Since Firefox 3.0 bookmarks, history and most storage is kept in SQLite databases and, ass with any other database, SQLite databases become fragmented over time. But, since there are no managing processes checking and optimizing the database, these eventually result in a performance hit.

So, a good way to improve startup and some other bookmarks and history related tasks is to defragment and trim unused space from these databases.

• Open the Error Console: Tools menu/Error Console
• In the Code text box paste this (it’s a single line):

  Components.classes["@mozilla.org/browser/nav-history-service;1"].getService(Components.interfaces.nsPIPlacesDatabase).DBConnection.executeSimpleSQL("VACUUM");

• Press Evaluate. Firefox will freeze for a few seconds while the databases are “VACUUMed”.

Thanks to PC Pro and Mozilla Links for this information.

Alternatively there are a couple of Firefox plugins available to do just this – Vacuum Places and PlacesCleaner.

It wasn’t that long ago when I forked out about £100 for a copy of Office 2007 with my new PC. But what if you could get it, with Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 (usually about £27) for under £56?

Well, eBuyer are currently doing exactly that.

Kaspersky 2010, according to PC Pro, is “a credible and powerful suite that’s well worth a look” and Office 2007 is their A-listed office suite.

If I didn’t already have Office, I’d be taking their arm off right now!

Most networks are currently able to provide both contact and PAYG USB dongles that will provide your favourite laptop with 3G broadband access. However, 3 have a special offer right now that allows you to pick up a PAYG one for free – you just pay P&P fees of around a fiver.

You top up at least £10 a time (I believe that gives you 1GB of data to play with) and that will expire after a month. That’s not brilliant, but pretty consistent with other networks offers (except you’ll pay £35+ for their devices) and a review last year from PC Pro shows good speeds¹.

I’ve ordered one, and can imagine using it when out and about, and therefore topping up as-and-when required. Basically, an essential bit of kit to throw into a gadget bag.

As soon as I can, I’ll add a review to the site.

1. although it may not be the same model of device [↩]

That’s my YSlow rating for the BMTG website.

It’s taken me a year but I’ve done it. The only thing missing – that elusive 9% – is a CDN. But I’m not going to have that so I now have the highest rating I can achieve.

Once this site is at its new host, I’ll start looking at the same thing (restrictions on the .htaccess file, amongst other things, prevents me at the moment).

To put this in perspective, Amazon.co.uk and Apple.com both have a score of 63%, Microsoft.com a score of 94% and PC Pro a score of 52%. Google, not surprisingly, scores 99%. What is surprising, though, is that Yahoo – the people who originated this scoring system – gets 82%.

Ha. After my story the other day that the iPhone advert has been banned, PC Pro have an excellent video showing you EXACTLY how quick the iPhone would be doing what they advertised.

Meantime,  my other story about a software retailer not lowering their prices has been revealed by PC Pro, and they’ve mentioned their name, which I decided not to do. Yes, stand up McAfee. The PC Pro article was also reported by an affiliate, who remained anonymous, but their words reflected my own. It doesn’t help that before this story broke, PC Pro has also published an article about how PC retailers were planning on dropping their prices to reflect the VAT change.

However, no sooner had they revealed the story about the VAT put McAfee decided to back down. Hurrah for common sense.

Some choice comments from their forums…

Do you really want to buy software as complex as a security suite from a company who cannot easily update the VAT rate in their own selling software?

I think McAfee has a very good candidate for “Most Pathetic Excuse of the Year”