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."

A tool I have found useful over the years...

[liquidweaver]

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

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Money

[hedwards]

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.

Re:Simple solution:

[Shadow of Eternity]

http://thenextweb.com/apple/files/2010/09/mac01.jpg [thenextweb.com]

Between enormously inflated prices for absolute cut rate hardware and their forced upgrade treadmill they're doing great.

Re:Simple solution:

[jedidiah]

No. Macs cost substantially more. Or rather they come with substantially less in terms of hardware.

When you are not constrained by cloning a Mac, it's pretty easy to run circles around one while spending a lot less.

Although MacOS will do better than Windows on the same relatively meagre hardware.

Re:Money

[ScentCone]

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.

Re:Simple solution:

[davev2.0]

The Mac is a market niche where people are paying a much higher price for a specific name and experience. Adding "bloatware" would take the focus off of Apple and put it on the applications. And, you are wrong a Mac costs substantially more than a Windows based PC. The Dell equivalent of the basic Macbook costs 25% less.

Re:Fantasyland

[blair1q]

When you assume, you make an ass out of you. Just you. Not me.

Re:Money

[Solandri]

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 [mydigitallife.info] 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.

Re:your world must be quite narrow.

[Rizimar]

Most people I've talked to about computers are well aware that you can build your own PCs from scratch. The problem is that the "whopping majority" doesn't know how to do it. There are other options as well, such as having a knowledgeable friend help you to build one, buy a custom-made one from a local PC shop, buy a used computer from someone nearby that didn't come with bloatware or doesn't currently have it, or just uninstall the bloat when you buy the new computer that you want. It doesn't exactly require a degree in computer science to uninstall a program from a Windows machine, and if there are any difficulties, anyone can type "How to remove [software] from Windows" or something similar into Google and find an answer.