Activity for November 3

Review - Capture .NET Free
6.9.3592 (Nov 3, 2009)

Nice app, but the text is far too small to read without a magnifying glass. The author apparently believes tiny text looks cool, but in reality it just looks small. If you're over 18, don't try it without your glasses.
Review - RealWorld Paint.COM
2008.1 (Oct 27, 2009)

This is a nice little paint program. Plenty of tools and functions, does everything you need 99% of the time for painting and editing photos. Once installed, copied to a new folder, and uninstalled, it's portable! I rate it right up there with Photofiltre and paint.net.
Review - Google Chrome for Windows
4.0.221.6 Beta (Oct 8, 2009)

Tried it 3 times, and it's "just OK". Very bland, short on features, but competent.

Chrome Plus, however it much better. WIth a few more improvements in tab features, it could be as powerful as Maxthon2. Chrome rates a 3, ChromePlus gets a 4.
Review - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
1.41 (Sep 11, 2009)

This is one of the best at not only detecting malware, but removing it. After using it for nearly a year, I have yet to get a false positive.
Review - WeatherMate
3.3.4 (Aug 22, 2009)

I like the program size, portability, and the setup options. It's clean,,, no ads or junk come with it.

I don't like the tiny radar map size. I'm used to seeing weather radar down to street level.

I suppose it could be useful if your work computer blocks the web, and this is all you can get.
Comment - The .NET Future…What it means for you
3.3.4 (Jun 25, 2000 - 11:45 AM)

I think this one is not going to be well received! Looks like MS's goals are two fold: 1., to keep monthly income coming in from millions of people forever, and 2., to keep control over their software and customer base.
Well, I don't think most people will go for this. I agree with the poster that mentioned this is nothing more than reinvented time sharing. Microsoft's modus operandi in the past has been to entice millions of people to get hooked on inexpensive software, then drop the hammer. Sure, a few lamers will go for such a ploy, but most people will be extremely wary of trusting the Internet. As sure as you have an important job to do, the damn thing will go down for 2 hours. Or you wake up one morning and the price has doubled.
Comment - Windows Me Goes Gold
3.3.4 (Jun 19, 2000 - 10:55 PM)

99%? Get real! I have hand-picked, top quality components in my computer, and I can tell you that ME is only marginally stable enough to release. Scanner buttons don't work (Epson, HP), many installation programs simply don't work, programs crash, MS Publisher 2K doesn't work right, several programs (including ACDSee) aren't able to grab window focus properly. The MS Intellipoint software doesn't work right. The MS Intellitype software doesn't install. There are way too many "Explorer Crashes". Want more? There's a lot more! MS stopped including their Release Notes 2 or 3 builds ago, and I know why. It's because they have chosen to ignore many issues that were formerly under investigation, and wanted to keep this quiet. OK, it's a nice OS. It has some great features, and I'll end up using it. However, it's *far* from being finished and bug-free. It needed 2 or 3 more builds for de-bugging. Shame on MS for not going the extra mile for their customers and resolving more bugs.
Comment - Microsoft Ordered to Split Into Two Companies
3.3.4 (Jun 7, 2000 - 11:03 PM)

Maybe the people are, maybe they aren't capable of learning to install Linux on their machines. That's not the point. They don't WANT to use Linux. Linux doesn't run the software they have been collecting since 1994, and are familiar with. They don't WANT to throw away 6 years of learning Windows for a half-done OS that doesn't support their hardware and software. MS has the people addicted to Windows, plain and simple. MS knows it, and can manipulate things and capitalize on that addiction in an unfair way. Some day, this will not be the case, as Linux and perhaps Be OS will more usable and mainstream. But right now, Windows has no competition save for Linux used by a few of us.
Comment - Microsoft Ordered to Split Into Two Companies
3.3.4 (Jun 7, 2000 - 9:36 PM)

The real truth is that Windows IS a monopoly. Over 90% of the world's computers would turn into paper weights without it. MS dictates to all the hardware and software developers of the world, and they are powerless to argue with MS. Windows is a monopoly as certainly as your electric and water services. They have you by the balls, because there are no VIABLE alternatives to Windows. Sure, there are a few geeks like us that use Linux, but geeks like us are a tiny minority of computer users. Grandma and Uncle Ned don't want to fiddle with Linux or other works-in-progress. They want their scanners, cameras, TV cards, 3D games, fancy keyboards, and cheap sound cards to work INSTANTLY. They want a HUGE VARIETY of CHEAP but very good software to do every little chore imaginable. They want to use what their friends and family use, so they can learn together, help, and be helped with popular hardware and software. Windows is a monopoly for sure, but I'm not so sure this breakup is good for the average user. Time will tell...
Comment - Norton Personal Firewall Beta Testing Opens
3.3.4 (May 20, 2000 - 5:36 PM)

I've been wishing for a more usable personal firewall, so thanks to Betanews for pointing me to it. It's a little bloated, but it's easy to configure and not as confusing as some. Unlike BlackIce, it leaves me feeling confident that it's actually working. Unlike Zonealarm, it doesn't totally entangle your Internet Connection Sharing and leave me no choice but to uninstall it. This may be the magic bullet I was looking for. Time will tell, but right now I'm pretty happy with it.