@UnderLoK: Also, unless you work in IT, you probably wouldn't see them anyway since they primarially make enterprise products, not consumer ones. #hpbuys3com
And this is why PCs get a bad rap. And it's not just that they slow things down, a lot of these programs are buggy as hell.
The vast majority of problems I've seen on "fresh" PCs has nothing to do with the OS, or even the drivers, but the 30-day trial for such-and-such weather monitor or some other useless crap app the OEM gets paid to put on there. #crapware
[timidly raises hand at the back of the room] I thought "bloatware" referred to apps that tend to get huge and unwieldy, sucking up HDD space and sometimes memory (think MS Word). I thought the term for all the crap that comes preloaded on a PC was, well, "crapware". Did I miss a memo? #crapware
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@ripfire: Because windows becomes insanely unstable when continually sleeping and waking. They haven't quite nailed this on any OS (Macs can become quite unstable too).
First thing I do with a laptop is nuke it and install a real version of Windows if it's to be a Windows machine. My HP TX2 is quite snappy with booting after I nuked it. #crapware
@sortius: I generally have my MBP go in and out of sleep for about a week or more most of the time, and I haven't seen any stability issues. I have an old Dell Inspiron that I almost never turn off as well, and I used to avoid putting it to sleep because of serious BSOD's after a while, but since the update to SP3, I haven't had a problem since. #crapware
@sortius: Interesting. I don't have any problems with my PC going into sleep mode. In fact, it's gotten better with Windows 7 with sleep/hibernate hybrid. #crapware
@Kaiser-Machead: Seconded. my current record for my MacBook Pro is 38 days up-time before I had to reboot for an update. It's always been reliable in sleep mode. #crapware
@jayhawk11: Yeah, and the newer MBP makes it a bit easier, because it almost seems to sip almost no juice at all in sleep mode. Left it at home one day after fully charging it, came home around 7:30 and the thing still had 96% juice left off the power supply. #crapware
@sortius: I hybernate my work laptop every single day and normally after a couple months something will finally crash, but it's normally Firefox (normally when it has been sitting on 800mb+ of ram for weeks). It also sleeps every day when I take my lunch.
My MB is constantly sleeping and I haven't had any issues there either except after extended periods. #crapware
Unfortunately, not enough consumers knows or will ever know about this.
So there can be some complaints and stuff, but in the end, it's still profitable for those manufacturers to keep the bloatware there.
Even more when it's exactly those who don't know much about the stuff they are buying the ones who will eventually pay for the demos and limited software.
Like most business models, this isn't targeting consumer satisfaction, but rather profit. #crapware
@Andrieux E Fernanda: Are you crazy? Google ADDS crap onto your system. I love their products, but no, please don't try to shovel nasty bloated tool bars onto my browser or have stuff at start up that isn't necessary. #crapware
@jibbly: You owned up to it, good job! Everyone fucks up from time to time!
As a side note, I absolutely hate just about every free app installer for PC. "Install the Yahoo/Google/MyPC/DressUp Girl/Donkey Dick Toolbar for IE!"
I can always tell when I work on a computer with 5 toolbars that the person either doesn't know what they are doing or doesn't care, and has been programmed to think they need to buy a new computer every 2 years because "the megabytes are getting low, and the ram is slowing down".
That is why I will build my next computer. I bought Apple because of Vista and bloatware, but I need a computer that I can really fiddle with as far as changing out stuff. I will probably continue to use Apple laptops because I like the look and feel etc. Windows 7 all the way though. #crapware
@TBM-Fan: True, but another reason I like the resellers is that I can usually get better hardware, too. Rather than tossing some crap hard drive & memory in there made by lord knows who, they let you choose premium components. #crapware
I am not defending bloatware. However, that bloatware is why you generally pay a little less for a PC laptop. Companies pay OEMs to have their software preinstalled and, like the eye-level shelves in the supermarket, pay a premium to have a desktop icon.
There should be an option for an "unsubsidized" version of a laptop that comes with the OEM drivers preinstalled but without any of the bloatware.
In fact, I'm surprised that the major OEMs don't offer it. I'm sure there is a market for people to pay an extra $100 - $200 for not having to uninstall a lot of junk.#crapware
@OMG! Ponies!: You nailed it. Bloatware is the only reason companies like AOL are still around at all. A lot of people just go with whatever is already installed on their computer when they buy it. #crapware
@anexanhume: I just bought a Vaio laptop off the shelf at Best Buy on Win7 launch day. The only pre-installed software was an MS Office trial, Norton and Chrome. I was incredibly impressed. I was prepared to spend 2 hours uninstalling everything under the sun. #crapware
@OMG! Ponies!: I do occasional computer building as part of my IT business, and was approached by a few companies offering cash to preinstall their crap on my customers' computers.
I didn't take them up on that, but I can sure see where an OEM maker would be tempted to add a hundred bucks to the bottom line of every machine they sell. Pass the money to the consumer in the form of a discount? Hell no. #crapware
PC Decrapifier FTW! I absolutely hate all that crud that comes factory installed, especially the M$ Works trial install me now program. That application has made uninstalling alll that stuff a breeze.
11/11/09
You know, for herbal infusing... #hpbuys3com
11/11/09
My CentOS box is still sporting a 3c905. #hpbuys3com
11/11/09
As opposed to a 3c509, which will do 100 half, but not 100 full... #hpbuys3com
11/11/09
edit: oh and it's a rev b :P
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The vast majority of problems I've seen on "fresh" PCs has nothing to do with the OS, or even the drivers, but the 30-day trial for such-and-such weather monitor or some other useless crap app the OEM gets paid to put on there. #crapware
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First thing I do with a laptop is nuke it and install a real version of Windows if it's to be a Windows machine. My HP TX2 is quite snappy with booting after I nuked it. #crapware
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My MB is constantly sleeping and I haven't had any issues there either except after extended periods. #crapware
10/29/09
So there can be some complaints and stuff, but in the end, it's still profitable for those manufacturers to keep the bloatware there.
Even more when it's exactly those who don't know much about the stuff they are buying the ones who will eventually pay for the demos and limited software.
Like most business models, this isn't targeting consumer satisfaction, but rather profit. #crapware
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I have only one excuse: My actual job interfered with dicking around on Gizmodo.
I apologize and am currently seasoning my foot with EVOO, salt, and pepper. #crapware
10/30/09
As a side note, I absolutely hate just about every free app installer for PC. "Install the Yahoo/Google/MyPC/DressUp Girl/Donkey Dick Toolbar for IE!"
I can always tell when I work on a computer with 5 toolbars that the person either doesn't know what they are doing or doesn't care, and has been programmed to think they need to buy a new computer every 2 years because "the megabytes are getting low, and the ram is slowing down".
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Bloatware begone. #crapware
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that's what i do when allowed #crapware
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There should be an option for an "unsubsidized" version of a laptop that comes with the OEM drivers preinstalled but without any of the bloatware.
In fact, I'm surprised that the major OEMs don't offer it. I'm sure there is a market for people to pay an extra $100 - $200 for not having to uninstall a lot of junk. #crapware
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Build a better mousetrap. #crapware
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I didn't take them up on that, but I can sure see where an OEM maker would be tempted to add a hundred bucks to the bottom line of every machine they sell. Pass the money to the consumer in the form of a discount? Hell no. #crapware
10/29/09
[www.pcdecrapifier.com] #crapware