One reason Windows programs are done that way is to keep people from being able to just copy it over without the original installs. You complain about bloat, but that is exactly what DLLs help prevent and they usually all go in the same place. The problem comes from how many different developers there are. Too many developers have their own ideas about the way things should be done without thinking it through. If you use better programs (i.e. Trillian instead of ICQ) you can avoid the AOL plugs and program bloat. You want a sad truth, try comparing how many programs there are for Windows compared to Mac. There just isn't any comparison. My local computer stores have stopped trying to carry Mac software because it just isn't worth it.
I have a Monster 3D sound card based on the Vortex 2 chipset. I payed $30 for it a few years ago and I have been well pleased with it. I use it for playing MP3s to my stereo all the time and it sounds great. I really enjoy using the Vortex setting in games like Descent 3. It adds some nice 3D effects to the game.
I guess you can't expect much better in news from an AC. Maybe posting news should be restricted to users that are logged in. Has anyone seen useful articles from an AC before? Just curious.
Ergos work well for some people. Other people have difficulty using them which balances out the benefits. Personally, I use a regular shape keyboard, but in a dvorak layout. Anyone who does a lot of typing should really look into switching. It is easy to learn and you can quickly regain the speed and soon become even faster than before. My wife and I have had no problems since switching over. She used to get pain in her wrists when typing for a while. Now she uses dvorak on a MS ergo.
It is too bad that qwerty had to become the convention given its inefficiencies. The inventor himself created a better layout (which was remarkable similar to dvorak), but it was too late to get it to stick.
Slashdot Mirror
One reason Windows programs are done that way is to keep people from being able to just copy it over without the original installs. You complain about bloat, but that is exactly what DLLs help prevent and they usually all go in the same place. The problem comes from how many different developers there are. Too many developers have their own ideas about the way things should be done without thinking it through. If you use better programs (i.e. Trillian instead of ICQ) you can avoid the AOL plugs and program bloat. You want a sad truth, try comparing how many programs there are for Windows compared to Mac. There just isn't any comparison. My local computer stores have stopped trying to carry Mac software because it just isn't worth it.
I have a Monster 3D sound card based on the Vortex 2 chipset. I payed $30 for it a few years ago and I have been well pleased with it. I use it for playing MP3s to my stereo all the time and it sounds great. I really enjoy using the Vortex setting in games like Descent 3. It adds some nice 3D effects to the game.
I guess you can't expect much better in news from an AC. Maybe posting news should be restricted to users that are logged in. Has anyone seen useful articles from an AC before? Just curious.
Ergos work well for some people. Other people have difficulty using them which balances out the benefits. Personally, I use a regular shape keyboard, but in a dvorak layout. Anyone who does a lot of typing should really look into switching. It is easy to learn and you can quickly regain the speed and soon become even faster than before. My wife and I have had no problems since switching over. She used to get pain in her wrists when typing for a while. Now she uses dvorak on a MS ergo.
It is too bad that qwerty had to become the convention given its inefficiencies. The inventor himself created a better layout (which was remarkable similar to dvorak), but it was too late to get it to stick.