constant updates + bloated web pages

[joecass]

Is it just me, or is anyone else sick of the constant updates from companies like Adobe and Microsoft ?
I run different systems, two XP, one Vista and several Windows 7 computers; seems like every time I
turn one on, there is an update waiting. Adobe is especially annoying, sometimes twice a week updates
to Reader and/or Flash Player. I understand the concern for eliminating viruses and security measures,
however I would think after so many years of writing code, these people should be able to make it
bullet-proof.
Secondly: when I first got DSL many years ago, it was lightning-fast. Now I find myself waiting - not
for web pages to load, but for advertisements, which seem to take up more and more page space.
After eliminating pop-ups, now we're subjected to constant Flash animation and other nonsense
cluttering things up. My DSL is starting to remind me of Dial-Up...... this can't be good !

[hech54]

I have CS3 and Windows XP....can't think of my last Adobe update....and my last Windows update was about two weeks ago. Go through your startup menu and services and start turning stuff off.

[El Heggunte]

As 4 Micro$oft: DON'T use the Automagic Updates --- case solved

As for Adobe: use the (unofficial) LITE distribution of Adobe Reader 9.4.0 ; disable its Javascript engine, AND never let it be called by your web browsers

As for the AJAX-driven pages: 1) edit the hosts file, OR... 2) disable Javascript for the most problematic sites, OR... 3) try to convince the devilopers to go back to the good and olde Netscape days
( when the pages DID NOT have to wait for the "helpful words from our sponsors" )

P.S.: Now we know who they do work for