Solutions

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Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader is bloatware

October 6, 2010 in Info Tech, Opinions, Solutions | 3 comments

[East Africa]
FOR THE LOVE of god, what on earth is Adobe doing with its free Acrobat Reader? Honestly, I haven’t a fuc*ing clue why naive users download this piece of crap software! Seriously. First of all, it’s a bloody 40 MB download. Excuse me, but I thought the purpose of this program was to allow me to “view” PDF files. WTF!? By the way, the word on the street is that Adobe’s PhotoShop and other Creative Suite apps have gone mondo pork-belly over the past few years.

Goodbye Acrobat Reader, Hello Foxit PDF Reader…
Well, thank goodness we live in a world where software development is an extremely competitive field. Folks, please say hello to an amazing PDF reader that does everything Acrobat does and a lot more. All you need to know is that it’ll open your PDF files without any fuss. You can even annotate your PDF documents and then re-save them.Ya don’t believe me? Well, take a peek at the screen shot below. You’ll see my edited text in blue. Try that in Acrobat Reader. Psst…you can’t do it!

Editing & viewing a PDF in Foxit Reader - Goodbye Adobe Acrobat Reader!

It’s obvious that Foxit Reader is a well-crafted piece of software. My hats off to the company’s developers for keeping things on the “slim side” of things — if ya know what I mean. Heck, version 4.11 is only 6.8 MB and version 3 last year was like 3.6 MB. Acrobat Reader, you are hereby banished from my hard disk – forever!

Oh kool…they even have a version for Desktop Linux, Windows Mobile, Embedded Linux, Symbian, Windows CE & U3. Nice. And if you want to create your own PDF files without having to plunk down a pile of cash for Acrobat 9 Standard at $299, then you should take their $129 Foxit Phantom PDF Suite for a spin. I’m sure it’ll do a waay better job than that Adobe’s $299 app.

Foxit Reader banner

About the company behind Foxit Reader…

In 2004, Foxit launched its award winning product – Foxit Reader, a small and fast PDF document viewer with extremely easy-to-use features and Foxit’s best-selling desktop software – Foxit PDF Editor. With over 90 million Foxit Reader downloads worldwide, Foxit software has become a high quality, affordable and popular alternative to other PDF software tool suppliers. {source}

90 million downloads? Wow, I’m bloody impressed. Well folks, don’t say I didn’t warn you about the largess Adobe Acrobat Reader. Repent, and use Foxit Reader instead. :-)

Other bloated applications

Related links…

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Solution to Annoying UAC message in Windows 7

March 8, 2010 in Info Tech, Solutions | 2 comments

[East Africa]
IF YOU EVER TRY to run a program from a software publisher that you know is legit, yet Windows 7 gives you that annoying UAC (User Account Control) nag message, then try installing the program somewhere else instead of  C:\Program Files.Giraffes in Samburu National Park - Kenya

I got that tip over here. BTW, here’s that annoying message:

“Do you want to allow the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to your computer?

Duh, I said yes the last 20 times!! At least remember my selection for this particular program file. In this case, QuickBooks 2003 (file: qbw32.exe). Other than this, Windows 7 rocks!! Really. Yo Micro$oft, what took you so long? Congrats on a fabulous product.

OTOH, I’m still a 100% happy Linux Mint user. This Windows 7 was loaded on my pal’s sexy iMac 24″ system. I’ve simply had enough of Windows’ penchant for nasty “ware” ( trojans, worms, viruses, malware et al). I soon plan on taking PCBSD 8.0 for a spin. I can’t wait to get the full power of Unix — courtesy of the FreeBSD Project — on my desktop in a sleek KDE setup.

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10 Great Open Source Windows apps

February 20, 2010 in Info Tech, Reviews, Solutions | 1 comment

[Gachie, Kenya]
ALTHOUGH I’M NOW in bed with Linux, my sorry-ass Windows buddies still enjoy being punished by trojan/virus/malware/worm infested Windows apps courtesy of Micro$oft’s disinterest in security going back to the early 1990s.

If you’re a glutton for punishment, then go ahead and run their over-bloated Office suite with its bevy of macro viruses and bugs that’ll make the unsanitary conditions of Mathare’s flying toilets green with envy. Ok, maybe I’m over-exaggerating things a little in comparing material waste to digital waste. :-)

By the way, Outlook is such a pussy when its PST file grows unusually large. One screw up and you’re FUBAR — fu!ked up beyond all recognition. All email data — gone. You already know about the gaping security holes in Internet Explorer, right? Well, suit yourself!

