Dell lightens the preinstalled software load

Dell took notice earlier this year when customers and the media reiterated complaints over the glut of crapware, or preinstalled PC software, packaged with new computers. Many PC makers said they do offer ways for consumers to wipe a new computer's slate clean. But this week, Dell announced it would hand more control over to customers during the purchase process.

Dell.com customers buying an XPS system, Inspiron notebook or Dimension desktop can select a "no software preinstalled" option. This will eliminate productivity, ISP, photo and music software, but not everything.

Adobe Reader, trial versions of antivirus software, and Google tools still come packaged on the desktop. PC makers have sold more of the desktop space on new computers in recent years as yet another way to squeeze out profits from the generally low-margin hardware business.

Dell also has a video up on its site showing how to use a software uninstall utility it offers on both Dimension desktops and Inspiron notebooks. See it here.

[fluffyraccoon]

Not true ...

I bought a new Dell computer in New Zealand a few months back and ticked the "no software preinstalled" option and to my annoyance the computer came loaded wth all sorts of crap including a virus checker I neither asked for or wanted and had a hell of a job removing

[ethana2]

No crapware?

You mean they come without windows? Seriously. I don't want Windows on my next machine. I may want open solaris, freebsd, ubuntu, or OSX86 (get of your high horse apple, you can make money off of me for your software or you can not, but if I want to hack osx to run on a beige box, I will. I am _not_ paying for all that pretty white plastic.)
As long as an os like windows is forced on buyers, don't tell me that the buyers have choice.

[theguitarizt]

linux on dells

http://www.dell.com/linux

Home users can get Ubuntu 7.04, businesses can get red hat or suse.

I think you can get FreeDOS too if that's what you want.

[Lindy01]

They will never get rid of it.

Its huge money. I would love a check box for "OS and drivers only". Or a OEM copy of the OS and a blank HD.

Half of the problems in the PC areana is caused by Joe User getting a PC that has a system tray with 15 icons....of crap.

Windows...even Vista runs great with a nice clean install...and ONLY the software you use.

[ubnyan]

Shipping a clean system

Computer companies such as Dell should ONLY install the OS selected by the customer and ONLY install "extras" IF the customer agrees to have them. Why do they force the customer to have something they don't want in the first place?
I have never seen a brand new system without crapware and uninstalling or deleting the unwanted software is a waste of time and sometimes this even causes OS errors.
For people who know what to do it is no problem making a clean install on a new system but in most cases customers just have to deal with what the computer "came with" - crapware.
Tip to Dell: Ship clean systems and you will gain plenty of happy customers.

[Llib Setag]

Reality Check $$$

In order for Dell to even be allowed to buy Microsoft Windows
OS dujour & get it at a very hefty discount price, they MUST pre-
install Windows on a huge amount of Dell PCs or no deal from
Citizen Gates.

MS gets a "per processor tax / fee" for every computing device
with a CPU for every PC sold by its' EOM ( Dell, etc. ) no matter if
the OS is installed or not, in order to be a licensed MS resaler
EOM.

Dell makes a lot of $$$ by making deals with other thrid party
software manufacturers to "pre-load" all their crapware & even
more if they are displayed on the desktop as icons when you
boot up...(advertising real estate space for lease on your
desktop)

So...if Dell ( or other PCs manu) do not load crapware, (Windows
or otherwise) expect to pay a lot more $$$ for your PCs even if
they come "clean to the customer".

That's the reality in a monopoly based computer industry ruled
by Citizen Gates & Big Brother Ballmer & greed.

[Sac Tinko]

Just another reason to buy a Mac

No crap.

[gsmiller88]

Yep

It's worth the investment.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Excellent point

If Dell and other OEM's followed that model of only installing the OS, drivers, and nothing else, then that would be great.

But since Dell isn't making any money off the OS like Apple does with theirs on the same system, they are going to look for other revenue streams as much as possible.

[Vegaman_Dan]

How about this for an alternative?

Remember the days when you bought a CD-ROM drive and it came with a ton of sampler/trial CD's of software you could install? Put all that junk on CD's that get included in with your new system. Market the heck out of it if you want with all sorts of graphics on the packaging.

Just make it an active effort on the part of the customer to insert the CD to install all that stuff. That way they choose it if they want. Offer free stuff, giveaways, whatever, if they install the stuff. Hopefully that way the basic system comes only with what you need.

I know it will never happen, but one can dream.

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

PCs are the junk-food of personal computing

Cheap, ubiquitous, loaded with stuff that's bad for you, crash and virus prone-- PCs are the junk food of personal computing.

Your choice . . .

[rcrusoe]

I thought I'd be smart

and get rid of the crapware on the last Dell I bought by reinstalling Windows.

But big surprise, the disk Dell sent with the computer didn't include the network, video, or sound drivers for the computer. And it's kind of hard to download the needed drivers when your network card doesn't work. Fortunately I was able to use my Mac to download the drivers.

These days I avoid the crapware problem by avoiding Windows computers completely.

[Llib Setag]

Looks Like the Commercials are working...

Hi, I'm a Mac.
Hello, and I'm a PC
"STUFFED COMMERCIAL"

http://www.apple.com/getamac/

Dell is the Wal Mart of computers & now they have finally seen the "blue light" & started selling their POC PCs AT WAL MART STORES...