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The Pit Blog

From Bloat To Craplet

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trash.jpg

From bloatware to craplets seems like a logical progression for unwanted waste. Are computer manufacturers finally taking this logical approach to removing the crap-lets they’ve been dumping on us?

Yesterday I was setting up a new laptop for a friend. I wanted to get it out of the box and make sure there were no problems accessing the Internet. After testing and timing the laptops used for our last look at bloatware, I was worried that my friend would end up with a mess. Surprisingly the first boot went smoother than I expected. There was no flood of pop-ups or junk. Humph!

From Bloat To Craplet Read More »

Trashed From The Factory Straight To Your Doorstep

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Recently my focus has been on how the computer manufacturers are clogging our machines with boatware and craplets. My most recent look at this problem was disheartening to say the least. Instead of continuing to whine, I decided to see what I could do about the problem.

I started with a Sony VAIO VGN-NR185 laptop. The same one used in the �From Bloat To Craplet� article. This first laptop uses an Intel Core2 Duo 1.6 GHz processor and 1024 MB of memory. I’ve always liked the VAIO from Sony but the recent problem with craplets and Sony’s position on DRM has led me to safer alternatives. I wanted to see how much time it took to clear this machine of the headaches installed by Sony.

Trashed From The Factory Straight To Your Doorstep Read More »

Help! Help!! Save my XP!!!

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Save XP!

THIS WEEK’S HOT MICROSOFT STORY:

Windows PC users are reacting to the news that beginning in June…

…Microsoft is going come over to your house and beat you with a stick if you don’t start using their new (but horribly slow and flawed) operating system called Windows Vista.

And this is no joke:

Because after Microsoft REFUSES TO ALLOW COMPANIES TO SELL COMPUTERS WITH WINDOWS XP INSTALLED in June…

…they’re going to stop SUPPORTING the copy of Windows XP you have on your EXISTING computer on April 14, 2009, just a year from now.

Help! Help!! Save my XP!!! Read More »

Microsoft – It’s Go Time!

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I received this email the other day from an old associate.

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Dear Rob,

Why does PC Pitstop keep bashing Vista? Isn’t it like biting the hand that feeds you?

Your Pal,

XXXX XXXX
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This email really gave me a pause because they are right. It hit me like a ton of bricks. PC Pitstop needs Vista to be successful. We are part of the Windows eco system, and in many ways, it is not in our interest to bash Vista. But on the other hand, it is not in my nature nor the company’s DNA to ignore the realities of Vista.

Microsoft – It’s Go Time! Read More »

Windows 98 Turns 70 In Dog Years

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This year marks the 10th anniversary of windows 98. Because of this and the fact that Vista is getting so much press, albeit negative, we decided to do an actual comparison using Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, just to get a true idea of how far technology has progressed. The results might be surprising to some of you and were certainly an eye-opener for me.

Windows 98 Turns 70 In Dog Years Read More »