whole system up and running in the amount of time it took me to install one non-standard program in Linux.
SRSLY.
Adobe Reader
:D
... but until then, I sleep well at night and I am productive during the day. No crap background processes running sucking up resources. If you are still using Windows for some reason, might I suggest AVG.
Preview in OS X loads very fast, and is more then a PDF viewer. No reason to install Adobe reader.
Apple iTunes
Runs way better on OS X. Not a system hog, don't need to worry about bundled Safari since the OS already has it
Windows Update
Apple did this right, I don't get random popups saying my computer is being rebooted. Updates are common enough to fix the issues, but not enough to make my life hell.
RealPlayer
Wow, these guys are still around ? Last time I used this was like what, 1999 ?
Java
Eh, its the nature of the beast. I hate Java anyway, so this doesn't affect me. When searching for applications, I will skip over those written in Java for something native. Cry all you want about Java's more recent performance boosts, I really don't care. Its crap.
Yahoo
Uh, why would you install this in the first place ? I have never installed any "tool bars" and I have no plans to do so in the future.
Norton Antivirus
This is a Windows problem. Sure, one day OS X might need this
Preinstalled software bundles
Preinstaled applications with a Mac are all useful.
Outlook/Exchange
Mail.app is light years past Outlook. The _only_ reason I could see using this crap is if I was forced to at a job.
Flash
Eh, it comes preinstalled with most OS's. Updates are infrequent. Flash is here to stay, get used to it. Yes, I run flash block on most sites because I am sick and tired of advertisments that make noise in the background. Those few sites spoiled it for advertisers everywhere.
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