Windows is a lot like Kenyan politics: Buggy, bloated & unreliable!

Free, functional & open…
What, you’re still using Windows? Well, try these 10 free apps if you’re looking for some high quality Windows software to get work done — without worrying about bugs. I can personally vouch for VLC media player and AbiWord. The former plays anything and everything relating to video or music formats. If you have a strange media file format, VLC will play it — guaranteed.

What I love about AbiWord is its simplicity and focus on the basics of (ahem) word processing. It’s light on system resources and it just works. Wish I could say the same for MS Word, which can be a pain in the ass at times. Ever heard of couples always fighting with each other over tiny, inconsequential issues. That’s Word for ya. And Word 2007? Can you say over kill?

Happy Windows computing!

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Best KDE Linux Distro?

December 24, 2009 in Info Tech, Solutions | 2 comments

[Gachie, Kenya]
SO, WHAT’S THE BEST Linux distribution that delivers a high quality KDE experience? Well, I don’t really know since I’ve been a religious GNOME Desktop whore after my first experience with Ubuntu and now Linux Mint 8 (based on Ubuntu 9.10 – aka Karmic Koala) but SEXIER.

Mind you, I did take PCLinuxOS 2009.2 for a spin on a LiveUSB but I was not that impressed with its use (it’s a super reliable distro for Windows new commers though) of KDE 3.5, which looked and felt a little stale. You see, the word on the street is that KDE 4.3.x is AMAZING, and based on the screenshots I’ve seen lately, I’d have to concur.

On the other hand, I’m sort of hooked on GNOME’s minimal and functional elegance. In the past (around 1998 to 2004) when I was Linux distro hopping (Corel Linux, Xandros, Mandrake, the reliable Libranet, Puppy Linux, and Vector Linux), KDE was the superior desktop environment for Linux, and GNOME was out to lunch. But things have changed — big time! — for the GNOME project thanks to the deep pockets of Ubuntu’s backers (and razor sharp focus) as well as Novell’s technical expertise.

Anyhow, I suggest you read this article and decide which desktop Linux distro has the best KDE setup.

Get the best KDE Linux distro

Cheers!

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2010 is the year of Desktop Linux

December 10, 2009 in Info Tech, Opinions, Solutions | 1 comment

[Gachie, Kenya]
YOU MAY NOT know it, but when you cruise the Net to read your mail on Yahoo, GMail, Hotmail (ran on FreeBSD before Microsoft purchased it), Mail2Web, or from your ISP (via POP3/IMAP), you’re mostly using a free mail server (qmail, Exim, Postfix, or Sendmail) that’s either running on Linux (CentOS, Red Hat, Debian, SUSE, Slackware, et al) or rock-solid BSD Unix variants such as NetBSD, FreeBSD, or OpenBSD. And what do you think Google is running their profitable multi-billion dollar Search engine business on? Linux!

Great Linux desktops a plenty…
Yes, we know Linux has been a huge success on the server side of things. But thanks to free sexy desktop user interface projects such as KDE and GNOME — as well as Xfce and Fluxbox for older PCs — Linux looks just as good (or better) than XP, Vista, Mac OS X or Windows 7. And things are getting better each and every day.

As a result, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, PCLinuxOS, OpenSUSE, SimplyMEPIS, Puppy Linux (great for old desktops and laptops that run XP slooowly!) and other distros are stepping up to the plate with fabulous desktop solutions for the home or office user. Anyhow, I expect to see some great developments from KDE (4.x) and GNOME (version 3.0) in 2010 that will make more users abandon Windows for good.

Related links

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From Ubuntu to Linux Mint

December 7, 2009 in Info Tech, Opinions, Solutions | 30 comments

[Gachie, Kenya]
WELL, IT’S OFFICIAL, I’m now a big fan of the amazing Linux distro called Linux Mint. You see, it’s based on the fabulous work that Ubuntu (which is based on Debian) has already done; that is, making Linux easy for the masses to use, install and manage — just like Windows XP (I hear Vista & Windows 7 are a “lengthy” nightmare to install).

My "sexy" Linux Mint 8 desktop

So, you can look at Linux Mint as a more polished (take a peek at my Mint 8 desktop above!) and kinder, gentler version of Ubuntu that simply does EVERYTHING right out of the box, like:

  • Playing any video or music format (DivX, Windows Media Audio/Video, Ogg, and tons more that I didn’t know existed).
  • Detecting your Nokia celly so you can connect to the Internet with it (on XP you have to download Nokia PC Suite to do this!).
  • Detecting all of your hardware and installing the proper drivers during the install process without you even noticing.
  • Setting up Flash in Mozilla Firefox right off the bat.
  • Ditto for Java!
  • Plus lots of other “little” things that make you say, “Wow!”

