Comments on: Should Microsoft Un-Bundle Apps From Windows? http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/ Technology News Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:45:09 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: anonymous-bot http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143927 anonymous-bot Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:51:48 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143927 Like has been said, I think a more barebones Windows OS would be nice. Theres lots of apps (and features) I dont use. Like has been said, I think a more barebones Windows OS would be nice. Theres lots of apps (and features) I dont use.

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143757 Ryan Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:29:49 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143757 <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-143674" rel="nofollow">Ian Cammarata wrote:</a><blockquote>YES!!! Bundled apps are the greatest disadvantage of windows at this point. Take the problem I just had for example. Installed a windows update, it broke WMP, had no way to repair it because it won’t let you reinstall. Ended up reinstalling windows to fix it. Only thing that should come bundled is IE, and even that should try and be less closely integrated to avoid the situation in my example.</blockquote></div> Although if Windows didn't come with WMP then a lot of API's could also be broken. Developers use those a lot to embed media in their own programs. I guess they could try to include what's necessary for the API's, and remove the program though. <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-143681" rel="nofollow">msdz wrote:</a><blockquote>I think MS should not have a bunch of added applications added to the next version they release but instead have the applications readily available for people to download if they want certain applications. This would benefit the hardcore gamers by freeing up resources for the gaming rigs.</blockquote></div> I definitely agree. They just need to make it easy for people to find and download these apps. Maybe this could be done by offering them as downloads when the user starts up the computer for the first time. <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-143742" rel="nofollow">M1ke wrote:</a><blockquote>I think its foolish to say they won’t include these Apps. Sure the hardcore complain about bloat, but that’s because we know how to get better applications and will also know about optimisation etc. Just look at Apple’s ad campaigns - they harp on that you can make movies, organise photos, make albums, view art for your music, have video conversations etc. Apple bundle almost every App except a decent Office rival with the OS and people love them for it.</blockquote></div> I think Microsoft could not bundle the apps, and still make it easy for people to download though. For example, in Vista there is no Windows Live Messenger included. Instead a download link for Windows Live Messenger is shown in the Start menu. That way people don't have to go find the download, and yet Microsoft isn't bundling the app. Ian Cammarata wrote:
YES!!! Bundled apps are the greatest disadvantage of windows at this point. Take the problem I just had for example. Installed a windows update, it broke WMP, had no way to repair it because it won’t let you reinstall. Ended up reinstalling windows to fix it. Only thing that should come bundled is IE, and even that should try and be less closely integrated to avoid the situation in my example.

Although if Windows didn’t come with WMP then a lot of API’s could also be broken. Developers use those a lot to embed media in their own programs. I guess they could try to include what’s necessary for the API’s, and remove the program though.

msdz wrote:
I think MS should not have a bunch of added applications added to the next version they release but instead have the applications readily available for people to download if they want certain applications. This would benefit the hardcore gamers by freeing up resources for the gaming rigs.

I definitely agree. They just need to make it easy for people to find and download these apps. Maybe this could be done by offering them as downloads when the user starts up the computer for the first time.

M1ke wrote:
I think its foolish to say they won’t include these Apps. Sure the hardcore complain about bloat, but that’s because we know how to get better applications and will also know about optimisation etc. Just look at Apple’s ad campaigns – they harp on that you can make movies, organise photos, make albums, view art for your music, have video conversations etc. Apple bundle almost every App except a decent Office rival with the OS and people love them for it.

I think Microsoft could not bundle the apps, and still make it easy for people to download though. For example, in Vista there is no Windows Live Messenger included. Instead a download link for Windows Live Messenger is shown in the Start menu. That way people don’t have to go find the download, and yet Microsoft isn’t bundling the app.

