Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
5 things I wish some people wouldn't install on their PCs
1. A second (or third...or fourth) antivirus program. Despite what we tell them, some people think "more is always better" when it comes to PC protection. Inevitably, those people end up bringing their computers in for service saying "it just slowed right down" and - here's the kicker - "maybe it has a virus."
So wait...You installed Norton, AVG, Spyware Doctor, and Ad-Aware because you thought it would keep out all the badness and you still think it's a virus slowing down your machine? /facepalm
2. Just...one...more...toolbar (thank you J-Walk blog for the image). Apparently a lot of people love to search. So much, in fact, that they need dedicated toolbars for Google, Yahoo, Ask, Live, MyWebSearch, and a handful of others. They wind up with less browser real estate than an iPhone on their 22" LCD.
I launch their browser to download something, and it's like a punch in the face. Enough is enough, people. Use your browser's search box already.
3. Apps with annoying avatars. Incredimail, I'm looking at you.
Bonzi Buddy is dead, and for a good reason. Isn't an AOL-style "You've Got Mail!" alert good enough? Apparently not for some people. No, they need to have some snooty butler announce the arrival of every message like he's Alfred bringing Bruce Wayne a phone call from the mayor.
4. P2P apps. Don't get me wrong - it's not apps like Frostwire, uTorrent, and eMule that I have a problem with. But if you're not going to take the time to learn how to configure these things, don't use them. And don't call and get uppity when your internet connection slows to a crawl and tell me I screwed things up.
5. Piggybacked programs. I'm shocked how much software people wind up with on their PCs that they never use and claim to not know how it got there.
Checkboxes are there for a reason, folks. You don't have to install Safari. You don't have to install Adobe Media Player. Remember that Ask toolbar? You probably could have opted out of that, too - if you would take a second to read before you click. If I put food in front of you, you wouldn't just grab it and eat it without looking, right?
What about you - what do you wish people would stop installing?
Don't forget, we've added a follow-up post: 6 free Windows programs to fix and prevent PC problems on your own!
Comments
68
Subscribe to commentsthe shnitzleJun 24th 2009 7:04PM
i hate people that download hundreds of different IM clients and browsers -- unnecessary horseshit
kusuma atmajaJun 24th 2009 11:53PM
thunderbird mail is better than incredimail
CoraJul 6th 2009 12:53AM
Paul said it best :: pre-installed trial software. Waste of space and annoying beyond words.
stufferJul 6th 2009 2:19AM
as much as i have to say i dislike how buggy, lacking in media authoring tools and codecs Windows Media Player is (11+);. I would probably have to say its the best thing out there for media cataloging/enjoyment.. Ive tried the all-in-one things like nero, cyberlink, so on and so forth... = P.I.T.A waste of money. WMP isnt too demanding on the system and rarely scraps a burn, not to mention how easy it is to update and find ripped media info online.
So im going to add a +1 to that "piggyback software" mention. ~and the audio eq emulator isnt too shabby compared to some others.
It is funny though to get on someones computer and see a half dozen or more toolbars... and they wonder why their internet connection and computer is slow. All those toolbars are constantly sending information and doing noone knows what while the user is peeking at websites though a half of a window.. haha oh well.
mmrahman1985Jul 6th 2009 11:28PM
Hi This is really helpful.
Pallab DeJul 7th 2009 6:45AM
I used to love Bonzi Buddy. I was 13 or 14 at that time. And was a big fan of it. I was fully aware of its controversial side, but found it real fun. I made sure that Bonzi Buddy never got access to the net by blocking it with a firewall (had ZA at that time).
They don't make desktop buddies like that these days.
Broken ArrowJul 10th 2009 11:52AM
I agree to 100% what you are trying to say. Wish people knew what they really need and what they don't!
NickJul 25th 2009 9:25AM
SImple solution for computer illiterate people at work who use companys computers for there jobs: Put VMWare or Virtual PC on the computer and have them use this and lock out everything else so they are forced to use this, that way if something goes wrong you just delete the virtual harddrive and make a new one, OR use Deepfreeze it is a program that lets the user have full control over the computer but everytime you shut down or restart any thing that was originally done to the computer such as a toolbar that allows little trojans through will magically dissappear, and dont worry about haveing to save the little important things, just make a small peice of the harddrive that you leave unfrozen so they can save there documents, and that way if they save some virus infected program it wont affect the computer. same thing for a family member or friends, and educate them on this......or just tell them to take the computer back from where they got it and never use one again.