Hall of Shame - by Ed Bott

[whs]

I’m in the process of rebuilding a PC here—blowing out dust, upgrading some hardware, restoring the OS to factory-new condition, and installing fresh copies of apps I use regularly.

Along the way, I keep running into a sleazy trick that some software vendors play, and I’ve finally reached the breaking point. I am sick and tired of companies that try to make a quick buck by tricking their customers into installing software they don’t need. I’m experienced enough to bypass this stuff most of the time, but many of my friends and family members aren’t. And guess who gets the call when some add-on or toolbar has slowed their system to a crawl?

More...

 

[z3r010]

I wonder if Ed Bott would work for free, the options are there not to install the toolbars etc and without this freeware funding most programs would cost us all money and there would be millions more virus ridden PC's due to all the extra cracks used.

 

[Lordbob75]

I wonder if Ed Bott would work for free, the options are there not to install the toolbars etc and without this freeware funding most programs would cost us all money and there would be millions more virus ridden PC's due to all the extra cracks used.

Perhaps, but it is still really irritating.

~Lordbob

 

[Brink]

I wonder if Ed Bott would work for free, the options are there not to install the toolbars etc and without this freeware funding most programs would cost us all money and there would be millions more virus ridden PC's due to all the extra cracks used.

The program developers have to cover their costs somehow in order to provide the programs for free. I don't think it's to much trouble to have to uncheck a simple box during the program's installation in order to get the program for free. It just requires actually reading everything while installing to do so.

 

[Lordbob75]

It just requires actually reading everything while installing to do so.

This is the problem though.

While I can understand that it covers costs, I still find it really irritating...

~Lordbob

 

[Brink]

LOL, true, but it's a minor trade-off to uncheck them to get it for free.

 

[Lordbob75]

LOL, true, but it's a minor trade-off to uncheck them to get it for free.

I suppose this is true, and since I read it it's not a big deal

~Lordbob

 

[mickey megabyte]

maybe you shouldn't be installing software if you just blindly click 'next'...'next' and can't be bothered to read the screens...

 

[johnwillyums]

" It just requires actually reading everything while installing."

Agreed; but a lot of non-geeks don't, or don't realize they don't need all these tool-bars etc. They don't really know that it's not part of what I've recommended they download and install.Then they get back to me saying how do I get rid of this tool bar? or, can you come round and put my home screen back the way it was? etc.

I take your point that these little guys need to make some money for providing us with great free software but what's Adobe's excuse? J

 

[whs]

I always tell everybody to go with the custom installation and not the (recommended) default. But many think that is too "advanced" for them. Then I tell them you have to be either rich (so that you can buy the programs) or smart (so that you can deal with the free offerings). But being poor and dumb is not a good combination - that, of course, I do not say. LOL

 

[outlawed]

CCleaner is an unnecessary program? ROFL. If anything CCleaner has dramatically improved not only my computer speeds, but my privacy as well.

 

[johnwillyums]

Nobody said that CCleaner is an unnecessary program.
The discussion is around the various tool bars, home pages and other things that come in the installer for some packages of freeware and get installed automatically unless you are vigilant and opt out of them.

 

[gregrocker]

Uncheck here if you don't want to not have the Toolbar.

Now uncheck here if you want to agree to our License and still don't want to not have the toolbar.

Seriously, it can take paying close attention for years to learn all of the tricks, and then they come up with new ones.

Yet I am completely cool with manufacturer's larding on the sponsored bloatware to keep prices ridiculously low (perfect widescreen Toshiba lappies or Acer towers for $349) as it has given me a whole new mission in life and keeps us busy here.

 

[Wallonn7]

LOL, true, but it's a minor trade-off to uncheck them to get it for free.

The problem is that sometimes uncheck the boxes does not relieve us of some of these "inconveniences". Ask toolbar, for example, although we deny permission for its installation still creeps into the hidden system folders. And it's not uncommon to be surprised to find it there when we open the browser.

 

[noobvious]

It just requires actually reading everything while installing to do so.

This is the problem though.

While I can understand that it covers costs, I still find it really irritating...

~Lordbob

What is that juggling ape....another unchecked option?

 

[Lordbob75]

It just requires actually reading everything while installing to do so.

This is the problem though.

While I can understand that it covers costs, I still find it really irritating...

~Lordbob

What is that juggling ape....another unchecked option?

That purple juggling ape is a necessary component of every computer.

~Lordbob

 

[Hopalong X]

The purple gorilla replaces the "Search" doggy for Windows 8.

 

[whs]

Looks like one of those iternet polluters that I sometimes see in mails that were sent with Incredimail.

 

[Lordbob75]

The purple gorilla replaces the "Search" doggy for Windows 8.

~Lordbob

 

[Mike Connor]

Where can I get the free lobster dinner?

YouTube - Numa Lobster Dance - stop motion

Will I need a shell command?

Regards....Mike Connor