blog.vanillacokehead.com

Earlier tonight, I updated Adobe Reader on my laptop to the latest version – then as usual I went into the Registry Editor applet and took out one registry key that ALWAYS gets added when this program is updated.

I disabled the “speed launch” startup task that Adobe INSISTS on adding to the registry.

I have a simple missive to Adobe, Microsoft, Apple, RealNetworks, and nearly every other software maker:

Code your primary executables so they launch quickly – and STOP SLOWING DOWN MY PC’S BOOT TIME WITH STARTUP TASKS!!!!

There are some apps that justifiably run at startup: mainly security-related programs such as antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall apps. Most of the time, though, startup apps are about as useful as tits on a bull. Yes, I’m talking about the goodies left with installations of RealPlayer, QuickTime Player, Microsoft Office, and other software.

When my mom got a new major-brand PC a couple of years ago, of course it was loaded with crapware – and about half of said crapware had useless tasks slated to run at startup. One of the first things I did for Mom was trim almost all the startup entries from the Windows XP “StartUp” folder and “Run” keys from the registry.

I’m taking a wild-ass guess that the folks at software makers who “drink the marketing Kool-Ade” might have a role in slowing down the startup times of PC users and cluttering up the system trays of PCs the world over. I’m guessing said misguided marketing souls insist that apps put icons into the system trays of users to remind said users to use said apps.

As a result, many PC system trays resemble the the front of the uniform shirts of highly decorated NYPD officers. Said PCs probably also take forever to reach a usable state after booting up.