18 Windows Annoyances I Could Do Without
August 10, 2009 at 08:08:47 AM, by Gilberto J. Perera
As a Windows user for the past 12 years there comes a time when it is difficult not to list the number things that annoy me about Windows.
This article is such a list, it is a compilation of different Windows annoyances that may have been fixed over the past couple of versions or are still plaguing Windows users today. In no way is this a "bash Windows" article - I am perfectly happy with Windows XP and the upcoming version 7. Notice I skipped Vista…hint, hint.
If you have any other annoyance you think should be a part of this list, please feel free to post it below.
1. Windows Lobotomy
I say lobotomy because each time I perform a clean install of any Windows version I remove and/or disable a ton of software and services that I will never use or have free replacements for that do a much better job.
2. Thou Shall Suffer When Thou Upgradeth
I’ve been through the past 6 versions of Windows (98, Millennium Edition, 2000, XP, Vista, and now 7) and I can’t remember ever having a seamless upgrade from one version to the next. The only upgrades that are seamless are the ones that begin with format c: and ends with the lobotomy mentioned above. I do admit that hardware support has improved in newer versions of Windows, a lot of times you can just install a device and Windows will have a driver for it.
3. Before You Do Anything I Shall Ask You a Million Times, AKA - User Account Control
Probably one of the most annoying ways to keep computer illiterate people from hurting themselves. Unless disabled, User Account Control will nag you about everything. Luckily Microsoft has allowed users to modify the level of annoyance in Windows 7.
4. Can’t We All Just Listen to the Same Music? Interoperability of WMA/MP4/iPod
This is a tricky one, because it falls under Apple’s court as well. If I buy WMA (DRM’d) music I will have difficulty playing it on an iPod, the same goes for the .MP4 format used by the iPod that cannot be played on my Sansa music player.
5. Now You See It, Now You Don’t
One of the things that bug me to this day is that I have to hit the Alt key whenever I want to use the standard menus in Explorer. I know that Microsoft was going for a minimalist look and aesthetics, but it is something that I have been asked about more frequently than I like by people who are used to their old menus.
6. Can’t You Stay On All the Time?
I would love to leave my computer on indefinitely so that I never have to wait for a boot up screen; of course leaving the computer on indefinitely comes with performance issues.
##ADSENSE##7. BitLocker Use of Separate Partitions (Vista)
Issues that were resolved in Windows 7, but are still a pain for Windows Vista users due to the requirement of an additional partition and the work to set it up.
8. Susceptibility to Viruses, holes, etc.
Sometimes it seems that Windows is like a big star field, full of holes and vulnerabilities (the star field being a black canvas with holes punched in it). I wish that for once (Windows 7, I have my fingers crossed), we can get a product that doesn’t require patch after patch to cover up vulnerabilities.
9. Gadgets Suck
Introduced with Windows Vista and left the same in 7RC, you would at least think that the base gadgets would have been upgraded in 7, all they’ve done is allowed you to move it from the gadget bar…wow!
10. The Darn Restart after Installation of Hardware and Software
Why can’t we just install software or hardware (hardware referred to are barcode scanners, printers, certain peripherals, and memory devices)? I’d like to install a program and not have to worry about the installation of a subsequent program causing problems with the computer and wreaking havoc in the registry.
11. The Fast Boot Up Times
As Borat would say, “NOT!” One of the biggest complaints about Windows is the amount of time it takes to boot up. All you have to do is Google “speed up Windows” and the number of results is mind numbing. I know that Microsoft has attempted to mitigate this by improving Sleep mode, but at the end of the day you still have to deal with #10 above.
12. Resource Requirements for Vista
Unless you have a computer with a lot of oomph, you will not be able to fully experience Vista and all of the visual enhancements. You need a decent video card and plenty of resources (RAM/processor speed) in order for Vista to ‘feel’ fast and even then, XP blows by Vista. Again Microsoft has made improvements with service packs for Vista that improve the overall experience, the point is it should have been fast from day one, not two service packs later.
13. Patches and Updates
This one goes along with #8 in that if there were no holes, no vulnerabilities, there wouldn’t be a need for patches or updates. I’m not saying that Microsoft has to be perfect, but darn don’t give me hundreds of patches to download for the life of the product.
14. Windows Genuine Advantage
Introduced in XP to help prevent the spread of pirated versions of Windows, Windows Genuine Advantage did more harm than good. WGA created a hardware profile of your computer and matched it to your serial number, if there was a drastic change to your computer, say, you changed the video card for newer one, WGA would check the profile and see a change, it would then require the user to re-activate Windows in order to continue using it…quite a pain. Although a novel concept, Microsoft did not take into account the number of times that Windows users would change hardware or make drastic changes that triggered WGA validation.
15. Spring cleaning to get that new computer feel again.
After a couple of months of program installations/uninstalls, moving thousands of files around, and hundreds of patches, Windows begins to feel rather slow. The easiest way to resolve this is to perform a clean install and start anew, but why should I feel compelled to do this when the computer slows down and the errors get out of hand…this should not be an issue in the first place.
16. Microsoft Bloat
The Apple commercials that made fun of Windows bloat were not far from the truth. A typical Windows Vista installation requires 12GB of hard drive space, OS X a little less, and Ubuntu can be installed from a CD - do the math.
17. Four Flavors of Confusion and Rip Off
With the increasing use of Ubuntu in Netbooks and Google’s foray into the world of the operating systems, you would think that Microsoft will do all it can to include as many features as possible in an affordable package. Why do they have to segment great features and force users to buy the more expensive version? I know the money, but it ticks off the customer. Why would I need to get Vista Business to use Remote Desktop at home…that is just wrong. How many people have more than one PC at home?
18. No direct upgrade path from Windows XP from Windows 7
Need I say more…As of today there will be no direct upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7, migration tools are great, but are they really?
Page:1/1
Stay up-to-date with the latest mobile technology news and laptop reviews with our free newsletter! Get free tips, news and information from Laptop Logic and find the best laptop deals online.
Comments
There are no comments yet.