Activity for November 4

Review - WinPatrol
15.0.2008.0 (Apr 25, 2008)

Been using this program since version 9.x and cannot live without it.

Not only will it give you real-time warnings of any changes being made to your system, but the PLUS version offers a huge database of information on all the files which it detects. I paid for this program and cannot praise it highly enough. The new version has ActiveX controls for IE as well.

Also, the developer is a wonderful guy who really knows his stuff and you should check out his blog.
Review - avast! Home
4.8.1169 (Mar 31, 2008)

A couple of weeks ago my computer began hanging every time I booted up and finally I had to take it to my local PV repair shop. The techs there are excellent and have done very good work for me in the past.

Anyway, when I went back to pick up the PC, the tech told me that my problem had been caused by my Norton Antivirus, which has essentially "broken" the machine.

They fixed it by completely removing all traces of Norton, and installing Avast instead, which they told me was their preference. It's been working great so far, has already saved me from an online attack and I upgraded to this new version this morning.

I rarely write reviews, but I have to say this is a very reliable antivirus program. And the price is right too. ;)
Review - FreeRAM XP Pro
1.52 (Updated) (Mar 28, 2006)

I Have not tried this program, however:

RAM RAM Optimizers/Defragmenters

Myth - "Increasing the amount of available RAM improves performance."

Reality - "RAM Optimizers have no effect, and at worst, they seriously degrade performance. Although gaining more available memory might seem beneficial, it isn't. As RAM Optimizers force the available-memory counter up, they force other processes' data and code out of memory.

Say that you're running Word, for example. As the optimizer forces the available-memory counter up, the text of open documents and the program code that was part of Word's working set before the optimization (and was therefore present in physical memory) must be reread from disk as you continue to edit your document.

The act of allocating, then freeing a large amount of virtual memory might, as a conceivable side effect, lead to blocks of contiguous available memory. However, because virtual memory masks the layout of physical memory from processes, processes can't directly benefit from having virtual memory backed by contiguous physical memory.

As processes execute and undergo working-set trimming and growth, their virtual-memory-to-physical-memory mappings will become fragmented despite the availability of contiguous memory."

The source of this article can be found at:

http://mywebpages.comcas.../SupportCD/XPMyths.html
Review - CCleaner
1.28.277 (Mar 24, 2006)

You Should NEVER Clean out the Prefetch folder; and here's why:

http://mywebpages.comcas.../SupportCD/XPMyths.html

Also:

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000743.html
Review - SlickRun
3.9.6.2 Beta (Nov 2, 2005)

I haven't tried this program, so I cannot comment on it specificaly. However, correct me if I'm wrong, but is it not possible to write simple batch files anymore ?

I wrote a small batch file which would open my mail client by simply typing "MAIL" about 10 years ago.

I guess my age must be shoing here...hmmm...
Comment - Internet Explorer slows down again: Is Microsoft messing up IE's JavaScript?
3.9.6.2 Beta (Nov 4, 2009 - 11:30 AM)

@PC_Tool

Thanks for taking the time to post your helpful reply. I'm still running XP Pro on an old box and use the machine for very basic daily chores, such as browsing, email, some business, etc. (My wife is up to speed on her big Vista PC) I will probably buy a new computer with W7 sometime next year, although I read on the TweakXP forum that MSFT is already planning SP1 for W7 sometime early in the new year; so like many "home users" I may wait at least until that happens.

I stopped using IE years ago...back in the days of Netscape 4.x, and switched to Firefox once the developers abandoned Netscape. FF has an add-on called "IE Tabs" which can replicate the IE engine and work on sites which require IE, such as Windows Updates.

My concern is more for security rather than speed and if IE8 proves to be more safe and secure than FF, then I might consider making the switch.

Thanks again for the serious reply to my question.
Comment - Internet Explorer slows down again: Is Microsoft messing up IE's JavaScript?
3.9.6.2 Beta (Nov 3, 2009 - 5:21 PM)

@PC-Tool

Actually, I'd be interested to learn about the three "what I use it for" reasons for which you make the decision to use each of those browsers. Just interested to hear about the strengths & benefits from your POV.

Thanks ;)
Comment - Composers await Thursday release of radically updated Notion software
3.9.6.2 Beta (Sep 23, 2009 - 12:17 PM)

That's nice...but here's how it looked after the initial ink had just dried in 1722.

As the song says: "There ain't nothin like the real thing."

http://www.uh.edu/engines/bachpreludeinc.jpg

(First Prelude from "The Well Tempered Clavier")
Comment - If Microsoft sold a lifestyle, would you buy it?
3.9.6.2 Beta (Sep 17, 2009 - 11:55 PM)

Culvers ?? Carl's Junior ??

We don't have those here in the Big East. Sounds like the fast-food equivalent of Linux ;P

OK...

Chicken or Steak ?

D.C or Marvel ?

Marx Brothers or Three Stooges ?

Chunky or Creamy ?

Toilet Paper off the roller: Over or Under ? (VERY important. A real deal-breaker)

Boxers or briefs ?

Cash or Credit ?

Cowboys or Giants ?

And finally...the grandaddy of them all...

Coke or Pepsi ?

Please hurry, it's past my bedtime ;)
Comment - If Microsoft sold a lifestyle, would you buy it?
3.9.6.2 Beta (Sep 17, 2009 - 7:53 PM)

In the spirit of this as well as other recent...umm..."provocative articles designed to make us think about this kind of important stuff, I'd like to suggest a few important issues which might be good topics to consider; such as:

Paper or plastic ?

MacDonald's or Burger King ? (We'll be sure to hear from the Wendy's fanboys on that one.)

Beatles or Rolling Stones ?

Jay Leno at 10:00 or 11:00 ?

Should I upgrade from my old wooden rake to a fiberglass one for this autumn's leaf-raking ? (We'll probably hear from the leaf-blower fans on this one)

Comet or Ajax ?

Laces or Moccasins ?

My Sam's Club membership is expiring soon. Should I renew, or switch to BJ's ?

Please feel free to add to this list. Perhaps they'll do an in-depth, provocative and thought-provoking article on one of them.