The 20 Most Annoying Tech Products

[p_l]

PC World has just done an article on The 20 Most Annoying Tech Products. The list includes AOL discs, Windows ME and Vista, Norton, Real and Quicktime, DRM, eBay, Bluetooth headsets and more. I would add frickin' PC World popups.

What are your top three?

[thecoalman]

Not specifically mentioned except for a Quicktime and and Real Player but any software that intalls multiple applications, start-up's etc. Seems printer and scanner installations are the worse. I pointed out in another thread that the downloadable intall file for my scanner is over 200MB, I mean WTF? BJ_M also pointed out that for Vista it's a mere 2 or 3 MB, guess they didn't have a chance to update all the crapware too.

[AlecWest]

In a word, Vongo. It was part of the bloatware installed on my HP notebook when I bought it. I uninstalled all the bloatware simply and easily ... except for Vongo. It kept trying to reinstall itself from files apparently located in the recovery partition. I was finally able to get rid of the thing following semi-complicated instructions gleened from various online sites and forums.

After Vongo would have to be my Lexmark X75 all-in-one printer which, over time, slowly deteriorated in how it processed text until it finally just died ... right after I installed brand new OEM inket cartridges, too (sigh). I'm hoping my new XP Color LaserJet 2600n will give me fewer problems.

Number 3 would have to be AOL disks. I didn't really mind them when they were still released on floppies since I could reformat them and use them (grin). But the CDs just filled up my garbage sack. It used to be that there were only two sure things in life - death and taxes. But in the latter 20th Century and now, it's death, taxes, and that sometime in your life, you WILL receive an AOL disk either in the mail ... or as a "bonus" (ahem) when you buy certain other software or hardware.

EDIT - Oh, yes, and number 4 ... programs sold by Canopus and/or Grass Valley that require either (A) online activation, or (B) the use of a dongle. I bought Canopus ProCoder Express and, just weeks later (literally), they stopped selling it ... and I was told by a Canopus rep that I shouldn't count on support for reactivation in the future. It requires online activation whenever you change computers or significantly upgrade your existing computer. In short, planned obsolesence. Also, Canopus ProCoder 2 requires use of a dongle ... and version 3 is coming out soon (I suspect with the same dongle requirement). But the rep also told me that they consider Edius as their flagship product of the future. In short, I suspect that Canopus ProCoder 2 & 3 users should prepare for the eventual abdication of support for their dongles.

P.S. FWIW, I've since found a way around their reactivation scenario ... and have tested it successfully. I paid for that software and, darn it, I plan to use it for as long as I see fit to use it.

[Nelson37]

KODAK easy share. Craptastic POS which periodically scans for pictures to upload, uploads to transmit, and updates to download.

I automatically remove this software even on machines which appear to be working normally.

Screensavers. Some work OK, but most are written by brain-dead idiots. Automatically removed without asking unless the PC is working perfectly with no problems, AND the customer really likes it. Explaining desktop wallpaper is usually the solution.

Certain variants of Cool Web Search software, the worst of which contained six levels of dormant reinstallation routines, able to re-infect the PC several days after initial cleaning. This SOB hid everywhere. If you have used CCCleaner, this is the one that nearly drove the writer nuts.

[ozymango]

The trial versions of any software that comes installed on a new PC, the kind that constantly tell you how good the full version is.

[redwudz]

Since I installed a software firewall, I now notice way too many programs that want to 'phone home' every other day. Now maybe they are just checking for updates, but it's irritating. My HP printer has at least 3 separate modules that want to check in. And not just at boot. HP, especially, has a pop-up at random times to remind me to check in, even if I haven't used the printer all day. Java, Adobe Acrobat, both insist on continually checking for updates. Adobe and Java are apparently trying to sneak in a connection without even asking.

If I was more paranoid, I would wonder if that is all they are doing? Which I do, so I guess I am.

In the case of Java and Adobe Acrobat, which are major bloatware anyway, I keep thinking, what do they want to update? Aren't their files big enough anyway? What more do they think they can stuff in there?

Sorry, just my rant.

[MOVIEGEEK]

MS Works(after 2000):easily the most bloated POS Microsoft ever produced.Works 8 came preloaded on my laptop and it does nothing that Office cannot do and it is sloooooow.The early versions were ok until Office 2000 came out then what was the point of developing Works anymore?I realize it's a "poormans" Office but save your money and use OpenOffice.

A close second is DRM:Why can't I play songs that I LEGALLY purchased in my car or DVD players?I shouldn't have to convert them in order to listen to them how I please.

BTW...it looks like DRM is the biggest annoyance so far: http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/004055.html

[edDV]

Dare we say Pinnacle Studio?
This product never seems to get fixed. They just release another buggy version.

[p_l]

If I was more paranoid, I would wonder if that is all they are doing? Which I do, so I guess I am.

In the case of [...] Adobe Acrobat, which [is] major bloatware anyway, I keep thinking, what do they want to update? Aren't their files big enough anyway? What more do they think they can stuff in there?

Sorry, just my rant.

Just because you might be paranoid doesn't mean they're not still out to get you.

In the case of Adobe Acrobat, a drive-by install (just about, if your not careful UNcheck the defaults) of crippled trial starter editions...



or those "helpful" free browser add-ons until you're in toolbar hell, like we've all seen on some chick computers. :P





Yeah, Pinnacle, definitely, and let's not forget Roxio VideoWave and its infamous audio sync bug.

[redwudz]

I love that shot of browser addons gone amok. I have ripped out most similar ones like that that installed in the past. That reminds of the freeware IP, NetZero, where a third of the screen is taken up by NZ crap. I found a easy cure for that at work where I have dual monitors. I can move the browser to the second monitor and have it in full screen mode and leave the NZ stuff on the first screen. I just use NZ for emergency backup if my cable goes down.

I dislike IE 7 for that as it adds another line, which is one of the major reasons I didn't want browser addons. I managed to uninstall IE 7 and went back to IE 6. I'm using a crippled version of the Google addon, but at least I can easily kill it if needed. And my software firewall won't let it 'phone home'.

I installed a freeware Acrobat alternative, Foxit Reader 2.0: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php It is freeware in it's basic reader form and is considerably smaller and faster (And less irritating) than Acrobat.

[SatStorm]

My top 3 list is:

1- DRM (and especially HDCP). I don't need to say more...

2 - Norton Antivirus: After the 2003 edition it turned to be more of a nightmare itself than a virus protection.

3 - RealPlayer. A very annoying thing... Maybe that was the inspiration for Crazy Frog's nick name...