Dell to remove BLOATware

DavidGP · Jun 23, 2007

Dell has finally relented on the issue of "bloatware" — the often unwanted programs that come pre-installed on a new computer.
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A nice move from DELL and seems they listened to comsumers who used their IdeaStorm site to feedback, so bloatware will be gone! ok not so fast, seems that you will have option to say NO at config time, I just wonder how many folk actually go through the config stage in buying and read all the options, will the NO Bloatware option be a tiny hidden box, in an obscure location? who knows until they upgrade the pages to reflect this decision.

Ever since the computer manufacturer set up the IdeaStorm forum for customers to raise issues they wanted addressed, one of the most popular topics on the site has been that of bloatware. Dell is notorious for selling its PCs and notebooks with a varied assortment of programs pre-installed, ranging from security software to ISP and entertainment applications.

Now the company has announced that most of the pre-installed software on its computers will become optional at the point of configuration. "When you configure a system on Dell.com, you [now] have the option of choosing "No software pre-installed"
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AH so when is a NO bloat option not a NO bloat option... see below from that same artical

However, three types of software will remain mandatory. These include trial versions of antivirus packages, "because many of our customers simply expect their PCs to be protected at first boot and beyond", according to Pearcy.
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OK fair enough I would agree with that option, however there will be users who do have an AV package already and many not want Norton, there maybe users who buy a DELL and know all about the freebies to protect there PC.

Other mandatory software will include Acrobat Reader so users can view essential system documentation, and Google tools.
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OK now... Acrobat, yes I'd agree... BUT Google Tools are not an essential group of tools to pre-install? Ahhhh sorry maybe Google have paid megabucks to have this squeezed past the NO BLOATWARE backdown, so what bloatware is missing of they add that lot?

Q. So when is a No Bloatware option NOT a NO Bloatware option?

A. When you read the above

Nice try but needed to have more options to remove the "essentials" too, end users are now pretty cluey on what they want or dont want on a PC.

Full story @ ZDNET UK
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39287685,00.htm

and for those interested http://www.ideastorm.com/

Cat_w_9_lives · Jun 24, 2007

*smiles* My bloat included Animation Shop and would not have tried if not loaded, so some good came of it. I did keep some templates in MS Works too. Yes, there is a lot of bloat but everyone has different interests, so they try to cover all the bases. I really didn't need 20 ISPs, but if you did not have one...you would have plenty of choices The real bloat was that extended service plan!

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Dell to remove BLOATware

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

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