If you hate RealPlayer, or RealOne, or whatever they’re calling it these days, as much as I do, this rant is a must-read:
“When you install Real Player, you can either choose an express install, or custom install. If you pick express install, Real Player simply installs itself with every option and feature turned on. If you choose the custom install, the process is a blend between an installer and a Pokemon-like game of gotta-uncheck-all-checkboxes.”
Amazingly, the author got several anonymous replies from frustrated employees at Real, who forwarded several internal memos. (You can read the leaked memos here.)
The whole thing should be mandatory reading for anyone in the software business who wants to learn how NOT to treat their customers.
Ed – I call it “RealVirus”. It’s a nasty thing and gets worse with every release.