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An Open Letter To PC Makers: Ditch Bloatware, Now!

MojoKid writes "This is the final straw, the last stand. This is the year that companies have to wise up and realize that they're destroying the experience of the very machines they are marketing so vigorously against their competitors. We're talking about bloatware, and it's an issue that we simply cannot remain silent on any longer. The term 'bloatware' generally refers to any additional software installed on a machine that is not a native part of the operating system. 'Bloatware' is usually provided by third-party software companies, and can range from security suites to unwanted Web browser toolbars. It's most problematic, as these programs generally attempt to boot up first thing, right as the OS is booting up, before the end-user ever has a chance to launch the program on their own accord. It's time for manufacturers to take note: consumers do not want bloatware. It's a royal pain from top to bottom, and moreover, it ruins your brand. When people think of HP and Dell, they immediately think of just how infuriating it is that their last 'new' PC took over one minute to boot up and become usable. To these companies: why are you saddling your machines with software that makes it less enjoyable to use? The solution seems pretty simple. If you still wish to include loads upon loads of third-party software, stick it all on a thumb drive and include it with every new machine. Problem solved."

12 of 609 comments (clear)

  1. Money by isorox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To these companies: why are you saddling your machines with software that makes it less enjoyable to use?

    Because they get paid a fortune to do so

    1. Re:Money by hedwards · · Score: 4, Informative

      The problem is that you shouldn't have to do that with an OS that you're paying for. It's not that big a deal if you're intending to wipe out the OS in favor of something else, but the problem is that the bloatware tends to get included on the install media. Meaning that everytime you reinstall you're stuck with the same bloatware.

      I remember having PC-Cillin running at 99% immediately upon boot with my Vaio laptop. And because Sony insisted on not shipping a proper install CD it ended up being a real pain.

    2. Re:Money by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah, he can just do what I've.. sorry, what we've all been doing since the 90s:

      Do a fresh install.

      Spend the $100 and get the Windows DVD if it bothers you that much and you have to have Windows, or install Ubuntu / Kubuntu. Your family is probably only using it for Facebook and email anyway, so you can add a dash of security by using an OS where you don't have to be admin all the time.

      The licence key that came with your PC is still valid, so if you've got a friend with a Win7 DVD, copy it and use the key. Edit / remove ei.cfg to choose the correct version for your CD key and you're golden.

      Shovelware (which is, I believe, the correct term for the bundled crapola; bloatware refers to programs that take up more room and memory as time goes by) will never go away because:

      1. You paid HP $200 for the computer.
      2. MacAfee paid HP $1.5 million* to install the 30-day trial.

      Thus, fuck you.
      *This number was totally pulled out of my ass but I would guess that it is n x $200 where n is any large number.

      Also, I have to ask why you're buying a branded machine anyway when you can get more power and a longer lasting machine for less money. I guess you have to with a laptop form factor, but that's really the only reason to not just pick up the parts and put the damned thing together yourself. And I'm saying this as a Canadian where I can't use the super-cheap deals you can get in the States.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    3. Re:Money by ScentCone · · Score: 4, Informative

      you shouldn't have to do that with an OS that you're paying for

      And, happily, you don't. You can buy PCs from any of thousands of vendors (or roll your own) without that experience. The OS is just part of what most people buy from a typical large retailer. If they don't like that experience any more than they like having an activated-for-one-year OnStar system in the car they just bought, they can shop for their computer (and their car) somewhere else. It's called a market, and it does offer more alternatives than you can count.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    4. Re:Money by Solandri · · Score: 4, Informative

      The licence key that came with your PC is still valid, so if you've got a friend with a Win7 DVD, copy it and use the key. Edit / remove ei.cfg to choose the correct version for your CD key and you're golden.

      Actually, Microsoft makes the Windows 7 DVD images available for download as part of Technet. Burn it to a DVD (or mount it with VMWare/VirtualBox) and you're good to go. You still need a valid key to activate though.

      Also, I have to ask why you're buying a branded machine anyway when you can get more power and a longer lasting machine for less money. I guess you have to with a laptop form factor, but that's really the only reason to not just pick up the parts and put the damned thing together yourself.

