Look what Vista has done to the usually very good-natured Stephen Fry!
You wouldn’t want to listen to what I say out loud daily to this piece of shit PC — which runs XP.
For just one single twenty-four hour period, I pray for every Microsoft employee and programming contractor to break out in Job’s skin disease.
Those smug code-bloating bastards would get the message and quickly start fixing and slimming everything down afterwards!
In my continuing battle with this goddammed Microsoft-sabotaged PC, I called up Task Manager at one point early in the day and noticed something very strange.
RedSwoosh.exe was listed. But I’d seen that before.
This time, however, it was — when Task Manager was sorted to CPU usage — irregularly popping to the top at the list and eating 97-98% of CPU!
WTF?!!?
I did some research. Red Swoosh as a sole company no longer exists. It was purchased by Akamai and there is no way to get information about the program from them (at least that I could discover).
I remember a long time ago having Red Swoosh recommended somewhere for some sort of P2P app.
And then today I also discovered that Red Swoosh is used by the FoxTorrent plug-in. I have that plug-in, but never used it, and it’s been turned off.
So, I uninstalled the FoxTorrent plug-in and then I went to Control Panel and uninstalled RedSwoosh.exe.
I haven’t done comprehensive testing, but I can say for today, the PC has seemed peppier.
If any of you have been experiencing intermittent sluggishness on your PC, look for RedSwoosh.exe and uninstall it.
Picking up from chronicling Wayne MacPhail’s Linux misery yesterday, I excerpt his new blog post:
This is not my first run at Linux. Like Mike I’ve had it running on a Nokia 770, then 800 tablet computer and I’ve installed Ubuntu on a desktop system and a laptop, but each time I found that doing anything useful, like hooking up to a wireless network or installing a printer driver was a royal pain in the ass.
This time took the cake, though. How open source folks think Linux dialects like Linux Linpus are ready for prime time I’ll never understand. It is an OS for nerdboys, full stop. Look, I’ve been programming and using computers since I was using punchcards and this experience had me ripping out what’s left of my hair. God knows how an average user would cope. Well, just like I did, they’d march the computer back to the store. That can’t be good for the open source movement, and certainly wasn’t good for my nerves today.
Less than twenty-four hours later, he’s been vindicated.
Apricot drops ‘too complicated’ Linux from netbook line
“Apricot has made this decision to ensure customers have a smooth installation of their operating system,” the company told Register Hardware.
“The Linux version proved too complicated with initial testers, who would opt to purchase and install XP any way.
“Apricot believes that this will be a more attractive product offering for their target customers, because as soon as it is switched on, it is ready for use.”
Hey, admit it, Asus. You went with Linux because it was cheap — read: free — and it was a good club to beat Microsoft over the head with to get favorable license pricing for Windows XP.
Hell, even the Linux-based MIDs from Intel are being bashed. JKK of jkkmobile stripped the native Linux browser off his Aigo MID and installed Firefox. The experience is superior to the one he got out of the box. The mystery, of course, is why the hell Firefox wasn’t on it to begin with! See JKK’s video here.
And let’s get something straight here, all you people who flock here to read just one post: I’m no fan of Microsoft or Windows XP. Let this sink in too. And this.
Wayne MacPhail recently bought an Acer Aspire netbook with Linpus Linux Lite on it.
He was quite pleased with it in the beginning. His tweets were happy.
Then he tried to actually get more stuff onto the device and hit the wall today.
Wayne is a tech-savvy guy too. He’s doing a course that includes live streaming video, online coursework and discussion, the works. All of that stuff he set up on his own.
So for someone with some tech savvy like him to give up — well, that says volumes.
I have my own Linux scars, from the Nokia 770 Anti-Internet Tablet.
You couldn’t pay me to touch Linux ever again.
Now stripping Windows XP off one of these netbooks and installing Mac OS X — let’s go!
If I decide to do another blog after this one is put to sleep on 12/31/08, one thing I’ll have to be mindful of is to not pick a topic that’s going to grow like a goddammed aggressive cancer as the year progresses!
That’s what’s happened with my posts monitoring the economy.
What began as the fifth post on January 1st has grown to consume entire days.
Why can’t I get more non-Doom posts done?
It’s because of Microsoft.