]]> By: M1ke http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143742 M1ke Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:16:03 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143742 I think its foolish to say they won't include these Apps. Sure the hardcore complain about bloat, but that's because we know how to get better applications and will also know about optimisation etc. Just look at Apple's ad campaigns - they harp on that you can make movies, organise photos, make albums, view art for your music, have video conversations etc. Apple bundle almost every App except a decent Office rival with the OS and people love them for it. What's important for Windows is that all the Apps _can_ be uninstalled without loosing functionality. Streamline the OS by all means and allow an option to install without them, but default should install them. Better yet, by removing the Apps from Windows itself they could integrate them with each other a lot better (basically making them synonymous with Windows Live Apps) which would improve things across the board. So any version of Windows would come with all the latest Live Apps (iLive anyone? :P ) and then any changes Microsoft make to them could be added as updates rather than new programs, or even updated from the internet as the OS installs. I think its foolish to say they won’t include these Apps. Sure the hardcore complain about bloat, but that’s because we know how to get better applications and will also know about optimisation etc. Just look at Apple’s ad campaigns – they harp on that you can make movies, organise photos, make albums, view art for your music, have video conversations etc. Apple bundle almost every App except a decent Office rival with the OS and people love them for it.

What’s important for Windows is that all the Apps _can_ be uninstalled without loosing functionality. Streamline the OS by all means and allow an option to install without them, but default should install them.

Better yet, by removing the Apps from Windows itself they could integrate them with each other a lot better (basically making them synonymous with Windows Live Apps) which would improve things across the board. So any version of Windows would come with all the latest Live Apps (iLive anyone? :P ) and then any changes Microsoft make to them could be added as updates rather than new programs, or even updated from the internet as the OS installs.

]]> By: MK http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143705 MK Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:39:30 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143705 Un-bundle the applications from the default installation, and put them in a CD. They can prompt users to install it in the "Welcome to Windows" message. Also, get rid of the annoying Windows Live installer, and let us have a stand-alone executable, please. Un-bundle the applications from the default installation, and put them in a CD. They can prompt users to install it in the “Welcome to Windows” message.

Also, get rid of the annoying Windows Live installer, and let us have a stand-alone executable, please.

]]> By: msdz http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143681 msdz Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:05:46 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143681 I think MS should not have a bunch of added applications added to the next version they release but instead have the applications readily available for people to download if they want certain applications. This would benefit the hardcore gamers by freeing up resources for the gaming rigs. I think MS should not have a bunch of added applications added to the next version they release but instead have the applications readily available for people to download if they want certain applications. This would benefit the hardcore gamers by freeing up resources for the gaming rigs.

]]> By: wykedengel http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143678 wykedengel Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:36:00 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143678 i will be the first to admit that i vlite the heck out of my legit windows home premium. i have a computer and a laptop. my pc is my media center and my laptop is for work. for the media center, i remove everything except for networking and vista media center. windows mail, calendar, etc. all goes by the wayside. for my laptop, everything except for networking and other vital pc functions remain. there are no games or media center components on my laptop. for as much as computers do cost, i don't like anyone telling me what i should have on my pc. if i paid for it, then allow me to do what i want to do with it (in reason). i don't feel as if i am pirating the software because (a) i purchased the software by way of purchasing the computers and (b) i am not sharing the moded os installs with anyone. to make a long story short, i think microsoft should release a clean version of its new os and allow users to decide what they want to add to it (a la carte) and maybe charge a reasonable fee for the add-ons. that way, the people who want windows live mail, calendar, movie maker and the like can have it; and for people like me, who things such software is a waste of space we can be without the annoyances. i will be the first to admit that i vlite the heck out of my legit windows home premium. i have a computer and a laptop. my pc is my media center and my laptop is for work. for the media center, i remove everything except for networking and vista media center. windows mail, calendar, etc. all goes by the wayside. for my laptop, everything except for networking and other vital pc functions remain. there are no games or media center components on my laptop. for as much as computers do cost, i don’t like anyone telling me what i should have on my pc. if i paid for it, then allow me to do what i want to do with it (in reason). i don’t feel as if i am pirating the software because (a) i purchased the software by way of purchasing the computers and (b) i am not sharing the moded os installs with anyone. to make a long story short, i think microsoft should release a clean version of its new os and allow users to decide what they want to add to it (a la carte) and maybe charge a reasonable fee for the add-ons. that way, the people who want windows live mail, calendar, movie maker and the like can have it; and for people like me, who things such software is a waste of space we can be without the annoyances.

