News - Microsoft attempts to curb crapware with Signature PCs

[HEXUS]

Buying a PC from one of Microsoft's new stores? You'll be spared from trial applications and crapware. Depends how you class Windows Live, though.

Read more.

[kalniel]

<cheap joke>
But it still comes with Windows, right?

[TheBloodyNine]

So instead of needing a clean install to remove all the third party crapware I need to do one to remove all of Microsoft's crapware.

I would imagine a big reason these won't be hitting Europe for a while is the whole anti-competition thing they keep getting hit by over including stuff with Windows.

[cheesemp]

Less trialware can only be a good thing!

[lodore]

the EU isnt gonna allow all those microsoft apps are they?
definatly not their antivirus program.

tbh its not a bad idea.
i would still do a reinstall anyway thou.

[Shooty*]

I personally find ALL the windows live stuff to be pointless.

[TheAnimus]

Hmm, I love the fact i posted that rant about capitalism failing because of the market for lemons effect. And presto, MS bring out a brand to fight it. They must be reading my every hexus post.

[this_is_gav]

The EU couldn't do anything about it, surely. It's a Microsoft shop, they're hardly going to sell Apple Macs with Norton on them, are they?

It would be like a Vodafone shop offering Orange contracts.

Regardless of who makes the crapware, at least the Microsoft Security Essentials will (presumably) be able to uninstall itself without needing a specialist tool... Symantec.

[aidanjt]

I seriously hope this catches on. A friend of my father bought a new Toshiba laptop and got me to install some stuff for him, I spent more time trying to get rid of the crapware than doing anything practical. And of course, Toshbia, being as they are, doesn't include the Windows 7 OEM disc, only their super-craptastic restore disc which takes 2 hours to complete.

[Saracen]

..... They must be reading my every hexus post.

They're sure getting an education, then.

[Saracen]

One major reason ('cos cost sure isn't a motivator these days) for me building my own machines rather than buying one, is that I get to install a retail OS, and only install what apps I want. It's bad enough having cut-down defraggers, AV tools, firewalls etc installed as standard with no way to deselect most of the time, without getting numerous "trial" stuff too.

If they want to ship trial stuff, stick a disk in the box. But don't install it for me.

Shame I can't build my own laptops too.

[aidanjt]

One major reason ('cos cost sure isn't a motivator these days) for me building my own machines rather than buying one, is that I get to install a retail OS, and only install what apps I want. It's bad enough having cut-down defraggers, AV tools, firewalls etc installed as standard with no way to deselect most of the time, without getting numerous "trial" stuff too.

If they want to ship trial stuff, stick a disk in the box. But don't install it for me.

Shame I can't build my own laptops too.

This, and with self-builds, you have the choice of operating system also. Dell is just about the only OEM which is taking Linux semi-seriously, and their range is... limited.

[Temi_D]

That software list is awesome, just switch on and go. And all of them are full verions and useful. anti virus, flash player, windows live etc...I hope this is successful

[Whiternoise]

I'd like to see them try and slip that through the EU skynet.

[12GaugeShotty]

That software list is awesome, just switch on and go. And all of them are full verions and useful. anti virus, flash player, windows live etc...I hope this is successful

What prevents me from getting an OEM PC isn't the crapware (I would merelry reinstall the OS anyway). It's the limitation of the design. Dell's Studio XPS 9000 systems look nice but they have limited 3.5-inch HDD bays and a low end PSU that isn't ATX standard.

[aidanjt]

... (I would merelry reinstall the OS anyway)...

You'd be lucky to get a Windows OEM disc at all