Comments on: Trial software trying PC users' patience

More and more PC real estate is up for sale to application vendors, and that can mean a slower box for consumers.

[chrisw63]

Pay Attention Dell! HP! Gateway!

I just bought an HP loaded with crap. Included were about 50 games that had to be played on the internet (no, not multiplayer) connected to the game company - a known purveyor of spyware. Why HP would stoop to this, I have no idea.

Yes, the Google Toolbar is there, but I use Opera, so that wasn't a big deal. But every time I double click on a new text file format, Word tries to install its Trial version. Thanks, but no thanks. (Oh, and when I cancel it, it crashes! I guess the MS geeks couldn't believe anyone would ever cancel the install!!!)

Listen up, PC makers! Give me VALUE (no, really?) with my PC, not crap I have to PAY MORE FOR in 30 days. I'd rather have ONE honest all-mine useful program, game, or software package than all the trial bovine fecal matter in the world. The best software I ever got for free was a game called MDK, and I played that for years, but it was FREE, not a TRIAL.

[chrisw63]

Pay Attention Dell! HP! Gateway!

I just bought an HP loaded with crap. Included were about 50 games that had to be played on the internet (no, not multiplayer) connected to the game company - a known purveyor of spyware. Why HP would stoop to this, I have no idea.

Yes, the Google Toolbar is there, but I use Opera, so that wasn't a big deal. But every time I double click on a new text file format, Word tries to install its Trial version. Thanks, but no thanks. (Oh, and when I cancel it, it crashes! I guess the MS geeks couldn't believe anyone would ever cancel the install!!!)

Listen up, PC makers! Give me VALUE (no, really?) with my PC, not crap I have to PAY MORE FOR in 30 days. I'd rather have ONE honest all-mine useful program, game, or software package than all the trial bovine fecal matter in the world. The best software I ever got for free was a game called MDK, and I played that for years, but it was FREE, not a TRIAL.

[bluemist9999]

Good reason to buy from small name vendors

I believe they would customize your PC and wouldn't install tons of crapware, and you'd get an honest-to-goodness XP disk.

Sounds good for people who aren't comfortable building their own PCs.

[BMR777]

I bought mine from custombarebones.com - Great - Buy from small name vendor

When I was shopping for a PC that is exactly what I did. I went to http://www.custombarebones.com and I bought my current PC.

They gave me the actual OEM CD from Microsoft. Not a recovery partition, not some branded, locked XP CD, but the genuine OEM cd for Windows XP. I also requested that they not install the OS for me, that I would prefer to install it myself and they let me do that.

I recommend that if you want to buy multiple PCs, buy one from a small vendor who will give you the OEM XP CD like I got. Then to save $$$ you can buy the others from Dell or something. You can then use the OEM CD to reinstall Windows from the cd key Dell has to put on the PC.

[bluemist9999]

Good reason to buy from small name vendors

I believe they would customize your PC and wouldn't install tons of crapware, and you'd get an honest-to-goodness XP disk.

Sounds good for people who aren't comfortable building their own PCs.

[BMR777]

I bought mine from custombarebones.com - Great - Buy from small name vendor

When I was shopping for a PC that is exactly what I did. I went to http://www.custombarebones.com and I bought my current PC.

They gave me the actual OEM CD from Microsoft. Not a recovery partition, not some branded, locked XP CD, but the genuine OEM cd for Windows XP. I also requested that they not install the OS for me, that I would prefer to install it myself and they let me do that.

I recommend that if you want to buy multiple PCs, buy one from a small vendor who will give you the OEM XP CD like I got. Then to save $$$ you can buy the others from Dell or something. You can then use the OEM CD to reinstall Windows from the cd key Dell has to put on the PC.

[ajbright]

Dead on arrival

I realise not everyone has the expertise or even the time to build their own PC, and worse, even something that should be relatively simple - like wiping the hard disk and re-installing the OS is beyond the ability of most users.

Personally I would never by my own computer from any vendor, I always build from scratch, and I never spend over $800 doing it. However the computers I buy for my kids are usually refurbished models from Dell, Gateway or HP.

I do wipe them clean and re-install the OS as well as the application I want on the machines, but it's still annoying that I have to go through this process just to get a clean machine.

[ajbright]

Dead on arrival

I realise not everyone has the expertise or even the time to build their own PC, and worse, even something that should be relatively simple - like wiping the hard disk and re-installing the OS is beyond the ability of most users.

Personally I would never by my own computer from any vendor, I always build from scratch, and I never spend over $800 doing it. However the computers I buy for my kids are usually refurbished models from Dell, Gateway or HP.

I do wipe them clean and re-install the OS as well as the application I want on the machines, but it's still annoying that I have to go through this process just to get a clean machine.

