Bloatware Removal Threatens PC Industry Profits 341
Anti-Globalism sends along a piece on how a consumer-friendly service is not so good for PC manufacturers. "Before they ship PCs to retailers like Best Buy, computer makers load them up with lots of free software. For $30, Best Buy will get rid of it for you. That simple cleanup service is threatening the precarious economics of the personal computer industry. Software companies pay hundreds of millions of dollars to PC makers like Hewlett-Packard to install their photo tools, financial programs, and other products, usually with some tie-in to a paid service or upgrade. With margins growing thinner than most laptops, this critical revenue can make the difference between profit and loss for the computer makers, industry analysts say."
Flying (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Your failed business model is not my problem (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Not sure how I feel about this... (Score:3, Interesting)
Wait a minute, that's what this entire article is about!
I have had enough trouble getting warranty support for DOA mobos, processors, power supplies, etc. that I generally don't bother building machines anymore.
For most people, it works best and costs least to buy a $300 closeout special from microcenter and if it doesn't work you can walk it back to the store.
Re:We call this the linux philosophy (Score:4, Interesting)
They're all surprised when they find out it's not rocket science, and they end up with a better pc than they'd get at Best Buy for a fraction of the cost, custom built to their needs and sans bloatware. Many have gone on to build their next generation pc without my help.
I think that's a bigger threat to retail PC sales than removing bloatware, the current generation who are growing up with gadgets and computers will be even more likely to take on building their own computers. It really makes no sense to buy a retail pc, they cost more, they come with stuff you don't need, they're missing stuff you do need, they're little more than marketing in a box. I think the only reason people buy them is because they are intimidated by the prospect of building their own, or don't realize they're being gamed.
Re:We call this the linux philosophy (Score:3, Interesting)
Like Ryanair where you have to pay extra for everything, even the permission to bring luggage - and then they dump you at some rural airport with limited connections which means that you will pay the price anyway, but on the ground.
Air France is a "no go" on my list. Rude behavior, bad timing, sleepover at hotel rooms that looks like they are rented per hour etc.
Iceland Air and Virgin Atlantic are currently on my positive list.
SAS is somewhere in between right now.
Re:We call this the linux philosophy (Score:2, Interesting)
Unfortunately, we don't have anything like that in the US. Our budget airlines are about half the price of the major ones. It's unheard of to buy tickets here for a couple bucks like you can on Ryanair.
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:We call this the linux philosophy (Score:1, Interesting)
Preloaded software is a huge advantage ... (Score:3, Interesting)
... to people still stuck with dialup speed access (to the internet or a BBS) or who need to have media mailed to them. Of course the reality today is that those with broadband access no longer need to have everything preloaded. The vendors adopted that model back when it was helpful to consumers. But like most big corporations, they are now stuck on something that no longer makes any sense.
Re:Simple solution (Score:3, Interesting)
Actually a big part of the problem is that Windows is to expensive.
The reason that a Linux PC costs about the same as a Windows PC is that the manufactures make enough money of the caplets to pay for Windows.
Maybe all PCs should be sold naked and then you have to buy what ever OS you want.
BTW most serves I see are sold that way.