Performance issues
April 25, 2008 by cynthia
I don’t know if familiarity breeds contempt, but it sure makes you more likely to trip the ragged edge of dangerous.
For example, I’ve worked with molten glass so long now that 350F seems like a cool spring day. Unfortunately, my fingers refuse to follow this logic, so grabbing a hot baking pan in the oven with bare hands continues to be a bad (ouch) idea.
I exhibit vast impatience with the performance slowdowns of most computer security/antivirus systems, and either turn them off or remove them entirely. Sometime later, something happens to make me realize that this is a foolish solution, and I put them back.
It’s kinda like my haircut indicator: When I find myself, kitchen knife in hand, about to surgically remove the hank of hair that’s driving me nuts…it’s time to call the hairdresser.
A week or so ago, Microsoft Outlook informed me that it had sent all 22 of my e-mails when I hadn’t told it to send any. So I hauled out McAfee Security Center and got it up and running.
WHAM. My speedy Verizon FiOS connection slowed like a dying turtle.
Websites that appeared instantly before (including this blog) now took as long as FIFTEEN MINUTES to open up. I could get better performance out of a 2400 baud modem (of which I have three, BTW, ready to turn into “soul of the machine” castings or something).
Just for yuks, I googled “mcafee performance problems” on Freddie (my little MacBook Pro) and then on my now-McAfee-protected Sheila, a loaded Windows XP studio system. They’re both hooked through my Ethernet switch to FiOS Internet.
Search results appeared in 2.5 seconds on Freddie, but in 4 minutes 38 seconds for poor Sheila. Tried turning off obvious speedhogs, like “scan all documents,” and managed to speed things up to a blazing…2 minutes 11 seconds.
Humpfh.
Here we go again. I’m beginning to understand why I regard my computers as beloved but extremely naughty offspring.
Get rid of McAfee and use something else. I had trouble with both McAfee and Norton (too bloated). Now I use avast antivirus, which is free for personal use. It’s easy to use and updates itself on a regular basis so you’re protected against the latest viruses
http://www.avast.com/
Yeah, thought of that, and it’s one reason I hesitated so long. I’ll look into avast, and I’ll also look for something for other system woes.
Thanks, Brad! (and welcome)
All looks good to me. Love the concept, your various works and the obvious energy you have. Initially found you via the warm glass bulletin board. Am trying to decide for myself whether to go for a web site or a blog so your site is of great interest.
I’m running windows 98 and IE 7. I also run webroots firewall and antivirus and far prefer these to McFee and Norton.
Thanks, Max. You know, if you’re interested in info on blog vs. website I have a Flash of a presentation I give on the subject–this version was meant for glass artists. You’ll find it by clicking on the “Oregon Glass Guild” link on the right top of the blog. And, actually, you don’t HAVE to decide. Start with a free blog first, and see where it takes you. You can always spend the money/time on a website later.