Comments on: Would You Pay $50 for a Bloat-Free Computer? http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/ Technology News Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:25:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133610 Ryan Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:08:22 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133610 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133493" rel="nofollow">Lewis wrote:</a><blockquote>Really? I guess I was just lucky then. I got a Vista Business install DVD, which I thought was very odd considering they’ll usually only give you a restore CD. Did you buy Vista home or Vista business? It may be a new thing they’re doing or something.</blockquote>[/div] It was Vista Home which might explain things. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133538" rel="nofollow">leland wrote:</a><blockquote>Actually my boss bought a Vista Home Premium laptop and got the DVD plus restore disc. I think it’s part of Microsoft’s new upgrade anytime program, they include the DVD so you can upgrade to the higher end version at any time thus bringing in more money to Microsoft at a minimal cost of including the DVD with all OEM installations. At least that is what HP indicated when I inquired.</blockquote>[/div] I did get the Anytime Upgrade DVD, but from what I've read that can't be used to perform a fresh installation. I could be wrong since I've never actually tried it, but I think that is just for upgrading from one version of Vista to another. Lewis wrote:
Really? I guess I was just lucky then. I got a Vista Business install DVD, which I thought was very odd considering they’ll usually only give you a restore CD.

Did you buy Vista home or Vista business? It may be a new thing they’re doing or something.

It was Vista Home which might explain things.

leland wrote:
Actually my boss bought a Vista Home Premium laptop and got the DVD plus restore disc. I think it’s part of Microsoft’s new upgrade anytime program, they include the DVD so you can upgrade to the higher end version at any time thus bringing in more money to Microsoft at a minimal cost of including the DVD with all OEM installations. At least that is what HP indicated when I inquired.

I did get the Anytime Upgrade DVD, but from what I’ve read that can’t be used to perform a fresh installation. I could be wrong since I’ve never actually tried it, but I think that is just for upgrading from one version of Vista to another.

]]> By: leland http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133538 leland Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:05:29 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133538 Actually my boss bought a Vista Home Premium laptop and got the DVD plus restore disc. I think it's part of Microsoft's new upgrade anytime program, they include the DVD so you can upgrade to the higher end version at any time thus bringing in more money to Microsoft at a minimal cost of including the DVD with all OEM installations. At least that is what HP indicated when I inquired. Actually my boss bought a Vista Home Premium laptop and got the DVD plus restore disc. I think it’s part of Microsoft’s new upgrade anytime program, they include the DVD so you can upgrade to the higher end version at any time thus bringing in more money to Microsoft at a minimal cost of including the DVD with all OEM installations. At least that is what HP indicated when I inquired.

]]> By: Lewis http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133493 Lewis Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:20:26 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133493 Really? I guess I was just lucky then. I got a Vista Business install DVD, which I thought was very odd considering they'll usually only give you a restore CD. Did you buy Vista home or Vista business? It may be a new thing they're doing or something. Really? I guess I was just lucky then. I got a Vista Business install DVD, which I thought was very odd considering they’ll usually only give you a restore CD.

Did you buy Vista home or Vista business? It may be a new thing they’re doing or something.

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133454 Ryan Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:05:46 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133454 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133418" rel="nofollow">Max wrote:</a><blockquote>I wouldn’t pay $50 extra just because removing all that software isn’t difficult and I could do it myself for free.</blockquote>[/div] Things like AOL and a lot of the security suites really embed themselves in your computer though. So even though you run through the uninstall process not everything is actually removed. That's the thing that really irks me. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133425" rel="nofollow">motang wrote:</a><blockquote>No way, I would build my desktop (which I did couple of days ago) if it’s a laptop then I would just uninstall all the crap (like I did with my laptop). 8)</blockquote>[/div] I agree with you about building your desktop. That definitely saves a lot of heartache, but you do have to go out and buy the operating system yourself. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133426" rel="nofollow">curtissthompson wrote:</a><blockquote>It’s a business they make money from having these trails preinstalled on systems. It’s a form of advertisement aimed at growing the software companies subscriber/consumer base. There have been several surveys done by major computer companies to see how much people would pay for such a service to remove bloatware and $50 was the sweet spot. So naturally, if they can’t make money off of preinstalling bloatware, then they are going to try and charge you a fee instead.</blockquote>[/div] You're right on the money there. That's one of the reasons I wouldn't actually mind paying assuming that they do provide restore media to take it back to the clean state anytime that I want. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133421" rel="nofollow">Lewis wrote:</a><blockquote>If you buy a Dell from its business section you get it bloat free. I even got the original Vista DVD which is surprising. Their home ones still come with some of the bloatware though.</blockquote>[/div] Huh, I've bought from their business side before and didn't get the actual Vista DVD. I got the anytime upgrade DVD, but that's not used for a clean install of Vista. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-133447" rel="nofollow">Bamboo wrote:</a><blockquote>Engadget is now reporting that Sony got scared about all the negative press, and has announced they will now offer the option for free!</blockquote>[/div] Yup, you're exactly right. We just wrote a new article about that. Max wrote:
I wouldn’t pay $50 extra just because removing all that software isn’t difficult and I could do it myself for free.