Suffice to say, I heart Linux Mint. Really. Things just work on my laptop — or on any other old or new system that I’ve test driven it on. Ya don’t believe me? Well, take a peek at the following screen shot where I’m running the ever popular (and FREE) Evolution email client that was given to the community by Novell. It can connect to my GMail via IMAP or POP3 — and it’s sooo slick. By the way, it’s touted as an Outlook killer in every way — except for all those annoying Outlook bugs. Well, you know deal when you’re using Microsoft products. Oh, Evolution can even connect to a Microsoft Exchange mail server, too.

My Linux Mint 8 desktop with the "Outlook killer" Evolution mail client

Of course I do this to show peeps down here that Linux Mint is a better alternative to Windows from this point of view:

  • Your system is responsive and runs fast since it’s not saddled with layers and layers of archaic, proprietary Windows “technologies” that have, unfortunately, become a nightmare (or headache) for Microsoft in order to maintain backward compatibility — ie. millions and millions of lines of bloated Windows programming code going back to Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista and now Windows 7. I truly feel sorry for Microsoft on that note! Have you ever wondered why Windows XP, Vista or 7 takes up so much damn hard disk space?
  • No chance in Hell of catching a virus, trojan, or worm that’s so prevalent on the Windows “platform”. I really believe Symantec, McAfee, Kaspersky, Esset, Trend Micro, Panda, Grisoft and other well known Windows antivirus software companies just love the insecurity that’s built into the Windows architecture starting from the late 1980s to the present — all the way to the bank. If they had to depend on Linux, OS X, or a popular BSD Unix variant like NetBSD, FreeBSD, or OpenBSD, they’d all go out of business. No sh!t.
  • Easy system updates and software installation thanks to its remarkable Debian lineage.

Related links

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Google Voice: Free Calling Has Arrived

December 1, 2009 in Info Tech, Solutions | 1 comment

[Gachie, Kenya]
MY FAVOURITE WRITER on all things IT is always on the ball with his analysis on events that could change the landscape in this industry. I just wished more tech companies that fell on hard times over the past decade or 2 would’ve read John C. Dvorak’s timely and insightful articles. Here’s another excellent observation on why Google is always ahead of the curve in comparison to its competitors.

Google Voice: Free Calling Has Arrived

Take a peek at how Dvorak sees things that should be obvious to other important players in the telecom business:

Now that Google is behind the latest push for free calls, the whole process will likely be accelerated worldwide. Soon enough we’ll all be wondering why the whole process took so long, and why Google had to be behind it. Where was Microsoft? Or IBM? What about the almighty Apple? None of the CBG (Came Before Google) companies seem to have any telecom vision whatsoever.
Google entered the phone business with Android. The company saw Google Voice as the next logical step in the evolution of its it telephony business. There’s even a Google Voice Android app that gives Google phones a cost-cutting edge. Of all of the major players in the phone space—Nokia, Ericsson, Sony, Samsung, Apple, Motorola—only Google thought of this idea? Ericsson has been in the phone switch business and knew the writing was on the wall. What were they thinking? Nokia was working on all sorts of mesh-technologies, saw thing coming, and did nothing? {source}

For any one who has a PC and is looking for el cheapo phone rates, I urge you to take Google Voice for a spin.

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ComputerWorld: Ubuntu 9.10 Better Than Windows 7

November 30, 2009 in Info Tech, Opinions, Solutions | No comments

[Gachie, Kenya]
I OWE A LOT to ComputerWorld back in my high school days and in the 1990s for really keeping me up to date on all the important IT developments back then. Boy, I almost forgot about them, but I was pleasantly surprised with this favourable analysis of Ubuntu Linux 9.10 (Karmic Koala) against Windows 7.

5 Reasons why Ubuntu 9.10 is better than Windows 7

Wow, there are 263 comments in response to the article so far. No doubt some addicted Windoze (er Windows) users are going to try to make Linux look bad. But Linux cheerleaders don’t sit on the sidelines any more. They’ll defend their OS of choice until Hell freezes over (not gonna happen with this global warming thingy going on).

So, what’s your take?

