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Sony Offers Bloatware Removal Service — For a Fee [Updated]
linuxwrangler writes "First Sony packed its laptops with Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office trial version, Corel Paint Shop Pro trial version, WinDVD and more. Now it is offering to remove the bloatware. Of course marketing changed the name from 'removing the crap we stuck you with' to 'Fresh Start' software optimization. And they want you to pay $149.99 to clean up their mess — $49.99 for 'Fresh Start' on top of the required $100.00 Vista Business upgrade. You can get about $25.00 of that cost back if you select all available 'no-software' options which are only available after selecting the $149.99 'upgrade'. Wonder what they would charge to remove Windows completely." Update 11:57 GMT by SM: It seems that massive outrage at Sony's "Fresh Start" program has encouraged them to drop the fee for scrubbing your laptop of bloatware before shipping it your way.
To be honest, it's completely reasonable that Sony charge for the bloatware-removal service, given that it costs them money. It's quite possible that for the el-cheapo machines (if Sony has any), that the only way they make money is from the fees that they charge the vendors to put the trial versions on the hard disk.
You want a computer without ads? Then expect to personally replace the lost income. Just like you would with TV.
(Or you can do the work yourself. If your time is worth $50/hr, it's pretty much a wash.)