David M Williams
Sunday, 30 November 2008 08:39
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 4
Look, I'm sorry, but it has to be said. Open Task Manager on any Windows computer and chances are there are a hundred processes even if you're just sitting idly on the desktop. What's with the obsession to constantly make crap run on startup? Let's look at some common offenders and how to cut them down to size.
When you write a Linux column like
The Linux Distillery it’s hard not to talk about Windows now and then. We all know Microsoft’s operating system has the dominant position for desktops around the world and for many people it will be their first experience with computing.
Make no mistake, there’s a huge amount to say about Linux in its own right. Recently I wrote how businesses could
reduce their operating costs by consolidating data centres with Linux-based virtualisation. Last month I talked on
how to watch TV within Linux.
However, periodically, comparisons have to be made because in order to fully explain why Linux does something completely mind-bogglingly brilliant you have to put it in context of just why it is so radical. That’s why I said
the Linux filesystem trounces Windows’ butt and gave
100 reasons Linux beats Windows.
Today, I’m going to cover something that really bugs me about Windows’ programs in general. This time it’s not Microsoft’s fault; well, at least not directly. Allow me to tell you the problem and then how to improve performance on a Windows-based computer. Consider this a community service announcement for the Windows users among you.
So what’s this grievance? Simply put, it seems every damn program and its dog insists on running at startup. Why is this? Is it because Windows runs like a dog, or because most modern software is grossly bloated, and the only way to give the illusion a program starts quickly is to split it in half with some loading when the computer boots – whether you will need it this session or not – and then only load the other half on demand?
I’m not talking about obscure apps, either, but “brand name” things like Adobe Acrobat, Apple iTunes, Google’s updater, Logitech’s keyboard/mouse packages, Sun Microsystem’s Java, Cisco’s VPN client and so much more.
Check out this screenshot of the task manager on a fairly ordinary Windows Vista laptop. There’s a lot of things running which seriously and plainly do not need to. I’m going to go over some: what they are, why they’re bad, and how to stop them.
(Click the thumbnail for a larger picture.)
Read on as I tackle Adobe Acrobat (page 2), Apple iTunes (page 3), Logitech, Google and Java (page 4) over the coming pages!
CONTINUED
(Click the thumbnail for a larger picture.)
