News from Dell & Microsoft

[bruceb]

Seems MS & Dell will now be forcing the installation of Windows Live Search
and some other items on all new Dells .. This is likely for the same time 5yrs
as it being installed on Verizon cell phones with internet access.

Ballmer is hoping to boost the number of people using Microsoft's Live Search engine, which ranks well behind Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. in popularity, through a deal with PC maker Dell Inc. Dell will put a special Live Search browser toolbar and Windows Live programs, including Microsoft's e-mail and instant-messaging applications, on most of the consumer and small-business PCs that it sells worldwide. That deal replaces a relationship between Dell and Google.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ws-7-apf-14001524.html

Hopefully, we will easily be able to remove this and other MS software if the users choose to do so or use another search / toolbar, like Google, which I for one, prefer.

Edited title name on a suggesttion by Mech

 

[Snapster]

To each their own, I always removed all the google junk that came pre-installed on my work dell's. As long as you can remove them it's no problem, but I'd rather have an option to have none what so ever when it arrives in the box.

 

[bruceb]

That is exactly what I mean. Such as when you get a Branded web browser or other add in trial programs, that most people do not want or need and can't easily remove.

 

[Jeff7181]

I thought it was understood that when you buy a prebuilt box you get software you don't necessarily want.

 

[bruceb]

True. But on some systems, certain software is extremely hard to remove short of doing a format and fresh install.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: bruceb
True. But on some systems, certain software is extremely hard to remove short of doing a format and fresh install.

Yes, like I said, I thought this was understood. It is, afterall, the reason they are able to price these machines as they are priced. You think Dell is integrating Live Search because it's better than the alternatives? No, it's because Microsoft threw a briefcase full of cash on the table.

 

[mechBgon]

That deal replaces a relationship between Dell and Google.

Like most of us here, I've removed various Googleware, nannyware and trialware from various pre-built computers, including Dells. Maybe the thread should be titled "News from Dell" :evil:

Like everyone else here, I also would prefer to get pre-builts with a pure, unmolested Windows installation (or whatever OS you're getting) and nothing extra; maybe there'll be that option in Dell's configurator, since I'm sure it's quite popular.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

That deal replaces a relationship between Dell and Google.

Like most of us here, I've removed various Googleware, nannyware and trialware from various pre-built computers, including Dells. Maybe the thread should be titled "News from Dell" :evil:

Like everyone else here, I also would prefer to get pre-builts with a pure, unmolested Windows installation (or whatever OS you're getting) and nothing extra; maybe there'll be that option in Dell's configurator, since I'm sure it's quite popular.

I fully agree mechBgon I hate all the extra stuff installed on windows from a name brand pc.

 

[cheapherk]

I once bought a laptop at Circuit City only to find there FireDog service opened it and uninstalled the crap. I felt like I was buying a used laptop. I didn't know about this until I had already paid for it. I felt violated

 

[F1shF4t]

Thats why the first thing I do when I get a new laptop is format it. Well actually the second , first I make sure it works properly.

 

[degibson]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: bruceb
True. But on some systems, certain software is extremely hard to remove short of doing a format and fresh install.

Yes, like I said, I thought this was understood. It is, afterall, the reason they are able to price these machines as they are priced. You think Dell is integrating Live Search because it's better than the alternatives? No, it's because Microsoft threw a briefcase full of cash on the table.

I don't think that software incentives make that much difference -- for the big assemblers, its all economies of scale that go into 'low' prices anyway. I say 'low' because, when last I checked, it was still more economical to build the systems I want myself than it was to buy from an assembler, laptops excepted. The software incentives are just icing on the cake (albeit, a lot of bloody icing).

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: degibson

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: bruceb
True. But on some systems, certain software is extremely hard to remove short of doing a format and fresh install.

Yes, like I said, I thought this was understood. It is, afterall, the reason they are able to price these machines as they are priced. You think Dell is integrating Live Search because it's better than the alternatives? No, it's because Microsoft threw a briefcase full of cash on the table.

I don't think that software incentives make that much difference -- for the big assemblers, its all economies of scale that go into 'low' prices anyway. I say 'low' because, when last I checked, it was still more economical to build the systems I want myself than it was to buy from an assembler, laptops excepted. The software incentives are just icing on the cake (albeit, a lot of bloody icing).

When you're looking at profit margins as small as "the big assemblers" are looking at on their bottom of the line PC's, a $10 kickback per unit for the software they preinstall on it is a pretty big deal given the scale of economics you pointed out. If they preinstall 10 pieces of crapware and get $1 from each crapware provider, an extra $10 profit per unit is pretty significant when they're moving tens or hundreds of thousands... even millions of units per year.