I was told that Dell is able to keep the prices on their boxen so low because of the crapware. Has anyone tried to configure a Dell with and without the "pre-configured" software?

Judging from the list, only the stuff you might WANT is optional. The spyware is always installed.

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Guest wrote:
Judging from the list, only the stuff you might WANT is optional. The spyware is always installed.

Unless you're calling google spyware, Dell does not install spyware on their computers. Dell provides the operating install discs, so you can always do a clean install of your computer whenever you choose.

"However, three types of software will remain mandatory. These include trial versions of antivirus packages ... Acrobat Reader ... and Google tools"

IOW, it's marketing-speak and smoke and mirrors.

Three of the very worst offenders -- Symantec, Adobe, and Google -- remain, presumably because they're paying Dell enough.

First thing I do with a new PC is strip off Norton Internet Security, which is one of the worst pieces of software known to man -- and almost impossible to remove completely:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_to_fully_remove_norton_from_pc.html

Adobe's Reader is bloated megabytes and best replaced with Foxit Reader, which is a *fraction* of the size. If the user really wanted Adobe Reader he could download it from Adobe anyway. But Dell has to force it down his throat.

Google are one of the worst violators of privacy known to man, and, again, known for being difficult to uninstall cleanly ***even on the Mac***:

http://www.rixstep.com/2/20070621,05.shtml


This announcement from Dell is a heap of trash, since three of the worst offenders are exempted.

Don't get taken in. Buy a Mac instead.

If you really think that Google is one of the worst offenders, then you better stay away from Apple products. They have formed a partnership that is about making their technological integration deeper. You should also do a little homework before lambasting Dell. I am unaware of any major problems with Adobe Reader other than slowness (I know of no security or privacy concerns with). Reader is presumably included for reading the online manuals for the included hardware which are very frequently stored in Adobe Reader format. It would be pretty bad for Dell to include a video card and not include the free software you need to read the manual. Sure, they could include some third party tool that has the ability to read the same files, but Adobe Reader is free, and is very easy to uninstall if you care. As for Symantec, you simply don't know what you are talking about. The free software that would be included is a McAfee AV with a 30 day trial (unless they have now switched to Trend Micro). The recommended package is of course a real subscription with McAfee, but if you choose you can use Norton instead (which is owned by Symantec).

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Dell provides the operating install discs, so you can always do a clean install of your computer whenever you choose.

That's always what I want to do the first thing I get a new computer - spend time erasing and reinstalling the software to get rid of the crap. Apple's certainly not perfect, but when your competition treats the customer so poorly, you don't have to be perfect to be better...

Problem I have with Reader, on Mac at least, is that no matter what I do it finds a way to check for updates. I could tell it a million times to not check for updates and it still does. Same goes for Acrobat. The updates are a waste of time and are never important. Preview.app is and has always been so much better than Reader, Adobe should be ashamed.

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Guest wrote:

Dell provides the operating install discs, so you can always do a clean install of your computer whenever you choose.

That's always what I want to do the first thing I get a new computer - spend time erasing and reinstalling the software to get rid of the crap. Apple's certainly not perfect, but when your competition treats the customer so poorly, you don't have to be perfect to be better...

So don't do it. Are Adobe Reader and a Free AV license for 30 days so bad that you need to do it? 99% of the people are going to install that stuff anyways. I don't find that you need to uninstall either.