Old Weird Ward
Unless otherwise noted, that which is posted here is opinion, which is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. If you don't like my opinions, go somewhere else. Nobody is forcing you to actually read this drivel.
The presumption exists that you can read at all.
That may be a large assumption.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
- - - - - The Future of Windows - - - - -
At least one half of my working day is spent dealing with customers' PCs that are running one of the various flavors of Windows - 98, 98SE, Millenium, or XP Home. These systems come with all sorts of hardware, but almost all of them have one big problem in common.
Spyware.
This stuff is nasty, folks, and it's gotten to be a real PITA, professionally speaking.
Oh, I suppose I should be grateful, because swatting that stuff, or at least attempting to swat the stuff, provides me with a paycheck. But y'know what? It's a little too much like cleaning up the street after a horse parade. Lots and lots of "stuff" laying about, and all I've got to clean it up with is a garden trowel.
This does not bode well for the future of Microsoft Windows.
The folks who "lead the way" are becoming less and less forgiving about the security holes in Windows that allow this kind of crap to clog up a system, affect performance, and crash the OS. Bob Thompson has his thoughts on Windows HERE.
| Microsoft has permanently lost the trust, not just of experts, but of ordinary people. Windows is perceived as something you use because you have to, not because you want to. Not a few people have actually stopped using computers and the Internet because they find it too painful to continue using Windows and Microsoft applications. No one, not even Aunt Minnie, trusts Microsoft software any more. |
Why should we trust Bob Thompson's opinion? He's the author of PC Hardware In A Nutshell (see it HERE) - a long-time hardware geek who HAS to use Windows to evaluate hardware and get screenshots for his book.
And he hates Windows.
Reluctantly, I feel the same way. I use Windows because I have to. But.... I do have Xandros, installed, and running. I do use it. And, if I could dump Windows completely, I certainly would.
In the meantime, since I must use Windows, I protect myself as best I can.
I use AVG antivirus - a freebie - get it HERE.
I use Spybot Search and Destroy - another freebie - get it here. Be sure to enable Tea Timer, which protects the Registry.
I use a hardware firewall, and monitor it carefully.
So, I'm covered. But too many of my customers bring in totally trashed machines, and I have to tell them that we have to wipe it slick and start all over again.
I hate doing that.
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