Here’s my quick opinion of the software Rogers Hi-Speed gives you. It is total crap. And here I thought the Sympatico package was the crappiest. But no, the current stuff Rogers is offering their customers far exceeds it. It exhibits many of the classic features of crap software:
Value to customer unclear? Check. Ya know, like those clock sync programs.
Provides redundant features? Check. The “Self Healing” part is particulary funny. Think about it — even novice users know damn well when their Internet isn’t working.
Adds itself to Start Up group? Check. These days it seems like every freakin program wants to load up at boot. Less than ten percent actually require it.
Bundles with third party content? Check. In this case it’s Yahoo. Because Roger customers love looking at ads on Yahoo as much as Sympatico customers like looking at ads on MSN.
Alters the appearance of Internet Explorer with its logo feces? Check. Just in case you can’t remember who supplies your Internet.
Add functions to Internet Explorer? Check. Just like My Search Bar!
Bitches when you try to un-install it? Check. Just like Cydoor!
Spawns a browser window when you un-install it? Check. Just like Gator!
Doesn’t remove itself from programs list when un-installed? Check.
You know, malware does these things too. At the very least this Rogers junk counts as crapware — it takes up space, doesn’t work right, and slows down your machine. And here’s the funny part! You don’t need any of it! Even Sympatico has something of an excuse for telling you to install their software (for the PPPOE client on pre-XP machines). But Rogers is a big DHCP network. No software needed. Just hook up your machine and go.
So I suspect it’s only purpose is marketing. Just like all the rest of the junk software. Therefore, I pronounce it crap and recommend not to install it, or remove it if it is installed.
And if you’re talking to Rogers tech support and they ask you why it’s not installed you can tell them that you don’t run that crap because Bob said so.
Cobolhacker 