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This space holds helpful information about software and hardware and vendors that Dr. Hain has discovered by trial and error. Perhaps if enough of us do this, searches on these devices or companies will bring up more relevant information.

Main Rants/Raves page

Microsoft Active-Sync 4.5 -- very buggy

Well -- another sad Microsoft story. Active-Sync 4.5 is part of the support package for my cellular telephone (a Samsung Blackjack-II, which I like). Evidently, it is supposed to allow you to do things like change your ring-tone. The internet is loaded with problem reports for this software.

The problem with active-sync 4.5 boils down to it doesn't install and nobody will help you install it either.

• Doesn't install (I tried two Windows XP computers)
• Doesn't uninstall either (Microsoft does not tell you how to uninstall this program)
• Is unsupported -- I called my cell phone provider (ATT). They transferred me to Samsung (who makes the phone). They responded to me that it "works for us", and why don't you call Microsoft (at $40/incident).
• Microsoft says that they have built this functionality into Vista

My thought here is that eventually Microsoft will get this right - - but on the other hand why should they ? A cynical view of this situation is that buggy software like this benefits Microsoft.

• It gives people a reason to buy new Microsoft programs (like Vista)
• It generates technical support income

My suggestion regarding people who need a "smart phone" -- Don't buy anything running Microsoft software. Either get a "Blackberry", or a "Palm". Avoid the BlackJack or anything running "Windows mobile".