sonofsanta Posted January 11, 2011 Posted January 11, 2011 Trial software, particularly in the form of desktop shortcuts such as "Arcade Games" that when opened, is just a large advert masquerading as a 15 minute demo. The champion of this, of course, is Norton Anti-Virus. The tears I've cried...
DrCheese Posted January 11, 2011 Posted January 11, 2011 - anything from Adobe Fixed your quote for you
nikaso Posted January 11, 2011 Posted January 11, 2011 Trial software, particularly in the form of desktop shortcuts such as "Arcade Games" that when opened, is just a large advert masquerading as a 15 minute demo. The champion of this, of course, is Norton Anti-Virus. The tears I've cried... This ^ The absolute cack that gets bundled with new laptops especially, I wonder how many virus infections have occurred because someone gets a new laptop with a Norton trial on it and thinks "Oh I'm protected now" then six months later their laptop stops working and they bring it to me. Me: Do you have up to date AV software on it? Them: Yes it came with Norton Me: How long have you had the laptop? Them: Six months Me: (groan) Did you subscribe after the trial expired? Them: Did I sub-what? Me: I see.......
tech_guy Posted January 11, 2011 Author Posted January 11, 2011 I recently worked on a PC that was 'protected by Norton 2005' - well it was back in 2005. The numpty of an owner hadn't updated / renewed his subscription at all since then and had wondered why his machine had gotten slower and slower and kept crashing and pop-ups offering him "Free P0RN!" whenever he went online. Him installing AVG Free and SuperGiveMeYourCreditCardNumberAntiSpyware somewhere along the way hadn't helped either.
DAZZD88 Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 I recently worked on a PC that was 'protected by Norton 2005' - well it was back in 2005. The numpty of an owner hadn't updated / renewed his subscription at all since then and had wondered why his machine had gotten slower and slower and kept crashing and pop-ups offering him "Free P0RN!" whenever he went online. Him installing AVG Free and SuperGiveMeYourCreditCardNumberAntiSpyware somewhere along the way hadn't helped either. Ahh, the user with multiple AV programs. I don't know how many times I have to tell people of the resource hogging, program conflicts and just the general PITA that the issue causes.
localzuk Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 Those features on a Mac would probably cost more than a new car I think the main reason I can't stand Apple is the absolutely ridiculous prices they charge for hardware that can be bought much, much cheaper elsewhere! Then again, I'm a Linux convert, so I won't pay for anything I don't legally have to! Don't want an argument but this point is just plain wrong. When you buy an Apple machine, you are not just buying the hardware. You are buying a complete system, including a very good operating system. The cost of 'upgrades' is comparable to other manufacturers of systems like HP. Not to mention, the 'ridiculous' pricing isn't actually that ridiculous when you take into account the form factor with many of their systems, and if you catch their pricing at the right time, they come out favourably to competitors! The MBP I run (3 years old now) cost something like £1600, the nearest competitor model with the same spec was a lot more expensive, weighed a chunk more, had a poorer quality screen and had less battery life. Look at something like the Lotus Elise. The engines in them are (I haven't looked if they've changed this now, but they were) Rover engines. The same model used in the Rover 25/45/75. You can't deny that the Lotus Elise is a very different car to a Rover 45.
DAZZD88 Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 Look at something like the Lotus Elise. The engines in them are (I haven't looked if they've changed this now, but they were) Rover engines. The same model used in the Rover 25/45/75. You can't deny that the Lotus Elise is a very different car to a Rover 45. They now use Toyota 1.8 vvti engines, or at least they did at last check.
mthomas08 Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 Those features on a Mac would probably cost more than a new car I think the main reason I can't stand Apple is the absolutely ridiculous prices they charge for hardware that can be bought much, much cheaper elsewhere! Then again, I'm a Linux convert, so I won't pay for anything I don't legally have to! I would agree there. Do not get me wrong, I know whats good about MACs for specialist software its fantastic and requires no work, plug it in and it works. MACs are not flexible enough in my book, even the guy I work with loves MACs but when doing IT side of things I still see him swear a lot On hthe other hand its just like Marmite, you love em or you hate em and the arguement over MACs will probably last till the end of timmeeeeee
witch Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 .... you love em or you hate em and the arguement over MACs will probably last till the end of timmeeeeee Let's just agree to differ and get back to the original point. For me, it seems to be that the latest laptops I've bought (and I'm not talking cheap here) seem to all have a horrid, clickiness about the buttons that I HATE. They are Toshes and the last lot I got, which were a lot lower spec, are fine
DAZZD88 Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 Let's just agree to differ and get back to the original point. For me, it seems to be that the latest laptops I've bought (and I'm not talking cheap here) seem to all have a horrid, clickiness about the buttons that I HATE. They are Toshes and the last lot I got, which were a lot lower spec, are fine Are you referring to the keyboard or the touchpad buttons? I like a slightly click touchpad button but the keyboard keys would preferably be firm, smooth and not too clicky. I despise laptops with the soft click toucpad buttons and laptops with overly soft keyboard buttons. The number of times I've not been sure whether I've clicked on an icon or when I acccidentally double-tap a key and spell something incoreectly.
