Blag

*See the bloatware name and shame list for alternatives and description of the problems encountered

Woo! Time for another (brief) rant at my favourite company in the world – Apple Inc.

Why are Apple developers so incapable of making a lightweight, fast and clean version of iTunes ans Quicktime?

They take forever to load, two years to install or upgrade and leave behind more debris upon uninstall that a shrapnel grenade. For f***s sake, installing a bloody antivirus program has less of an effect on your computer than iTunes/Quicktime, no joking. And why does Quicktime always crash? I bounced this idea off a couple of mates who do media/arts at uni, and the general consensus there about Quicktime on any non Mac OS computer is the same – utter crapola. Unstable, laggy, restrictive.

Ironic, their “I’m and Mac, and I’m a PC” ads.

Perhaps Microsoft should insert time delay trojans into MS Office for mac? Or maybe vulnerability exploiters when it detects a Mac user visiting their website?

To Apple’s credit, they got rid of Quick Time Task a while back.

For now, the only reason to keep iTunes is if you own an iPhone/iPod. I’d use Windows Media Player, if it’s library management weren’t so awful…

*Updated iTunes just then. Why of why does it have to restart my freakin PC? I haven’t done that in 14 days and 3 hours now… Even installing Norton, yes Norton Internet Security doesn’t require a restart. Get with the times, Apple!

*cheezy grin*

Have some piccies (click to enlarge):

I didn't want to pay $30 for a new phone charger after my chair ate the cable

The Great Wall of Nortons! (Hey, a lot of them were dirt cheap or free)

The cheap way to board up a fireplace, but more importantly, I have found a use for the box of 32 CFL's! (white boxes)

I love pumpkins... especially when you receive them as Christmas presents

+1 Symantec

Quite a few months ago, I got a free copy of Norton Internet Security 2009 complimentary of Symantec for beta testin NIS09 and Norton Safe Web Beta when it was released. Now that my 2008 license is running out, I decided to use the provided product key, and after a chat with an analyst, it turns out I got a 3-PC 1 year license worth ~ $98 free. I thought it would have been a 90 day license, or 1 computer only, but who am I to complain? I like free goods… *big grin*

Speaking of which, time for some shameless plugging, just because I feel obliged to. I must confess though, I completely forgot about my free product key and spent quite a while shopping around for the cheapest places. And here’s what I found -

You can get Norton Internet Security or Norton 360 v2.0 dirt cheap by:

• $79 for NIS09 or $96 for N360v2 at Big W, which is $20 below the average competitor store’s retail price (valid till 14 Jan 09)
• Buy any retail pack of 2PC + SNR, 3PC or 5PC license of NIS09 or N360v2 and get $20, $30 or $40 cash back (depending on product)
• Buy online at the Symantec store and get an instant discount of ~$10 on some products
• Buy from any online computer stores, which normally sell Symantec products way below the RRP (sorry, no cash back though )

Haha, am I starting to sound like a salesman yet?

Time for all the frugal, miserly, el-cheapo diehards (damn, whats the name of that guy in the Christmas story?) to rejoice!

Cheap deals selection for the bored geek:

• $9 TP-Link 5dbi Wifi Antennas
• 50% off Scanpan cookware at Myer
• $79 Norton Internet Security 2009 @ Big W + Further $20 cash back!
• $96 Norton 360 v2.0
• $12 24x 375ml Crate of Coke/Diet Coke/Zero/Fanta/Sprite
• $12 250psi Air Compressor @ Big W and K-Mart
• $0.05 Pack of 5x 64 page exercise books at most stores
• 25% Cash back on Microsoft Hardware
• $11 8GB USB Flash Drives
• $20/30/40 cash back on Symantec software
• $7 Cadbury Chocolate Fondue Sets
• $17 50-pack AA batteries
• $29 Wireless-g USB Adaptors
• $22 Verbatim Spindle 50 DVD+R at Dick Smith Electronics
• 25% off TV Antennas at Dick Smith Electronics
• $29 Ex-demo printers
• $179 Western Digital Essentials 1TB External HDD USB2.0
• $0.89 32 pack Sparklers
• $40 Car (Auto) 12V to 240VAC Inverter 150W
• $39 DVD Player
• CD/DVDs from $2+ at JB Hifi
• $105 Billion 7402VGO ADSL2+ VPN Modem/Router at JMG Technology

Of course, there’s the usual boring stationery/clothing/furniture sales on as well.