This PC becomes increasingly hobbled with the passage of each day. Things I used to be able to do with sleek aplomb I can no longer do.
Just about everything I try to do has a multi-second delay running interference.
Posting is slower than it used to be.
Trying to edit a photo just about requires shutting down Firefox completely!
Trying to upload photos to both the WordPress blog and the Blogger backup blog is almost a heart-attack-inducing experience. Sometimes it takes up to thirty seconds for the file directory dialog to show me the photos! No, the hard drive does not spin during this. The entire PC acts as if it has been put into a state of stasis! No life at all. Except the sounds of my VERY LOUD SCREAMING at it.
Even trying to save something as simple as a screensnap has become hellish. I go to the Start menu and click on Paint (it’s nailed there). Seconds go by … and no Paint! I click on it again. Seconds pass. I scream!!! I get two instances of Paint!
Then when I tell it to save the BMP as a JPEG, I get the thirty-second file selector delay kicking in!
This shit is killing my biological incarnation.
Bill Maher has his New Rules.
I’d like a New Rule: For every multi-second delay I experience on this PC, someone at Microsoft should drop dead!
So now you know why Part Three is not appearing today.
And no, don’t tell me I have a virus or something. I’ve scanned the shit out of this PC. Had the Registry deep-cleaned. Nothing, nothing, nothing has helped.
So, all you smiley-smiley Microsofties who pollute the world with your utter shit — start dropping dead!
The Celio Redfly mobile companion has just been reduced to $199 in the PalmInfocenter store. Celio Corp is running a seed unit program offering the device for just $199 for a limited time. The Redfly connects up with your Windows Mobile smartphone over USB or Bluetooth to give you a larger keyboard and an 8-inch 800 x 480 pixel screen, all while utilizing the same apps and memory from your device. It also packs in a 4,500 mAh battery which typically lasts 8 hours and can also recharge your smartphone.
Celio Corp is running a seed unit program offering REDFLY to enterprise customers and individual users for just $199 – but only for a few weeks. That’s 50% off the normal MSRP of $399! After October 31, 2008 the price on the REDFLY will return to $399.
Why on earth are we doing this?
Well, a bunch of us were sitting around the conference room table early this week discussing how once someone actually tries a REDFLY for a few hours, they just don’t want to give it back. We also find that once someone has a REDFLY in their hands, they tend to do a lot of word-of-mouth marketing for us.
So, we thought, “Why don’t we take part of the marketing budget for a few weeks to subsidize a special seed program? That way we can get a large number of units out into the market, seed some mobile enthusiasts and get them to help spread the word by showing REDFLY to people.”
Emphasis added by me.
At that price, if I had a Windows Mobile compatible phone, I’d be real tempted.
I have to hand it to them for their thinking. I wish more tech companies thought like that!
Previously here:
Redflying At The Borg Hive
Redfly: I Don’t Get It. It’s Nuts!
Celio Redfly Gets Some Love
Redfly: No, It’s Still NOT V.D.!
Redfly: No, It’s Not V.D., It Just Sounds Like It
Being a Windows user reminds me a little bit of being chronically ill.
Yes! That sums up my ongoing Windows XP experience perfectly! Brilliant!!
Gerry’s satnav is GO!
Gerry Anderson never needs to call on International Rescue thanks to his TomTom satnav
There I am, happily reading this recent Q&A with one of my all-time idols, Gerry Anderson (I grew up on his TV shows!), and I hit this bad bump in the road:
Mac or PC?
I’m PC all the way.
Noooooooooo!
Photos taken Saturday, September 20, 2008 with the Philips crapcam.
Yes!! After waiting months and months and months, I finally encountered a real, live MSI Wind!
Since I’m probably the last frikkin person on the entire planet to do so, my observations probably don’t count for squat. Nevertheless …
At left is the hp Mini Note. The MSI Wind is just about the same size. It’s eerie. But as you can see, the MSI Wind’s screen sits higher, making the hp Mini Note look rather sad in comparison.
Left to right: hp Mini Note, MSI Wind, Asus 1000 EeePC. The MSI Wind has a glossy biohazard-inviting top cover. J&R left the plastic protector on it, but it didn’t cover the edges and the smearing was already evident. Inside and on the bottom, the plastic is matte and doesn’t do fingerprint magnetism.
