You have to turn off the system wide font smoothing, which in typical Microsoft tradition isn't with the font settings where the ClearType controls are. Go to System > Advanced system settings and uncheck "Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts" under the Visual Effects tab. I also see the color fringing and find ClearType completely unusable with negative contrast text (dark text on a light background). It seems to work better with light text on dark backgrounds as the sub pixels are much less noticeable.

In Windows 7: Personalization > Window Color > Advanced Appearance Settings

In WIndows 8.x, you can only resize the fonts. There are free utilities that will change the UI fonts (google "Windows 8 Font Changer".)

Microsoft tossed out Tahoma and forced Segoe UI on everyone back in 2007. I don't recall it being that big of a deal.

Look up New Jersey's alimony laws for a good laugh.

The link leads to directions for XP. Windows Vista and up use an image based system on install media.

I have a circa 1986 gas station (6378) and a circa 1988 race track (6395) with the logo, but shortly thereafter they went to the fictional Octan (looks like 1992 going by set listings). Besides ending distribution of sets at Shell locations, this isn't going to effect much else.

Even more unbelievable, it was an AMC Matador.

This shouldn't be a problem with native applications. The relevant Win32 functions (GetVersionEx and the now deprecated GetVersion) for retrieving the running Windows version doesn't use the strings to begin with.

Looking at the github code strings, its likely something that can be patched/worked around in the JVM.

The new family plans are a ripoff if one is a light user of talk and text. The unlimited talk and text of the MORE everything plans was a gimmick to jack up the per line fees.

Verizon must realize their MORE everything (including money) plans aren't attracting current customers. Our 4 line family plan would skyrocket over $40 more a month if we switched. If you have a few "feature phones" on your plan and don't text a lot, the older family plans were a great deal.

I seem to recall reading about it on slashdot, but the closest reference I could find is here: http://stackoverflow.com/quest...

ClickOnce .NET applications may be what I was thinking about.

Technically programs can be installed to the user's home directory when you select "Install for this user only". Of course that is if the installer gives you the choice to begin with. Open source programs on Windows tend to clutter the home directory with configuration folders that start with ".", just like on *NIX systems.

Doesn't MS permit the use of XML files for storing configuration settings? I seem to recall reading this in one of the .NET programming docs.

Rearranging the load order of System Extensions and Control Panels was fun. It took Apple until 7.5 to add that nifty Extensions Manager control panel to the OS instead of a 3rd party add-on.

I suspect this is why so many applications failed to run under Windows 2000 despite otherwise being compatible (not using new Win32 calls introduced in XP). That or they were compiled with a newer version of Visual Studio.