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#1 2009-10-28 11:34 pm
- SomeOneOrOther
- 3-yr-old switcher
- From: Ottawa, Ontario
- Registered: 2004-01-05
- Posts: 521
Crapware-less PeeCees
Apple opens stores, MS opens stores. Apple tries to avoid bundling crap, MS says "we've doing that for years, maybe we should stop".
My die-hard Windows friends just don't realize the importance of Apple to MS as a "positive influence".
Microsoft selling crapware-free PCs in its stores
October 28, 2009
Not only is Microsoft reselling select Windows 7 PCs normally sold by its hardware partners, but the company is making sure they come only with the software it wants. Yes, that means that if you buy a PC from Microsoft, it won't come with the usual "crapware," though it won't be a clean install either. Microsoft is still bundling its own software, including Windows Live Essentials and Microsoft Security Essentials, as well as Adobe software.
...
"Trial ware is removed from the PC," a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed with Ars. "Microsoft Signature pairs the best PC hardware with a thoughtfully tuned software and services suite, taking your typical 'ready to assemble' PC ownership experience to 'ready to run.' For customers who purchase a Signature PC in one of our stores, our knowledgeable staff will help customers set up their passwords and networks, and tailor their browser, e-mail and other applications to their personal preferences before they walk out the door, so they can immediately enjoy their PC. Microsoft Signature PCs also come with 90 days support."
MacBook, 13", early 2008.
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#2 2009-10-28 11:41 pm
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
You beat me to posting this one 
"Trial ware is removed from the PC," a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed with Ars. "Microsoft Signature pairs the best PC hardware with a thoughtfully tuned software and services suite, taking your typical 'ready to assemble' PC ownership experience to 'ready to run.' For customers who purchase a Signature PC in one of our stores, our knowledgeable staff will help customers set up their passwords and networks, and tailor their browser, e-mail and other applications to their personal preferences before they walk out the door, so they can immediately enjoy their PC. Microsoft Signature PCs also come with 90 days support."
Sound familiar?
But, wait, it gets worse.
Wood floors - check
White walls - check
Employees with T-Shirt and black pants - check
Tables in the center with notebooks - check
Employees with lanyards - check
Ad with tons of app icons on a white background - check
They even open the stores the same way. With clapping employees giving high fives.
I can't wait for all of the PC users out there who ignore Apple because of it's lower market share to applaud this new, innovative marketing strategy.
There's what you love to do, and then there's what you get paid to do. Those two things are often different.
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#3 2009-10-29 12:10 am
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
I've been recommending Dell's small business store to people for a few years for precisely this reason.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#4 2009-10-29 1:36 pm
- D'Eyncourt
- OMGDICTATOR
- Registered: 2001-12-27
- Posts: 8807
- Website
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
In Microsoft's defense most of the crapware installed on most PCs is due to deals made by the PC manufacturers and not the maker of Windows; thus the premium that Dell and others charge to "remove" said crapware.
BOYCOTT SONY
"I think the question now is not whether you went to Vietnam or whether you didn't, whether you fought in the war or fought against the war. I think the only question is whether we can find a president smart enough never to make a mistake like that again"--Molly Ivins, way back in 1992
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#5 2009-11-07 10:27 pm
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
...our knowledgeable staff will help customers set up their passwords and networks, and tailor their browser, e-mail and other applications to their personal preferences before they walk out the door
a) I really do not envy those knowledgeable staff members saddled with this chore.
b) How effing stupid can people be? If you need help creating a user-name and password, you have no business even touching a computer!
c) Their networks? How, exactly, do you tailor, or set-up somebody's home network while they're in the store? If you're talking about network settings on a PC, that's not quite the same thing.
"It's better to be a pirate than to join the Navy."
--Steve Jobs
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#6 2009-11-07 11:22 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
Bren wrote:
c) Their networks? How, exactly, do you tailor, or set-up somebody's home network while they're in the store? If you're talking about network settings on a PC, that's not quite the same thing.
Knowing that somebody had a specific type of internet connection, I have had them bring their computers/router/modem to me offsite, and configured them accordingly without having said network connection present.
But that's probably not what they're talking about.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#7 2009-11-08 2:14 pm
- SomeOneOrOther
- 3-yr-old switcher
- From: Ottawa, Ontario
- Registered: 2004-01-05
- Posts: 521
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
D'Eyncourt wrote:
In Microsoft's defense most of the crapware installed on most PCs is due to deals made by the PC manufacturers and not the maker of Windows; thus the premium that Dell and others charge to "remove" said crapware.
You're right. However, to the end user, the crapware still equates to a negative Windows, rather than OEM, experience.
Last edited by SomeOneOrOther (2009-11-08 2:15 pm)
MacBook, 13", early 2008.
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Get it
Stack it!#9 2009-11-09 9:57 am
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16030
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
uki winz the thread!
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#10 2009-11-09 2:04 pm
- SomeOneOrOther
- 3-yr-old switcher
- From: Ottawa, Ontario
- Registered: 2004-01-05
- Posts: 521
Re: Crapware-less PeeCees
ukimalefu wrote:
How can they be Crapware-less PeeCees if they still include Windows?
Man, M$ will never hire you at this rate! 
MacBook, 13", early 2008.
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