ComputerWorld cover - December 1996

Remembering the good ol’ days…
By reading ComputerWorld religiously, I was able to keep abreast of the latest trends with regards to: DB2, Informix, IBI’s PC-FOCUS 4GL, COBOL (gasp!), PowerBuilder, Oracle, VAX/VMS, Windows (unfortunately), Sybase, Unix, Texas Instruments IEF (Information Engineering Facility), Cognos PowerHouse, Lotus’ bad mis-steps with 1-2-3, DEC’s powerful Alpha AXP chip et al. Heck, this magazine used to magically disappear — for a few days or permanently — whenever I visited someone’s IT shop. After all, they weren’t that serious about IT I thought; it’s just that it was “the IT magazine” you had to have in your office if you wanted to look good. BTW, Byte, PC /Computing, and PC Magazine kept me up to date in the DOS/Windows era of computing and all the battles for market dominance between Intel/AMD, and Borland/Microsoft. ComputerWorld on the other hand was more for CIOs and high-end IT decision makers.

ComputerWorld cover- May 1998

A new Information era…
Today, I don’t even read the above magazines in print any more. Thanks to the Internet, I get my full dose of IT news by visiting sites like Linux.com, DesktopLinux.com, LinuxPlanet.com, ZDNet.com, OSNews.com, Oreilly.com, CNet.com, ServerWatch.com, Internet.com along with the granddaddy of all FREE Open Source Software projects, SourceForge.net.

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10 Important Linux Developments

November 29, 2009 in Info Tech, Opinions, Solutions | No comments

[Gachie, Nairobi, Kenya]
NOW THAT I’VE become a Linux whore, I thought I’d share a really important post that highlights some key Linux developments courtesy of IBM’s DeveloperWorks website.

10 important Linux developments
everyone should know about

the Linux mascot, Tux, the penguin, is looking to uproot Windows installations -- everywhere!

Are you looking for an amazing Linux Desktop experience? Well, I highly recommend the latest releases of the following FREE Linux distros:

To conclude, you simply can’t go wrong using one of the highly acclaimed Linux distributions listed above. Just download the .iso file, burn it to a blank CD, and reboot your PC. In my opinion, they all put Windows XP and Vista to shame.

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Ubuntu Linux rocks!!!

November 15, 2009 in Info Tech, Opinions, Solutions | 2 comments

[Gachie, Kenya]
NOW THAT I’VE abandoned Windows XP — I’m not really interested in Windows  7, and I wasn’t that stupid to give Vista a chance! — my computing life is so much more serene. Why? Because I’m running the latest FREE Ubuntu Linux (ver 9.10 – aka Karmic Koala) on a Toshiba L305 lappie. And ya know what? “Like Hell I’m going back to headaches a la Windoze. Nope, I’m done — for good.” I just have one thing to say to myself: “Max, you idiot!!! What took you sooo long? Moron!” :-(

Ubuntu 9.10 Feature Tour

Now, I can’t live one second without my fabulous and FREE IrfanView graphics app from my good Net pal, Irfan Skiljan, all the way from former Yugoslavia. He’s such a kool dude who now resides in Austria. Anyhow, he was way ahead of his time back around the mid 1990s when he developed what was then a landmark program. I’ve been using it for about 10 years now.

IrfanView was the first Windows graphic viewer WORLDWIDE with Multiple (animated) GIF support. One of the first graphic viewers WORLDWIDE with Multipage TIF support. The first graphic viewer WORLDWIDE with Multiple ICO support. {source}

The only problem I have with Irfan is that his addictive program only works on Windows. Doh!!! No worries though. Thanks to Sun Microsystems’ unbelievable FREE VirtualBox application, I can run Windows, various flavours of BSD Unix (ie. FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD), various Linux distros, and more as though they were installed on separate computers — all on my laptop. This, folks, is called virtualization and in this particular market, big names like VMWare, Parallels Desktop, Xen and others reign supreme. But VirtualBox holds it own against all of them. And did I mention its FREE, FREE, FREE? Heck, it seems like the best things in computing these days are FREE.

With my dual core Pentium processors, I can run XP via VirutalBox inside the protective confines of Ubuntu Linux and NOT ever have to worry about all the crap that goes with running XP on a standalone machine. Now, if I “catch” a nasty virus on my USB flash drive, no worries. I merely insert it on the Linux side in the Nautilus file explorer and delete em. Try that on Windoze!

Screenshot
Take a peek at my Ubuntu Linux desktop (as the host operating system) running Windows XP (as a guest operating system). You see, XP is just another program. I can suspend it and restart it later or take a snapshot for backup purposes. I’m loving this!!!

Max The IT Pro's Ubuntu Linux desktop with Windows XP running as a guest via VirtualBox

* Update *

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