Zero Bytes Free
Windows Explorer reports the amount of free disk space on its status bar. I like that. Open the Recyle Bin, however, and it always reports the same amount of free disk space: none.
Disk free space: 0 bytes.
That's not true, and is odd when you realize that "Recycle Bin" is just Explorer pointed to the recycle bin folder.
Stupid Explorer Toolbar Choices
Microsoft really fell down the GUI mountain with its ribbon bar design. I won't get into all the problems being caused by it. Then there is the poorly done, ultra minimalist redesign of Internet Explorer v7. Bad interface design extends to Explorer:
-- Why is the toolbar not customizable? (It was in earlier releases of Windows.)
-- Why is Burn so important that it needs to be on the toolbar, to the exclusion of useful and frequently used functions, such as New Folder and Delete?
-- Why does Explorer decide to show details unrelated to the content, such as Rating and Exposure?
Mouse Driver: Yes, No
I use a Bluetooth Logitech mouse with this HP notebook computer running Vista. I ask only one thing of a mouse: that its middle button be mapped to double-click. But every so often, this mouse (or operating system or mouse driver) loses the definition. I can no longer double-click, and Logitech's Mouse and Keyboard applet loses its panels for defining mouse buttons.
I've asked Logitech about this, and their unthinking response was, "Reinstall the driver" -- which doesn't work. Since the problem occurs only on this Vista-running computer, I assume the problem lies with how Microsoft's little-liked operating system interacts with hardware peripherals.
We Demand You Watch a DVD
This HP notebook computer comes with HP-branded software for watching DVDs. I am not sure why it is there, because it is worse than other DVD watching software. For example, it won't let me watch some movies full screen, but in a half-size screen surrounded by useless information, such as the current date and time, and generic names of chapters.
This is software I don't want to use. But it imposes itself on me. Every so often, HP's DVD software starts up on its own. I won't even be using the computer, when out of the corner of my eye I notice that the screen has changed: there it is again. This occurs a couple times a week.
Not that it matters. As I documented in an earlier post, Vista does not allow you to enjoy watching movies or listening to music, due to frequent playback glitches -- as confirmed by one of Microsoft's insider bloggers.
Eudora Implodes
My dad and I both use Eudora for email, both on Vista notebook computers. On his, a Toshiba model, Eudora has been imploding. Here's what happens: all ISP settings are lost, and the content of the In and Out mailboxes is erased. All other mailboxes keep their content. He has since gone back to his older Compaq notebook computer running XP.
My Dad Switches to Firefox
While he was still using his Vista-running Toshiba notebook, my dad complained to me that the new Internet Explorer v7 lacks the Go button. I know what he means: that Go button, found in more advanced Web browsers, is a nice touch. So I installed Firefox for him. That follows my wife happily switching to Firefox after getting fed up with Microsoft's market-lagging Web browser.
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