Left to right: hp Mini Note, MSI Wind, Asus 1000, Sylvania ULCPC. The MSI Wind is noticeably lighter than both the boat anchor hp Mini Note and the Asus. In addition, the Asus is nearly the same width, but front to back it’s larger than the MSI Wind.
Two blur-o-licious photos of the keyboard. The thing about the keyboard that surprised me were the smaller keys for period and comma. The trackpad is responsive but seems small. The clickbar is a bit problematic. It’s thin, small, and really embedded in the top, with no overlap on the edge.
Build quality was excellent. My main test was simply typing on that keyboard, which was The Test for me. How was it? Spacing was excellent for me. After trying it, I went over to the Asus and over to the Acer Aspire One. It confirmed for me that the MSI Wind really has the best keyboard for me. Feedback is a wee bit harder than I’d like, but better than the Asus. And the spacing just killed both the Asus and the Aspire. I could really, really type on it.
If I was going to buy today, I’d get the MSI Wind. It really is what I’ve been waiting for in a netbook.
But now I’m on another wait-and-see. Next month Apple will unveil new MacBooks.
The point of the MSI Wind for me is to strip off Windows XP and replace it with Mac OS X.
But if Apple is going to unleash some lust-o-licious new aluminum-clad MacBooks next month, it only makes sense for me to wait and see what they offer and their prices. Why should I settle for shoehorning Mac OS X on an MSI Wind if I’d be able to get the real deal with no compromise and no fear of OS X updates (which might break the MSI Wind install!)?
Previously here:
Micro Fondle: Acer Aspire One At J&R
I Am Internationally Persecuted!
Videos: Mac OS X On MSI Video, Acer Aspire One
Lust Cramp Alert: New Mac OS X On MSI Wind Video!
MSI Wind & Mac OS X: I Ask The Stupid Questions
Jaw Drop Drool Alert: Mac OS X On Asus EeePC 1000H!
Microsoft’s Deliberate PC Sabotage
Fondle: Asus EeePC 1000 @ J&R
Reference: OS X Backup On USB Drive
Reference: MSI Wind Upgrades Video
OS X: MSI Wind Vs. Asus 1000H
Reference: MSI Wind Vs. Asus 1000H
MSI Wind: Fire Hazard?!
Micro Fondle: Asus 901 At J&R
Video: MSI Wind And Gigabyte M528 MID
MSI Wind = Ten-Inch Screen MacBook?
MSI Wind TV Ad
MSI Wind & Asus Eee 901 & Acer Aspire One Video
MSI Wind Unboxing Video
Video: Asus 901 Vs MSI Wind Vs hp Mini Note
MSI Wind At Computex 2008
MSI Caves In To My Threat
Quote: Meghan Clark
Asus Vs. MSI: The Battle Has Begun!
What A Difference A Year Makes!
MSI Wind Video Review From Italy
Micro Fondle: Lenovo U110, Dialogue Flybook, Asus e900
Fudzilla: MSI Wind Gets Thumbs Up!
MSI Wind Function Keys
The MSI Wind Manual!
Uh-Oh! MSI Wind With 3-Cell Battery Only?
Wherein I Threaten MSI!
Update 4: Subnotebook Dimensions
MSI Wind: Skins Available?
MSI Makes Me Gnash My Teeth!
Ton Of New MSI Wind Photos!
Keyboards: MSI Wind Vs. Asus EeePC
Asus e900 Versus MSI Wind
MSI Wind: Dissection Photos!
Picture Of The MSI Wind’s Insides!
MSI Wind: First Look With Video Fondle!
MSI Wind: Photos Of Black Version
MSI Wind: Photo Of Three Colors
New MSI Wind Photos!
MSI Wind Hits eBay In Italy
MSI Wind: $610 In U.S.?
Help Interrogate MSI About Its Wind!
Attention MSI: Wind Has Wings
MSI Wind: Photos And Video
MSI Wind = hp 2133 + Foleo?
NO HEROICS — go read Warren Ellis’s post.
I filched the YouTube from him, though:
Yeah. You’ll want a BitTorrent client now. I recommend Halite (if you run XP). (Note, I’m not a BitTorrent expert, but I found that client and it’s worked very well the rare times I’ve used it.)
Mike Cane 2008 
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