Dell and Google

[emr]

Great, more crap to clean off Dell systems before getting them out to the user.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5019416.stm

Easier just to wipe and reload out of the box I think.

emr

[BOB IROC]

Thats always the first thing I do when I work on a brand new OEM. Especially Dell. Both My parents bought new Dell Laptops and I wiped them both. Gotta get that useless crap off that slows the computer down.

[Guts3d]

I have had a few customers who bought name brand comps at the local superstore and were told in no uncertain terms that they got a reload cdrom and full versions of Office and either Norton or McAfee. They get them home, unbox them and find out that they got 30 or 60 day "trial" versions. I advised them to take them back and demand a full refund. But the sheep so often just complacently say, well, it's here, and set up...

[Mayet]

I dont seee this as a bad thing. I like the toolbar and use it extensively along with mapping, search and so on. I've seen much worse bundled packages on ready builts...

[emr]

I dont seee this as a bad thing. I like the toolbar and use it extensively along with mapping, search and so on. I've seen much worse bundled packages on ready builts...

Depends on the environment you are deploying the computer I suppose. For me, working with business clients all the extra crap that Dell, etc. load is just that, crap. Most of my clients only want or require Office, Acrobat Reader and a few other bits and pieces to be able to carry out their work.


I tried Google Desktop a while back and found it sucked resources; that being said I haven't tried it for a while so maybe it has improved. The general premise of it is still not something I am comfortable with.


The point is, if I recommend a client to buy a Dell with XP Pro and Office I don't expect to have to spend an hour or more clearing all the extra bundled software off there; my time is money to the clients. Almost always none of the bundled software is mentioned in the quote; not that I’ve seen anyway.


I realise that Dell undoubtedly think they have good reasons for doing this and it allows them to keep prices low but why can't they allow you to choose during the OEM portion of the setup?


There are now other brand name pc manufacturers who offer competitively priced computers without all the extras thrown in there.

emr