Desktops: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs?
- 7/18/07 3:40 PM
It wastes time..........
by Lenwood - 7/19/07 7:34 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When you remove as much, of it, as possible; it's time consuming. When it's time to wipe the drive and begin fresh, it must be done again. There would be Less time, annoyance and aggravation if one bought the Operating System they want to install; then wipe the New PCs drive and install it. Your additional cost is probably what the Manufacturer would charge to leave your drive cleaner. Also when re-installing on a re-wiped drive, you'd have NO shovelware, crapware or bloatware to remove. If you send your PC back for repair, they wipe the drive regardless of whats on it. Some manufacturers offer back-up CDs/DVDs with new PCs; which you'd have to obtain the programs that you want from the mix. Cost a bit more and the peace of mind is worth it. A vehicle is transportation, yet some spends large amounts of money to have it the way they want. I spend more time at the PC than in the car.....nuff said
Just Say NO to Brand Name Computers
by Flatworm - 7/19/07 7:55 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Get your machine built by a custom builder, which you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one if you live anywhere near any city in America or probably the world. They're cheaper, cleaner and can be built to your own specifications and needs.
And ask them not to install any crap (some will if you don't instruct them otherwise). You might even want to install the O/S yourself, although if you're a newbie you might want them to do this for you, which most will without charge. Complications can arise and you might have to know where to find your hardware and network drivers.
(Aside: In the above I just made and corrected a typo that might have created a new, useful techie word, "nardware," meaning hardware, software, and firmware that provides your machine with some real cojones, like DDR3 RAM, internet performance boosters, overclocking software and modem configuration programs, among many others. I mean, the existing terms "hardware," "firmware" and "software" already have a certain double-entendre aspect to them, don't you think?)
Oh, one last thing...
by Flatworm - 7/19/07 7:57 AM In reply to: Just Say NO to Brand Name Computers by FlatwormLaptops, of course, are probably best bought from brand name retailers, but I have found SOME (rare, bot some) software preinstalled on my Toshiba to be VERY useful. Specifically, their "Summit" network tool is genuinely excellent and has an interesting user interface. It is really an excellent tool for diagnosing any kind of network problem.
Buying PCs
by matt 5112 - 7/19/07 8:08 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If your buying a desktop PC your better off building your own machine because it A)Costs less, B)None of this useless software will be installed unless you install it, C) You wont get stuck with companies building their own custom parts so you cant upgrade it. But if you've never done it before/dont want to attempt such a task and if you cant get a friend to do it for you then you're out of luck unless you buy from small computer stores. No Futureshop, Bestbuy and Curcuit City are not small computer stores. For example near me there is www.infonec.com there used to be a more local store but they dont have the same prices. there are many stores across the country offering PC parts at great prices. In the US there is www.newegg.com . Well enjoy!
What to do if you don't like the included software
by Ladi Leo 27 - 7/19/07 8:25 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When you purchase your computer, most online sellers give you the option of having the operating system media (not the restore cd). Sometimes this costs up to 20 dollars extra. Just buy that cd and reinstall your system not from the restore disks, but from the operating system disks. You will have none of those programs you despise. Problem solved.
Reformat is the worst
by hogan - 7/19/07 8:46 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I just use the free software, everything else I need I find by looking. Does anyone really believe that the junkware makes your pc cheaper? Only the expensive companies supply it anyway.
When I reformat my harddrive, I hate the way all the junk comes back and I have to delete it again, the old days of cds was easier.
Too lazy to work out where to put all the connectors be build a pc from scratch.
regards
Software on New PC's
by p5surf - 7/19/07 8:48 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I agree that 90% of it is useless. Offers like AT&T Dialup Services, AOL, MSN, WINDVD, crap, crap and more crap. However, once in a while there's an interesting piece of software that I would not have discovered had it not been pre-installed. I never use Dell's Music Jukebox - nice try Dell. Any anti-virus that comes pre-installed is always cool but the nagging screens 90 days later make me want to never use their products again. I'm in the middle of a powerpoint presentation with a client and sure enough - up pops a Norton Reminder - You are not protected. Great, I'm glad my clients know that now.
Here's my message: If you are going to pre-bundle:
1. Make it a reasonably useful piece of software
2. Don't expect to upsell me on FULL functionality later
3. Fully functional trial software is ok but no nag screens
4. I'm totally open to exploring the newest warez and what the kids are using today. Don't give me "Grandpa-ware". That's it, I'm coining a new term. You heard it here first folks!
5. Finally all those Support and Learning applications are pretty much useless but a nice effort by the OEM to try to provide automated support. Instead how about local calling centers instead of routing all my calls to India? That would give me more warm fuzzy feeling than some dumb automated help menu that will never solve my problem in the first place.
Not at all
by FredMars - 7/19/07 8:56 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I purchased a notebook for my wife and it came loaded with junkwares. From in your face iTunes, Realnetworks, Symantec, Roxio, etc. And every time the machine had to be sent for repairs (total of 6,3 per laptop) it was returned with all of that crap back on the hard drive.
It's bad enough having to spend time to uninstall it, but when it hides inside the registry or the uninstall program won't work because of the infamous corrupted file (how can that be when it's a new hard drive and it was installed from the vendor's image) it takes more time than what to "reduced price" was worth.
