Dell Incorporated has unveiled six Vostro PCs (four laptop and two desktop models) for the small business market that will ship without bundled "trialware", if buyers so choose. These preinstalled applications, search settings, trial editions of commercial software and icons to various technology services clutter a new Windows PC's hard drive and, users argue, only benefit the computer maker, which is paid a commission when customers upgrade to the software's full version. "Customers really hated trialware. It was the most frustrating thing for customers in setting up a new computer. Our new Vostro line comes with no trialware, none at all," said CEO Michael Dell.
The move isn't totally new for Dell, however. Last month, it gave customers the option to refuse trialware on some systems after thousands had lobbied for a no-trialware option on the vendor's IdeaStorm site. But the June decision left some bloatware on new Dells: trial versions of antivirus software, Acrobat Reader and Google Toolbar. Customers configuring Vostro systems can decline everything on the sales site, except, there doesn’t appear to be an option to bar the Google Toolbar's factory installation.
News source: ComputerWorld
The move isn't totally new for Dell, however. Last month, it gave customers the option to refuse trialware on some systems after thousands had lobbied for a no-trialware option on the vendor's IdeaStorm site. But the June decision left some bloatware on new Dells: trial versions of antivirus software, Acrobat Reader and Google Toolbar. Customers configuring Vostro systems can decline everything on the sales site, except, there doesn’t appear to be an option to bar the Google Toolbar's factory installation.
News source: ComputerWorld
Too bad the "recovery disk" most pc's ship with include the crapware.
Too bad the "recovery disk" most pc's ship with include the crapware.
Which is why you should have a real disk lying around.
or if your smart XP
This happened to me on both a sony laptop as well as on a dell laptop. Its nothing bad, just it takes a few minutes to get through to customer care :/
This happened to me on both a sony laptop as well as on a dell laptop. Its nothing bad, just it takes a few minutes to get through to customer care :/
huh, ummm why i have never had issues doing anythign like that, unless of course i use a XP home CD and try a XP pro serial
This happened to me on both a sony laptop as well as on a dell laptop. Its nothing bad, just it takes a few minutes to get through to customer care :/
When you buy a pre-built PC the first thing you should do is get the key from the registry. Not the one on the COA sticker. The key in the registry has already been preactivated and you CAN you that key to reinstall Windows without having to call MS up and ask for permission.
This happened to me on both a sony laptop as well as on a dell laptop. Its nothing bad, just it takes a few minutes to get through to customer care :/
Can't you back up the activation info, and reimport it?
No. If "you're" smart, you'd go with the more secure, modern OS.
No. If "you're" smart, you'd go with the more secure, modern OS.
umm no if your smart you would go with the more secure, more stable, more compatible, been in the market longer, most of the issues found and fixed, actually works how it's supposed to on nearly all PC's, doesn't need ridiculous spec machine, OS, which my friend is XP.
Vista still has lots of security issues, they just havent been found yet, just wait they will find them, the hackers and crackers have only just started, XP most of the issues have been found and fixed.
You really have no idea on what makes a good OS.
everyone says Vista is more secure, do you really have any idea what you are talkig about, maybe as designed it should be more secure due to uac and all that crap, and yes microsoft said it is, but who ever bellieved MS. the truth of the matter is, there are security issues hiding in the code somewhere, it wil just take a few smart popel to work them out. those smart peole have alrezdy played with xp for about 6 years now, so generally woudl have found most of the issues. there is no way in hell you can say a brand new OS is secure, especially more secure than one that has been out in the market for 6 years, it is just un-informed
Last edited by whocares78 on 13 Jul 2007 - 02:59
No. If "you're" smart, you'd go with the more secure, modern OS.
umm no if your smart you would go with the more secure, more stable, more compatible, been in the market longer, most of the issues found and fixed, actually works how it's supposed to on nearly all PC's, doesn't need ridiculous spec machine, OS, which my friend is XP.
Vista still has lots of security issues, they just havent been found yet, just wait they will find them, the hackers and crackers have only just started, XP most of the issues have been found and fixed.
You really have no idea on what makes a good OS.
everyone says Vista is more secure, do you really have any idea what you are talkig about, maybe as designed it should be more secure due to uac and all that crap, and yes microsoft said it is, but who ever bellieved MS. the truth of the matter is, there are security issues hiding in the code somewhere, it wil just take a few smart popel to work them out. those smart peole have alrezdy played with xp for about 6 years now, so generally woudl have found most of the issues. there is no way in hell you can say a brand new OS is secure, especially more secure than one that has been out in the market for 6 years, it is just un-informed
someone doesn't know what they're talking about, but it's not "them". I think I know who it is that really don't know what it is that makes a good OS, and probably ver used or tried Vista in th first place.
No. If "you're" smart, you'd go with the more secure, modern OS.
umm no if your smart you would go with the more secure, more stable, more compatible, been in the market longer, most of the issues found and fixed, actually works how it's supposed to on nearly all PC's, doesn't need ridiculous spec machine, OS, which my friend is XP.
Vista still has lots of security issues, they just havent been found yet, just wait they will find them, the hackers and crackers have only just started, XP most of the issues have been found and fixed.
