Comment Poor Apps Make Standard User Impossible (Score 2, Insightful) 522
The sad reality of the situation is it is IMPOSSIBLE to run as a non-admin and actually get anything done.
As a savvy PC user I tried to setup my XP system following best practices. Only run as admin when necessary. However, the two applications I use everyday make this impossible. Quicken and NewsBin Pro. Both of these applicatons require write access to their respective program files directories which forces you to run the application with elevated priviliges.
Until either application developers create proper software that actually obeys the security model or Microsoft enforces this policy then Windows users will always be admins.
As a savvy PC user I tried to setup my XP system following best practices. Only run as admin when necessary. However, the two applications I use everyday make this impossible. Quicken and NewsBin Pro. Both of these applicatons require write access to their respective program files directories which forces you to run the application with elevated priviliges.
Until either application developers create proper software that actually obeys the security model or Microsoft enforces this policy then Windows users will always be admins.