The article is outdated. I believe now Fast syncmode is the default in Mist Ethereum Wallet configuration now, but it is experiencing slowness to the extend that it cannot get sync-ed even after hours, days, weeks !
Do you have any update on it?
What out this other recent article, I will attemp to overcome. https://steemit.com/blockchain/@bennyliaw/ethereum-node-client-synchronization-and-scalability-issue