New PCs should come with nothing installed. You get to choose the OS and all apps when you first power it up with a DVD in the drive. Then if you would rather have Linux than Windows, you can makae that choice at first boot-up and save even more on the high price of Microshaft bundled junkola.
But as long as most consumers will shell out for Dell, Gateway, Lenovo, Sony, and Toshiba (name means something) they will continue to get preinstalled PS and applications that are useless, and have to pay higher costs (in time and energy if not cash) to have it removed.
I agree with the editor(s) and think that "shovelware" should be shoveled into the cyber waste area BEFORE the PC is shipped to you.
And yes, it is one of the reasons that I prefer to build my own. The price is higher but the experience and choice is worth it.
The biggest peice of bloatware....
by HorizonDataSys - 7/19/07 9:14 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Vista.
Why the heck would I want to use up an additional 40 - 60% of my hardware resources for this shaky, bug-ridden peice of crap, when I already have a perfectly good shaky, bug-ridden peice of crap in XP?
Oh right, I forgot. Microsoft wants to install DRM spyware on my machine and it's SO much easier when you're clean-instaling a new system.
And the MaC OS! Hah! Steve Jobs' white elephant that only runs on Steve Jobs' hardware, that only accepts Steve Jobs' upgrades, at Setve Jons' prices? I don't think so! I mean, that's why I dumped the Mac in the first place - why would I want to stick my knackers back in THAT meat-grinder again?
I think the time has come to seriously look at Unix/Linux. Seems like an excellent product (at the right price!) that has forcibly been made undesireable by it's own cak-handed marketing.
Software Overload
by katherine74 - 7/19/07 10:05 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This message caught my attention and pressed a hot button for me. Each time I get a new laptop, or PC, I spend days deleting this stuff. Almost always run into problems, because some of it does not delete cleanly. I think the vendor should provide the basics, with a key that will allow you to go to the software partner site, investigate the software and decide to download or not. The key could only work for a limited number of software download options and expire on a given date. Everyone gets what they want and the number of potential partnerships for the mfg could be expanded.
I really don't mind it one way or the other
by itasara - 7/19/07 10:48 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have not gotten all that much crap ware on my new computers. I don't mind it. sometimes I try it, most of the time I just delete it. Very easy to do on a Macintosh.
I think it should be handled differently by the manufacturer
by c95s011 - 7/19/07 1:07 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It would be helpful and possibly more profitable for the sellers if they were to place installers on the new pc and allow the buyer to pick and choose which (if any) of the apps to install and try. After which it should be easy to remove them or purchase the full version.
It all started w/ AOL/prodogy
by peter4012 - 7/19/07 1:16 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
AOL / Prodogy started this prebuilt garbage - at least way back when the gave you the disks and you chose instalations - but then they became pre-installed -
but now they are almost the good guys as they (the various net proveders)only have installation headders built in.
The real problem with the preinstalled stuff is that it always is promo-ware - short functioned so in the overall picture it is of limited use (most don't let you import old version files - what good is that ??) so I have to buy it anyway if I need it
Sometimes trying to install your old version doesn't go smoothly because of residue of the "New 'free' version" even after 'uninstalling it - and I have seen items that are not readely uninstallable - never mind I-E -
Give me the junk - OK - but don't dump it on my machine - gimmy the disks and I'll look at it if I can think of a use - otherwise I won't buy - Or at least with desktops I'll keep building my own
The amount of software,give me more.....but with a choice!
by Maintainer1 - 7/19/07 2:10 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I like having software packaged with a computer because I don't have the time to look for any of it.
What I would like to have is a choice of what's out there.
I think if all these software providers would agree with the computer mfg's to make their products available ala carte instead of forcing unwanted "crapware" on consumers, they would be able to "fine tune" into their markets better.
Example being as the 'ol saying goes:"One man's trash is another man's treasure".
If the products were offered as a choice when purchasing a computer, I think that most consumers would be happier with their purchase price knowing that they "got what they paid for".
I Hate Crapware!
by whbos - 7/19/07 2:36 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you feel about the amount of software that comes on new PCs? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My computer is almost four years old, a Sony VAIO, and it was loaded with useless software such as Microsoft Works (Crapware), some game called Age of Empires II, McAfee virus program (crap) and loads of other crap that I would never use. I reformat my hard drive at least twice a year to get rid of junk and reload programs that I do use. That being said, each reformat requires that I uninstall all this software especially now that it is old.
I would like to have just a disc with Windows (XP in this case) and all the necessary drivers for the garbage hardware that they installed. For a Sony computer that cost me $2,500 in 2003 I would think the hardware would be a little more upscale than the garbage they put in it.
I was also disappointed that for the price I paid I didn't even get the Adobe Premiere LE version with this computer as other models like mine did. That would have been something I could have used. It also didn't include any backup discs--they had to be created after installing all the crapware.
I used to build my own systems, but decided to just purchase a new one since I found that much of the hardware I would have to buy was overpriced and it wasn't worth the trouble. With this system, I can at least add or replace some of the parts as I have done already.
I think we should get a real Windows install disc (full version, not an upgrade) with separate discs for the required drivers. They can put the crapware on separate discs as well or put it on the hard drive in case we want to back them up to install later.
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