Microsoft store PCs come without trialware
updated 01:20 pm EDT, Wed October 28, 2009
Microsoft Signature PCs arrive at retail
The Windows PCs at Microsoft's first retail stores are deliberately purged of the third-party apps they would normally carry, employees and eyewitnesses have confirmed. Product Advisor Jared Marino explains these systems, regardless of the brand, are considered Signature PCs and won't include any unnecessary third-party software. In exchange, they come preloaded with the normally optional Windows Live Essentials pack as well as extras like Bing 3D Maps, Security Essentials and the Zune client.
Microsoft doesn't say whether the treatment will extend outside of retail, though it did begin selling other companies' PCs through its online store.
The customized software layout is a rare admission by Microsoft that many of its partners may have hurt the Windows brand through an insistence on preloading trial software and other non-essential apps. Although usually justified by vendors as subsidizing the cost of a given PC, both critics and in some cases Microsoft itself have referred to the programs as "craplets" for their tendency to clutter the desktop, pop up unwanted prompts and slow down the system.
Publicly, Microsoft has said it has been working with PC builders to improve the experience since Windows Vista's release and has had limited success. Dell and Sony have had the option of systems or configurations without extra apps, but only Toshiba has promised completely clutter-free PCs.
The process is unofficially but generally acknowledged as an attempt to mirror the approach to Macs, which on Apple's insistence are prevented from coming preinstalled with any third-party app desktop icons, menu bar items or background processes.
So...
10/28, 01:38pm (1 reply) reply
they exchanged third-party non-essential apps and trialware in exchange for first-party non-essential apps and trialware?
Wow, talk about copying Apple once again.....
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Not even copying Apple
10/28, 02:09pm reply
At least Apple gives you fully-functioning iLife.
All these guys did was remove trialware and leave crapware. So I'm wondering, is Decrapifier now updated to work on Windows 7? I couldn't figure it out from their web site (www.pcdecrapifier.com).
vasic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Subsidies ??
10/28, 02:37pm reply
I never thought about it but crappy and impossibly cheap PC's have been subsidized for years. If this becomes a trend will we see the rise of PC's in general? All those PC fanboys will finally have to pay the REAL cost of buying a new PC.
kerryb
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
dbaggery
10/28, 02:39pm reply
as if this is shocking... DBA for microsoft
dwoodruff
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
It's their USP
10/28, 02:39pm reply
They have to differentiate themselves from other Windows PC sellers, this is their way (and not a bad idea)
Will C
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Jan 2001
dbaggery
10/28, 02:42pm reply
as if this is shocking... SOP for microsoft
dwoodruff
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
And the Price?
10/28, 03:16pm reply
so how does the MS Store price compare to on-line prices from the OEM or Amazon, etc.?
is it retail list? (probably) vs. discount on-line elsewhere? (probably). how big is the difference?
since PC buyers are so price-driven, this is an important question. $50 or $100 is a lot to many of them. the crapware is the trade off.
and if you get a bad piece of hardware, who handles the warranty replacement? the MS Store or send it back to the OEM?
Apple of course has always insisted on retail list. on-line you might find it 5% cheaper, but that's all. most Mac buyers are not so price-driven since obviously they can afford 1K plus prices already. the store will handle warranty replacement of any Mac product with a valid purchase receipt from anyplace legit.
Alfiejr
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2008
testudo
10/28, 04:15pm reply
You failed to read the text...
"(Apple products are)...prevented from coming preinstalled with any third-party app desktop icons, menu bar items or background processes."
Apple periodically allows trial software to be included in their configurations, but implying a comparison of PC crapware to polished, integrated (and Free) products like iLife is just plain out to lunch.
TomSawyer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
resorting to this incentive to buy from MSFT
10/28, 07:10pm reply
So removing the 'incentives' is the only incentive to buy from MSFT at the same price. Not bad. That's about two hours gained. Definitely worth the trip.
Stripping the logos off of a Camry does not make it a Lexus ES350.
Paul Huang
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 1999
trialware
10/29, 11:50am reply
Apple periodically allows trial software to be included in their configurations, but implying a comparison of PC crapware to polished, integrated (and Free) products like iLife is just plain out to lunch.
Who compared it to iLife? When I got my MBP, it came with trial versions of both iWork and Office, both of which I had to remove. Although I didn't remove it, I just reformatted and re-installed, turning off the c*** I didn't need (like 2 GBs of printer drivers, 82 different languages, several apps that just sit there and take up space, etc).
Oh, and I just love how Apple always prompts you to buy .Mac when you set up your computer, and nicely informs you when a new version of iLife is released, even though you never asked to be informed when a new version of iLife is released. Yeah, none of that smells microsoftian.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001