Things like AOL and a lot of the security suites really embed themselves in your computer though. So even though you run through the uninstall process not everything is actually removed. That’s the thing that really irks me.

motang wrote:
No way, I would build my desktop (which I did couple of days ago) if it’s a laptop then I would just uninstall all the crap (like I did with my laptop). 8)

I agree with you about building your desktop. That definitely saves a lot of heartache, but you do have to go out and buy the operating system yourself.

curtissthompson wrote:
It’s a business they make money from having these trails preinstalled on systems. It’s a form of advertisement aimed at growing the software companies subscriber/consumer base. There have been several surveys done by major computer companies to see how much people would pay for such a service to remove bloatware and $50 was the sweet spot. So naturally, if they can’t make money off of preinstalling bloatware, then they are going to try and charge you a fee instead.

You’re right on the money there. That’s one of the reasons I wouldn’t actually mind paying assuming that they do provide restore media to take it back to the clean state anytime that I want.

Lewis wrote:
If you buy a Dell from its business section you get it bloat free. I even got the original Vista DVD which is surprising. Their home ones still come with some of the bloatware though.

Huh, I’ve bought from their business side before and didn’t get the actual Vista DVD. I got the anytime upgrade DVD, but that’s not used for a clean install of Vista.

Bamboo wrote:
Engadget is now reporting that Sony got scared about all the negative press, and has announced they will now offer the option for free!

Yup, you’re exactly right. We just wrote a new article about that.

]]> By: Michael Dobrofsky http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133449 Michael Dobrofsky Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:18:55 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133449 No way, I would not pay. Once people start paying for this kinda thing, companies will line up and they'll all wanna charge like it's blackmail. "Pay $99 or else we'll fill your PC will crap." Ridiculous. No way, I would not pay. Once people start paying for this kinda thing, companies will line up and they’ll all wanna charge like it’s blackmail. “Pay $99 or else we’ll fill your PC will crap.”

Ridiculous.

]]> By: Bamboo http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133447 Bamboo Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:03:43 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133447 Engadget is now reporting that Sony got scared about all the negative press, and has announced they will now offer the option for free! One win for the little guy................ Engadget is now reporting that Sony got scared about all the negative press, and has announced they will now offer the option for free!

One win for the little guy…………….

]]> By: Amak http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133444 Amak Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:44:09 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133444 Not only would I not pay, I wouldn't even buy the laptop. Why do they need to bundle 90% of the junk anyway? Way to go Sony, you ALWAYS come up with new ways to screw over the consumer. Not only would I not pay, I wouldn’t even buy the laptop. Why do they need to bundle 90% of the junk anyway? Way to go Sony, you ALWAYS come up with new ways to screw over the consumer.

]]> By: leland http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133430 leland Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:34:37 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133430 I would not pay $50 to not have the software pre-installed. I know exactly what I am doing so I can either uninstall it myself or install from scratch if needed. But many users do not have the knowledge to do this and would be willing to pay. But for those who don't know how there is The PC Decrapifier http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/ which will do the job and requires very little knowledge. I would not pay $50 to not have the software pre-installed. I know exactly what I am doing so I can either uninstall it myself or install from scratch if needed. But many users do not have the knowledge to do this and would be willing to pay. But for those who don’t know how there is The PC Decrapifier http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/ which will do the job and requires very little knowledge.