SYNACK Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 720p HD capible widescreen moniters, what was wrong with 'old school' moniters that ran at twice the resolution or even the old school LCDs that had at least 1024 vertical resolution. Java, its twice as bad now that those sociopaths at Oracle have taken over and it prompts you for another update because the update that you were installing has become outdated while it was running. Again cheap sata cables with locking clips that snap and become locked on to the drive. LGA sockets, I prefer the old CPUs in that regard as the new intel ones that can get slightly skewed and the only way you know that something is wrong is when it can't find some of the ram or simply does not boot at all. Welcome back to slot 1. MS's new obsession with the freaking command line, sure it is great that you can finally do most things via powershell but why the hell can't you also do everything (realitivly basic features) from GUI as well (Exchange 2007-10). Wireless, I would not want to be without it but simultaniously hate it for causing so many issues with flakey cards, access points and drivers. Microsoft's Optical mouse v2.0, the version 1.1 basic optical mouse was great, not to small and with a great optical sensor that did not jitter on many surfaces. The version 2 mouse which is the only one that you can get now has a weak optical sensor that jumps everywhere and the mouse is a tad small. $50 printers with 1.2GB default driver installs (thanks hp). The fact that everyone who knows a little about computers now considers themselves an expert and market themselves as such.
witch Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 Are you referring to the keyboard or the touchpad buttons? I like a slightly click touchpad button but the keyboard keys would preferably be firm, smooth and not too clicky. I despise laptops with the soft click toucpad buttons and laptops with overly soft keyboard buttons. The number of times I've not been sure whether I've clicked on an icon or when I acccidentally double-tap a key and spell something incoreectly. The keyboard is fine - it's the touchpad buttons - I like a bit of a click too, but these are ridiculously plasticky and very very clicky - and what's with the offcentre track pad?
localzuk Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 Java, its twice as bad now that those sociopaths at Oracle have taken over and it prompts you for another update because the update that you were installing has become outdated while it was running. I don't think I've logged into a machine in the last 6 months which didn't prompt me with a Java update. Sure, they only take a minute, but when there are 250 computers that need it, and they release them every week, it can be a bit annoying!
sparkeh Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 I don't think I've logged into a machine in the last 6 months which didn't prompt me with a Java update. Sure, they only take a minute, but when there are 250 computers that need it, and they release them every week, it can be a bit annoying! That's why I have software restrictions for those kind of updaters, I will update in my own time dammit
sted Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 The keyboard is fine - it's the touchpad buttons - I like a bit of a click too, but these are ridiculously plasticky and very very clicky - and what's with the offcentre track pad? now try a hp620 laptop they have added a row of keys all the way down the left hand side for volume etc (apart from one row) you end up hitting caps lock for a and so on its a pita
Rydra Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 now try a hp620 laptop they have added a row of keys all the way down the left hand side for volume etc (apart from one row) you end up hitting caps lock for a and so on its a pita Damn, i just bought 4 of these, they should arrive today/tomorrow
tech_guy Posted January 12, 2011 Author Posted January 12, 2011 Let's just agree to differ and get back to the original point. For me, it seems to be that the latest laptops I've bought (and I'm not talking cheap here) seem to all have a horrid, clickiness about the buttons that I HATE. They are Toshes and the last lot I got, which were a lot lower spec, are fine The cheaper Toshibas made now are horrible. Cheap brittle-plastic things. Working on them can be a nightmare. You have to be so careful you don't break anything when you take them apart. Very flimsy.
witch Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 The cheaper Toshibas made now are horrible. Cheap brittle-plastic things. Working on them can be a nightmare. You have to be so careful you don't break anything when you take them apart. Very flimsy. that's the thing - they weren't cheap - unless £455 is cheap, which it isnt to me. I wanted more T60s from ICT direct (could have bought twice as many) but was overruled Just found out that the machines came with Win 7 pro on but NOT the correct display driver - GRRRRRRHHHHH
koryo Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 that's the thing - they weren't cheap - unless £455 is cheap, which it isnt to me. I wanted more T60s from ICT direct (could have bought twice as many) but was overruled Just found out that the machines came with Win 7 pro on but NOT the correct display driver - GRRRRRRHHHHH Doesn't this count as not fit for purpose / not purchased as advertised?
sonofsanta Posted January 12, 2011 Posted January 12, 2011 now try a hp620 laptop they have added a row of keys all the way down the left hand side for volume etc (apart from one row) you end up hitting caps lock for a and so on its a pita I saw a good one yesterday on a teacher's personal Dell laptop - Dell have decided to swap the F1-F12 keys for the usual Fn functions, i.e. you need to hold down the Fn key to get F7 to spellcheck, and you don't to switch display. Which is unbelievably stupid - I close programs, spellcheck and Save As a hell of a lot more than I adjust my brightness, switch display or skip track. God only knows why you would ever think it a good idea. Presumably it can be swapped in BIOS, but then I don't hold out much hope for that with Dell!
tech_guy Posted January 12, 2011 Author Posted January 12, 2011 Another thing that annoys me is how certain manufacturers have copied Apple's design idea of spacing out the keys on their laptop keyboards. One manufacturer, who shall remain nameless, has copied Apple's idea and got it horribly wrong - the keys are too far apart and you really struggle to use their laptop with this 'feature' properly. You're forever hitting the adjacent keys or the wrong key altogether.
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