The answer to that, as everyone knows, is a definitive and resounding (in the voice of James Earl Jones) “NO!” Microsoft with its millions and billions of dollars and research can NOT and does Not come up with the types of things that small 3rd party developers come up with. And Microsoft does NOT include the best things they could, in Windows.

And that is why there are tons of better antispyware programs that are better than microsofts tool included in windows, that is why there are windows explorer and shell replacement programs that are superior to windows, that is why there are GUI’s that are better than what microsoft includes in windows, that is why there are better Firewall programs that are superior than the one that comes with windows, that is why there are web browsers that are better than the one that comes with windows, that is why there are better Task managers than are included with windows, better paint programs than come with windows, better text editors than are made by Microsofts billions of dollars of research and included with windows, better driver tools, better backup tools, than Microsoft creates and ships with windows, etc. The list goes on.

And not only do many 3rd party developers create things that supercede what is in windows, they may sell it for not even $20, but even give it away free. It’s a thing called Open Source.

So this statement by the person named BUBBY up there, although we have let him go on some incorrect things previously, because they were attempting to help or something, at this point, this person just tipped the scale and blew it. Posting that type of statement that ‘if it was so great, it would already be in microsoft windows’ and ridiculing people with talk of ‘faeries’ or some such thing is inappropriate, and incorrect. And from now on, most of the credibility of BUBBY, has now been lost.

Next time learn, think, and keep to the facts, rather than getting into the obtuse statements. It will serve you much better.

From BuBBy: (in the voice of James Earl Jones) “Doctor Dick – you have missed the point” ;)

While you have probably surprised nobody (including myself) by revealing that 3rd party, independent developers can produce software that is of higher quality than what comes with windows, you probably should’ve chosen not to answer my hypothetical question, especially if you were going to give the wrong answer.

I was saying the reason why Microsoft don’t use the “Peter Pan” style “Magical Memory Optimizers” is not because they “Don’t know how to” but because under recent versions of windows (including XP and Vista) they do not work.

They are Total and Absolute Crapola. If you buy one for $20 you have just wasted $20. If you buy one for $40, … well I’m sure you can work it out.

Do some research, see if you can find one of the sites pedaling these programs – if they can explain (at a programming / OS level) just how they work. Have any of them documented the theory and made it available for public scrutiny? Didn’t think so. They hide behind “runs faster”, “crashes less”, “more memory” – the sort of criteria they use – without publishing repeatable test results or procedures. Even though it appears your education is in “earth sciences” and not “computer science/engineering” (but it is not the point) – anyone with a science background wants evidence – documentation – proof. Yet you believe that my comments about memory optimizers were incorrect.

So to give you the opportunity to learn, think and keep to the facts, I’ve got some reading from some people who actually know what they are talking about.

The Memory Optimization Hoax – Doctor Mark Russinovich, Ph.D.
(note the final sentence – ‘Fraudware’ – common sense suggests that if RAM optimization were possible (and could be implemented by so many small-time upstarts), Microsoft developers would have long since integrated the technology into the kernel).

The Truth about Windows Memory Optimizers – Jeremy Collake, Bitsum Technologies
“Memory Optimizer” Confusion – Fred Langa

This application has more saving grace than it is being given. Comments of “Windows can do all this” or long lists of free programs that “do all this” do not take into account just how long it takes to call up all of those individual mini-applications (programs)when everything is scattered about all over the Start Menu, Program Files directory etc. Also all of the icons for short-cuts that cover the same ground as this program take up two full city blocks of desktop real estate.

The program author put time into original programing rather than just calling Windows’ applications and gave his creation a nice enough user interface. He also did a good job of thinking about a 104 utilities that someone not able (or be willing to waste the time) to find all of the free substitutes might appreciate. With all of the stuff crammed into this Frankenstein creation, why pick on the RAM defrag module?

I like it and will keep it around for a while. Hope you sell a few!

As a security expert I would suggest against downloading softwares that are extraneous, such as this one.

No problem with making suggestions – you simply ignore them if you do not like them.

Comparisons are good as they allow us to determine if you should download the GOTD – after all if they are all free and you can find a better product why not download it and simply bypass the offering of the day. GOTD have a number of great offers I downloaded but I also downloaded, maybe as many, from reading postings.

After all it is a free country, at least where I live, and I welcome reading alternative suggestions.

The fins of the CPU heat sink had gotten massed with dust fibers so badly that the CPU could not cool properly. The computer is designed to protect itself from overheating and was slowing down the processing speed on its own. Keeping the machine physically clean was the cure.

Moral of the story, clean living is essential to a long and happy life.

I may not be #64

…. but alternative software suggestions don’t both me in the least.
That’s what it’s all about for me – admittedly a software junkie!
I enjoy seeing what software others recommend.

My recommendation today in a nutshell was to use the GOTD only if you have an old PC and are memory constrained (memory is short).

I’m sure lots of GOTD site users have these older machines. Clearly there must be a some commonality between individuals looking for a software bargain and people trying to make their old machines last. We are not all running the latest and greatest.

It’s only at GOTD where you with regularity snag a software gem for free. Yes lifehacker.com does provide the odd lead to offers such a Zone Alarm Spyware Anti-spyware, but not often.

Also give lets please give the average GOTD users a bit a break. There are other good software sites out there like:

snapfiles
majorgeeks
cybernetnews
downloadsquad
freewaregenius
freeware-guide
FreewareWorld
lifehacker
neowin.net and winplanet

all offering some form of advice or rating of freeware and shareware implicitly in terms of the software selected or in terms of an explicit rating.

Snapfiles and Majorgeeks are two of the best web sites which offer both freeware and shareware – when GOTD can’t fill the niche; which surely even the ”novice” knows about – or they do now.

I enjoy GOTD their offerings and the banter as much as anyone. Who can complain about free software which is normally only available by way of real currency.

Each day we get to muse over, discard or install as we each see fit – the current GOTD.

Lastly, we even get to grumble by way of the GOTD forums about something we get for free and as a bonus get to take ourselves seriously in doing so!

Cheers
Paul.