      Despite the bad rap Sony gets here, I rather like their solution to the problem. The Sony laptop I staged a few months ago shipped with the crapware installed. But the Restore DVD gives you two options - a total restore (Windows + drivers + crapware), or a minimal restore (Windows + drivers) with an option to pick and choose which extra apps to install. I did the minimal restore first thing after getting the laptop, and it yielded a clean fully functional system with all drivers working, and no crapware. Seems not everyone at Sony is evil.

    5. Re:Money by hairyfeet · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Do you want to pay $400 instead of $350 for the same machine? No, well say hello to bloatware! It isn't that these guys just decided "Hey,lets raise our support costs and piss off our customers but make a little scratch out the gate" no, it WAS US that demanded it thanks to the "race to the bottom".

      There are literally thousands of places online you can buy bloatware free computers, or you can stop by your local mom and pop shop and have a nice PC custom built to YOUR specs (just finishing up a nice $579 quad core for a customer here myself) but all of these will cost more than the bottom of the barrel HP or Dell, because the bloatware allows for lower prices by paying the OEM upfront to install crap. Last I head the profit margin on a low end Dell was something like $8, yet the bloatware netted $50, that is because the bloatware lowers the selling price thus letting Dell undercut everybody but the other giant OEMs. Of course I love it because people get pissed and bring it to me to clean it, thanks Dell!

      And OT but when is /. gonna fix these ^%$&^$&^$ comment boxes? The other boxes were perfectly nice and worked well (except for idle) and now I have to wonder now that the comments are dropping all over the place that folks aren't getting fed up like I am in typing and squinting when we have giant screens. C'mon /. you can do better! Hell if you can't hire one of the real coders here and they'll be happy to do it right!

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  2. Dear kid: No. by blair1q · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We get paid by the vendor to put it there, so that's money to us regardless of the price you pay for the machine. You'll buy the machine regardless of what we put on the desktop, so there is no economic reason to remove it.

    You can remove it yourself using the normal software uninstallation process. You can remove the entire operating system if you like. People with opinions like yours have been doing that for decades, now, to put alternative operating systems on the machines. How did that affect our sales? It didn't. So don't expect it to now.

    The only thing that could make us change our ways is if it actually starts costing us money, and since boot time is your time, not ours, it doesn't cost us a thing.

  3. A tool I have found useful over the years... by liquidweaver · · Score: 5, Informative

    is PC Decrapifier. It's free, lightweight, requires no install, and just works. http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/ It's not perfect, but it removes a good hunk of the stuff.

    --
    mov ah, 4ch
    int 21h
  4. PC Decrapifier by DigiShaman · · Score: 4, Informative

    Try PC Decrapifier. http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

    Rather then cracking open that Add/Remove program list, just run this program and it will run through the process for you.

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  5. Crapware by Threni · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's crapware, not bloatware. Bloatware is shit like Microsoft's apps which are huge and slow but are at least 'functional' in some sense of the word.

    Crapware is all the toolbars and trial virus checkers and other rubbish which is responsible for your machine taking 20 minutes to boot up and the drive light to never quite go out.

  6. Microsoft will do this for you by flibbidyfloo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just shop at a Microsoft store (online or at retail). The PCs they sell are part of their "Signature" program whereby they remove all crap/bloatware and optimize the Windows install to run its best on that hardware.

    Of course it's a bit more expensive, but it looks like it's worth it for the performance improvements and lack of hassle that you get.

    No, i don't work for MS. I just think it's a good option.

      http://signature.microsoft.com/

  7. Re:One can only hope... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I suspect that the one really pissed is Microsoft.

    The vendor, at least, gets paid, and all their competitors are doing the same thing; but Microsoft doesn't see the cash, and the bloatware makes them look pathetic next to OSX, even in areas where they don't deserve it.

    Slave for months getting Windows N+1 to boot really fast? Hahah, suckers, HP just signed a deal with 3 AV companies at once... Kiss your positive consumer perception goodbye.