]]> By: curtissthompson http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133426 curtissthompson Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:31:49 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133426 It's a business they make money from having these trails preinstalled on systems. It's a form of advertisement aimed at growing the software companies subscriber/consumer base. There have been several surveys done by major computer companies to see how much people would pay for such a service to remove bloatware and $50 was the sweet spot. So naturally, if they can't make money off of preinstalling bloatware, then they are going to try and charge you a fee instead. This is why I don't purchase PCs from retailers except in situations where I absolutely have to, like when I need a new laptop, and even then I get it 50% off or less on black Friday, and spend the time myself either deep cleaning the PC, or simply reformatting the HDD and reinstalling XP. I prefer building my desktop PCs on my own... I get more performance for less money and don't have to deal with bloatware or an OS I don't want. It’s a business they make money from having these trails preinstalled on systems. It’s a form of advertisement aimed at growing the software companies subscriber/consumer base. There have been several surveys done by major computer companies to see how much people would pay for such a service to remove bloatware and $50 was the sweet spot. So naturally, if they can’t make money off of preinstalling bloatware, then they are going to try and charge you a fee instead.

This is why I don’t purchase PCs from retailers except in situations where I absolutely have to, like when I need a new laptop, and even then I get it 50% off or less on black Friday, and spend the time myself either deep cleaning the PC, or simply reformatting the HDD and reinstalling XP. I prefer building my desktop PCs on my own… I get more performance for less money and don’t have to deal with bloatware or an OS I don’t want.

]]> By: motang http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133425 motang Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:30:39 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133425 No way, I would build my desktop (which I did couple of days ago) if it's a laptop then I would just uninstall all the crap (like I did with my laptop). 8) No way, I would build my desktop (which I did couple of days ago) if it’s a laptop then I would just uninstall all the crap (like I did with my laptop). 8)

]]> By: The Guru http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133424 The Guru Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:27:40 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133424 I wouldn't pay. When I bought my Vista machine back in October, Best Buy offered (bribed) to remove the software. The only thing I removed off this machine was Norton Anti Virus. Everything else I have left, mainly because it does not run at start up and I have plenty of disk space. I wouldn’t pay. When I bought my Vista machine back in October, Best Buy offered (bribed) to remove the software. The only thing I removed off this machine was Norton Anti Virus. Everything else I have left, mainly because it does not run at start up and I have plenty of disk space.

]]> By: Lewis http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133421 Lewis Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:46:19 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133421 If you buy a Dell from its business section you get it bloat free. I even got the original Vista DVD which is surprising. Their home ones still come with some of the bloatware though. It's not that bad of them charging $50, as they probably get money from all the bloatware that allows them to make the laptop cheaper in the first place. If you buy a Dell from its business section you get it bloat free. I even got the original Vista DVD which is surprising. Their home ones still come with some of the bloatware though.

It’s not that bad of them charging $50, as they probably get money from all the bloatware that allows them to make the laptop cheaper in the first place.

]]> By: Max http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133418 Max Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:17:45 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133418 I wouldn't pay $50 extra just because removing all that software isn't difficult and I could do it myself for free. But if I had no idea how to remove that software, then adding $50 to a $2000 computer isn't that big of a deal and I would probably do it. I wouldn’t pay $50 extra just because removing all that software isn’t difficult and I could do it myself for free. But if I had no idea how to remove that software, then adding $50 to a $2000 computer isn’t that big of a deal and I would probably do it.

]]> By: DKong http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133417 DKong Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:13:53 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/21/would-you-pay-50-for-a-bloat-free-computer/#comment-133417 No. Why pay more for less stuff? If anything, they should charge you $50 for putting all the software on the comp to begin with. Then again, if I had a pile of money, $50 would be nothing compared to the time I'd save by not having to uninstall all the crap. No. Why pay more for less stuff? If anything, they should charge you $50 for putting all the software on the comp to begin with.

Then again, if I had a pile of money, $50 would be nothing compared to the time I’d save by not having to uninstall all the crap.

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