You really have no idea on what makes a good OS.
everyone says Vista is more secure, do you really have any idea what you are talkig about, maybe as designed it should be more secure due to uac and all that crap, and yes microsoft said it is, but who ever bellieved MS. the truth of the matter is, there are security issues hiding in the code somewhere, it wil just take a few smart popel to work them out. those smart peole have alrezdy played with xp for about 6 years now, so generally woudl have found most of the issues. there is no way in hell you can say a brand new OS is secure, especially more secure than one that has been out in the market for 6 years, it is just un-informed
someone doesn't know what they're talking about, but it's not "them". I think I know who it is that really don't know what it is that makes a good OS, and probably ver used or tried Vista in th first place.
I know someone deosn't and it ant me, really you are tryign to tell me Vista is more stable and secure than XP, seriously, your trying to tell me that?????
do you do IT or just talk about it, i am serious, do yo do IT for a company, woudl you install it there if you do???
umm ok, besides the 10 or so test machines i have in my office i have been using to trial it adn the fact our test area is full of vista machines.
Last edited by whocares78 on 16 Jul 2007 - 02:47
Anybody else notice how Dell has been using the same model names for laptops and desktops lately? I think it's kind of confusing, seeing as how they've never done it in the past. I saw an advertisement for an Inspiron last week for $299. I was thinking holy crap, a laptop for $299! I'll buy that in a heartbeat! Then, I see it's just some desktop...
no dock = useless for 90% of my clients. back to latitude D620's and pc decrapifier.
That being said, I don't think Google toolbar falls under trialware, it's a full product, not a trial to a paid version.
Then, honestly, you should be building your own computer. Dell is going to market the 'Dell computer', this includes Dell branded drivers, wallpaper, and software, some of it from third parties.
The removal of trialware is a step in the right direction, as trialware adds limited functionality with a sales pitch from a third party. Google toolbar is not trying to sell you something and that's the difference between trialware and freeware. Either way, it's unobtrusive, you can decline the license and it will remove itself, it wasn't something snuck in.
the CD's when ordering.
also, there's better support (home is the worst) and better deals.
I'm sure whatever they pay for Corel Office or Microsoft Works is more than zero. Therefore, it would be cheaper to offer OpenOffice installed gratis.
There is NO reason that a new PC shouldn't come with Firefox, OpenOffice, and The Gimp standard. The cost is essentially zero, and it makes the system much more complete out of the box.
How about...I don't want it to. I'll download Minefield on my own, install Microsoft Office 2007, and get the latest developer build of Gimp all on my own. People need to be able to choose what software they use, that said, I'm not against the idea of a "Complementary Trial Software" CD that can be distributed with new PC's.
How about...I don't want it to. I'll download Minefield on my own, install Microsoft Office 2007, and get the latest developer build of Gimp all on my own. People need to be able to choose what software they use, that said, I'm not against the idea of a "Complementary Trial Software" CD that can be distributed with new PC's.
Fair enough.
However, most OEMs will put something in terms of an office suite on, at least, either Works, Corel Office, or a trialware Office 2007. If they're going to provide a suite, why not pick one that's both cheaper and more functional than a trialware offering?
How about...I don't want it to. I'll download Minefield on my own, install Microsoft Office 2007, and get the latest developer build of Gimp all on my own. People need to be able to choose what software they use, that said, I'm not against the idea of a "Complementary Trial Software" CD that can be distributed with new PC's.
Fair enough.
However, most OEMs will put something in terms of an office suite on, at least, either Works, Corel Office, or a trialware Office 2007. If they're going to provide a suite, why not pick one that's both cheaper and more functional than a trialware offering?
As the article said, the computer maker gets a commission whenever a user chooses to upgrade a trialware.. also, I assume that Microsoft uses their influence (which is quite a big heavier than the free software foundation's, in these cases) to include their products with new computers.
Most corporates have an SOE, anything that is not part of their SOE is useless to them, they will remove it, or install clean install of windows. corporates that do not have SOE's e.g. the small businesses still don't want all the crap on their machines, all it does is create more support, e.g. users that never used fire fox, all of a sudden are asking all sorts of questions.
Please think before you comment
Last edited by whocares78 on 14 Jul 2007 - 02:13
most corporates have an SOE, anythign that is not part of their SOE is useless to them, they will remove it, or install clean install of windows. corporates that do not have SOE's e.g. the small businesses still don't want all the crap on their machines, all it does is create more support, e.g. users that never used firefox, all of a sudden are asking all sorts of questions.
please think before you comment
Please spell check before you comment.
thats why i have my XP volume licenses
Still, what do I care really. Every system I've ever owned goes directly to Partition Magic's boot disk set and gets wiped. OEM's may be able to build PC's, but they sure as the sky is blue can't install them.
Can you decline Apple hardware?
Wow - surprise surprise - trolling again. Maybe this will cause Apple to stop putting trial software on a new Mac... but I doubt it - it's obviously a feature in the Mac world.
Toolbars, what a joke for a piece of software. Anyone who installs one is a nimcompoop, and deserves to have their computer taken over!! I don't care where the toolbar came from.
I DEFINITELY would not want my new computer coming with that other POS called Firefox preinstalled either.
Acrobat reader is a must.
Java Machine is also a must.
Mcaffe antivirus is a crap but it's better that nothing.
Nero express is fine.
Some dvd player fine.
Why Dell must heard the fanboys's whim?. Fanboys usually talk too much even if they currently don't own a Dell (and don't want to buy it). All this programs can be uninstalled, in the worst case uninstalling will take 3-4 minutes (incluying a restart).
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