]]> By: Ted Murphy http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143676 Ted Murphy Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:05:13 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143676 I used the movie maker app recently - it was fine for what I needed, and I was glad to have it there. The annoying thing is not the extra apps, its when they make the presence of the apps an advertisement. Microsoft should be more aggressive in making sure they and their partners do not make the apps that are freely available a hindrance rather than a help. Some examples: - Anything from Norton and AOL should be taken out on the street, burned to a crisp and stomped on using old boots. - Adobe reader doesn't work on Vista business without an upgrade. wtf?! - purchasing a license for office on Vista should be a credit card entry away, not a jaunt down to my nearest computer store. I used the movie maker app recently – it was fine for what I needed, and I was glad to have it there.

The annoying thing is not the extra apps, its when they make the presence of the apps an advertisement. Microsoft should be more aggressive in making sure they and their partners do not make the apps that are freely available a hindrance rather than a help.

Some examples:

- Anything from Norton and AOL should be taken out on the street, burned to a crisp and stomped on using old boots.

- Adobe reader doesn’t work on Vista business without an upgrade. wtf?!

- purchasing a license for office on Vista should be a credit card entry away, not a jaunt down to my nearest computer store.

]]> By: Ian Cammarata http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143674 Ian Cammarata Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:37:36 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143674 YES!!! Bundled apps are the greatest disadvantage of windows at this point. Take the problem I just had for example. Installed a windows update, it broke WMP, had no way to repair it because it won't let you reinstall. Ended up reinstalling windows to fix it. Only thing that should come bundled is IE, and even that should try and be less closely integrated to avoid the situation in my example. YES!!! Bundled apps are the greatest disadvantage of windows at this point. Take the problem I just had for example. Installed a windows update, it broke WMP, had no way to repair it because it won’t let you reinstall. Ended up reinstalling windows to fix it. Only thing that should come bundled is IE, and even that should try and be less closely integrated to avoid the situation in my example.

]]> By: netster007x http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143673 netster007x Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:50:07 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143673 I was working on something today, and photo gallery proved incredibly quick and EZ for simple things like rotating & cropping. It's great that it keeps originals available for all edits so I never have to worry about messing up a pic. I was working on something today, and photo gallery proved incredibly quick and EZ for simple things like rotating & cropping. It’s great that it keeps originals available for all edits so I never have to worry about messing up a pic.

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/should-microsoft-un-bundle-apps-from-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-143664 Ryan Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:41:50 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=15356#comment-143664 <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-143616" rel="nofollow">Anonymous wrote:</a><blockquote>They include the extras so they use their OS dominance to crush the competition, same than with the browser.</blockquote></div> Well, one could argue that including a mail app could keep people from buying Outlook... one of their own products. <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-143617" rel="nofollow">mrcool10 wrote:</a><blockquote>Maybe they should include it on the CD/DVD but give users the option of installing it during OS setup, with the default being OFF, and then have it in the Add/Remove programs thing.</blockquote></div> I would love to see a more "advanced" install option where users can pick and choose what they want without a program like nlite/vlite. <div class="commentquote"><a href="#comment-143648" rel="nofollow">netster007x wrote:</a><blockquote>In theory this sounds good, but some things are nice to have. For example, photo gallery is very useful just for a simple, quick UI to do pic slideshows, and view in fullscreen. IE is necessary for gettin on web in 1st place. Notepad & calc are nice for plain text notes and math calculations</blockquote></div> I do like the Photo Gallery app that comes with Vista, although the Windows Live Photo Gallery is a little nicer. Anonymous wrote:
They include the extras so they use their OS dominance to crush the competition, same than with the browser.

Well, one could argue that including a mail app could keep people from buying Outlook… one of their own products.

mrcool10 wrote:
Maybe they should include it on the CD/DVD but give users the option of installing it during OS setup, with the default being OFF, and then have it in the Add/Remove programs thing.

I would love to see a more “advanced” install option where users can pick and choose what they want without a program like nlite/vlite.

netster007x wrote:
In theory this sounds good, but some things are nice to have. For example, photo gallery is very useful just for a simple, quick UI to do pic slideshows, and view in fullscreen. IE is necessary for gettin on web in 1st place. Notepad & calc are nice for plain text notes and math calculations

I do like the Photo Gallery app that comes with Vista, although the Windows Live Photo Gallery is a little nicer.

]]>