[maxwis]

Causes Hell For Seniors

My 75 year old father just bought a Compaq Presario from Office Depot. It was their $299 special. He is now completely frustrated with the barrage of popups for AOL and Symantec. If he can wait long enough I will have to uninstall all this garbage for him on my next visit. The prospect of even more garbage being installed in the future by the likes of Google is just too much. I think it portends well for white box distributors who can offer a decent computer that is nagware-free out of the box. It is ironic that someone spends money to buy a new computer and then has to spend yet more money to remove the garbage that the computer mfg. installed to make an extra buck off slotting fees.

Agreed

The sad part of this garbage that gets reinstalled is that the people least likely to know how to deal with it are the ones who get screwed the most.

[maxwis]

Causes Hell For Seniors

My 75 year old father just bought a Compaq Presario from Office Depot. It was their $299 special. He is now completely frustrated with the barrage of popups for AOL and Symantec. If he can wait long enough I will have to uninstall all this garbage for him on my next visit. The prospect of even more garbage being installed in the future by the likes of Google is just too much. I think it portends well for white box distributors who can offer a decent computer that is nagware-free out of the box. It is ironic that someone spends money to buy a new computer and then has to spend yet more money to remove the garbage that the computer mfg. installed to make an extra buck off slotting fees.

Agreed

The sad part of this garbage that gets reinstalled is that the people least likely to know how to deal with it are the ones who get screwed the most.

[Michael00360]

Exactly

This is why I prefer my PC's custom built. I install what software I want, and what hardware I want. In all honesty, I think that the PC manufacturs should not initially include the extra software already installed. Instead they should include it on a disk with an explanation of the software (in plain terms so everyone can understand it), the cost (according to the company), and a complete uninstall option to completly remove it from the system. otherwise, I might just wipe the system and install stuff myself.

[Michael00360]

Exactly

This is why I prefer my PC's custom built. I install what software I want, and what hardware I want. In all honesty, I think that the PC manufacturs should not initially include the extra software already installed. Instead they should include it on a disk with an explanation of the software (in plain terms so everyone can understand it), the cost (according to the company), and a complete uninstall option to completly remove it from the system. otherwise, I might just wipe the system and install stuff myself.

[sojourn3r]

That's why Sony is so expensive

They don't sell me out to crap vendors. I always wondered why there was such a premium for Sony.

[wrestlingnrj]

Actually...

Actually if you have ever looked at how many processes a new sony computer is running, it's usually between 65-75 processes, which is a heck of a lot more than gateway and hp/compaq.

[sojourn3r]

That's why Sony is so expensive

They don't sell me out to crap vendors. I always wondered why there was such a premium for Sony.

[wrestlingnrj]

Actually...

Actually if you have ever looked at how many processes a new sony computer is running, it's usually between 65-75 processes, which is a heck of a lot more than gateway and hp/compaq.

Always get the OS CD

Its been said already a dozen times. But always, always, ALWAYS get the Windows CD. If the retailer doesnt offer it, buy from someplace else or online. Make sure your non-techie friends know this too.

I just bought a dell laptop, and after seeing all the *garbage* they put on there I wiped it and re-installed. These places REALLY need to make an option available to just receive the barebones OS without the extra crapware. At least Dell offered the option of the CD itself to make that possible. Though hunting down all the drivers was a major PITA because their driver installation tool blows and doesnt report the right hardware.

Always get the OS CD

Its been said already a dozen times. But always, always, ALWAYS get the Windows CD. If the retailer doesnt offer it, buy from someplace else or online. Make sure your non-techie friends know this too.

I just bought a dell laptop, and after seeing all the *garbage* they put on there I wiped it and re-installed. These places REALLY need to make an option available to just receive the barebones OS without the extra crapware. At least Dell offered the option of the CD itself to make that possible. Though hunting down all the drivers was a major PITA because their driver installation tool blows and doesnt report the right hardware.

[ErvServer]

build yer own pc

or better yet wipe the hard drive on any you buy....they are bloated with crapware

[ErvServer]

build yer own pc

or better yet wipe the hard drive on any you buy....they are bloated with crapware

[ErvServer]

build yer own pc

or better yet wipe the hard drive on any you buy....they are bloated with crapware

[ErvServer]

build yer own pc

or better yet wipe the hard drive on any you buy....they are bloated with crapware

[pianoplayer88key]

if you paid 4 the computer, it should be full version software.

see title.

why are they ripping us off by putting TRIAL software on a computer we have PAID FOR?

[pianoplayer88key]

if you paid 4 the computer, it should be full version software.

see title.

why are they ripping us off by putting TRIAL software on a computer we have PAID FOR?