Walt Mossberg - Latest Comments

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Sailfish — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:24 -0000

Another example of too little, too late; what with Win8 Metro coming out later this year. What they really need is a WayBack tool that will restore Win8 Desktop to the way it is with Win7.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

David Prozzo — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:28:30 -0000

Problem is, though you might get generic drivers for some of your computer's components, you won't get any customized versions. You will have to go to your computer mfg's software update site and download the customized drivers and install them one by one. And there are a few drivers that aren't included in Windows at all, e.g. for a fingerprint reader.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:06:04 -0000

M$ $99 "Signature Support" is not like Apple's Genius Bar because Apple doesn't charge anything for it.

Let me summarize for you: if you want the PC you thought you were buying then it's going to cost you another $100, and a trip to a M$ store. What a load of BS!

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

David Prozzo — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:51:57 -0000

I've an HP dm4 and so am familiar with HP's bloatware. The number FAR exceeds those few programs that Walt says MS adds. Windows Live Mail and Photo Viewer are quite useful (not "garbage") and most consumers would want them anyway. Can't speak to the Zune software. The ad-supported version of Office is easy to remove. (This stripped down version of Office is included by most OEMs anyway, so it's a wash.)

Some of this has been reported before.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott...

At the end of the article is a method for some HP users to use what came with their computer to install a bloatware free version. It wasn't documented anywhere in the materials that came with the computer, but it worked a treat, and no $99 charge.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

JimD — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:39:46 -0000

I don't want to make this a Mac vs. Windows discussion, but Windows users need to (somehow) take a stand against these manufacturers at some point.

I'm a Mac user, but I've used Windows 7 and I actually think it's a pretty good OS. But the amount of garbage that ships on new PCs nearly make Windows unrecognizable. It's ridiculous. Mac users would never stand for that amount of garbage on their desktops, and Windows users shouldn't either.

Obviously, this is why you get a $500 Windows box. Unfortunately, the solution is to be willing to pay a little more for your Dell/HP/etc.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

techgeek01 — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:59 -0000

Most, if not all, of the computer companies (I'm not talking about apple here), would LOVE to sell you a bloat-free computer and a higher quality computer. The reason is, they can make money, and more money. You can put the blame on yourself. The consumer. The consumers are the ones to blame. They caused this race to the bottom. Because, why pick up a laptop for $800, if there is one right by it for $400?

Sadly, I see this happening all the time. People going for the $400 computer vs the $800. Because they can SAVE ----- Amount.

putting this crap, SUBSIDIZES the price of the computer. It makes the computer cheaper than it truly is.

My god, I know people left and right who DON'T want that crap. They want a stock computer. But the problem is, huge majority is going for the "cheapest" option, which if you are (literally) making no money on your product, you're gonna have to find a way to lower the price so people are still attracted to it.

It's not a Microsoft problem. It's a user problem.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Greg — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:19:49 -0000

I agree with Douglas. I have been using Ubuntu for the past several years. The reason: It's simple and always works.

I setup Microsoft for businesses and the first thing I do is create my own "Signature" build by removing all of the bundled crap that costs money and people don't need. the IE browser is also becoming a sewer of advertising and useless and annoying third party applications. I feel sorry for those who buy a Microsoft PC and have to deal with all of this advertising and product promotion themselves. At some point it has to backfire on Microsoft. May indeed speak to the popularity of iPads as they don't tend to clutter things up as much and simplify the GUI - Simplify the GUI - Imagine buying a new car with 40 bumper stickers you have to remove. People would not like that very much, but Microsoft gets away with this with their retail builds...crazy

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Joe Tierney — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:20:25 -0000

That second screen shot looks identical to the latest version of Chrome OS.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Kee — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:49 -0000

awww, that's cute. In my experience the average users just freak cause there is nothing they know, in your linux. Stop you opes-source for the win

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Dale Strauss — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:36:22 -0000

Dr. Lundin: I prefer Walt's general description of "bloatware" as "crapware" and I think you'll find the vast majority of users would prefer the Signature series to ANY crapware laden computer. We've purchased three systems from the online store, and will continue to do so because they all setup and loaded faster, performed better, and entered/existed sleep mode more quickly than their crapware counterparts.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Richard Mitnick — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:24:49 -0000

So, the questions are, where does one find all of the programs, on the Start menu? Like always? And, we are just not loaded up with a bunch of junk that we can get rid of ourselves? If those are all there is, this sounds to me like a marketing ploy, aimed at the Mac O/S and Apple, just an extension of the "Simplicity" campaign started some time ago, also aimed at Apple, which meant just more hidden files for us to configure; a less usable Windows Media Player, which we had to fix with add-ons.

If this is the case, just a bunch of junky selling ideas.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Douglas Jenkins — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:38:23 -0000

My signature way to get rid of PC bloat ... it is called "install Linux."

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

techgeek01 — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:31:17 -0000

If I recall, this has been going on for a while.

I really like this, because it takes all the crapware off the machine. But a problem is, it might delete some useful software. For example, some of the high-end HP machines come with a suite of Adobe software and then some software (Beats optimization, etc...). Those might be some nice software you want to keep.

But, that might not be a problem. It sounds like from above, you may be able to keep that software. Delete the stuff you don't want, and keep/install the stuff you want.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Frank Ostrow — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:21:19 -0000

"Now, Microsoft is doing something about the situation. In a program unknown to most computer users.."

Nice write up Walt. My only issue is that MS has been doing this for almost 2 years. In fact I bought my HP Envy 14 this way a year ago last February. I do like the fact that they are making this available to people after the sale, and yes most of the add on software included is junk.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

joe_l — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:49:58 -0000

Just install Windows from scratch and you get a Signature computer. And you save yourself $99. This "Signature" stuff just doesn´t make any sense to me.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

John Lundin, PhD — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:04:05 -0000

Thanks for your reading critique Daniel... Reading is easy, interpreting is a little more challenging... Somehow I am not drinking the MSFT coolaid. Do you really think that MSFT is going to make the alternative choice easy, or do you think that this offer for substitutions is targeted for regulators and legislators?...

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Sam Sabri — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:54:08 -0000

Reading is hard for some :(

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Roy Fox — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:35:50 -0000

you need to work on your videos

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Chris Olson — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:25:34 -0000

This is a very good program; I setup PCs for people seemingly every day; aside from installing Microsoft utilities this is very close to what I do for all of my clients on PCs they buy. In some cases, the difference can be night and day. I'd say for the average user, this is EASILY worth $90. It also helps Microsoft fight the same manufacturer fragmentation that is seen in Android phones (which Google seems to be working on solving as well.)

Some fragmentation is GOOD, but it can also work against you as well.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

John Lundin, PhD — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:23:43 -0000

Thanks for your assessment of my reading Daniel... but I would suggest that the default process is to replace bloatware with MSFT software and that the exception that you quote is merely MSFT's legal beagles attempting placate regulators and legislators that think MSFT is flexing their monopolistic muscle... Let's see if your reading skills can find the above offer on their website:
http://signature.microsoft.com...

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Daniel Rubino — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:11:00 -0000

Gustavo, you have to understand the reason why many PC OEMs install that bloatware is to keep costs down.

If you remove that stuff, you'll basically have to subsidize their loss. In other words, that added $99 to the price of the computer is the real market value of the PC.

Side note: The one exception to the "bloatware is crapware" rule is on Lenovo. They actually have amazing optimizing software and services.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Daniel Rubino — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:07:46 -0000

For a PhD you sure don't read very well. From above:

"However, the company says the stores will remove any of these a customer doesn’t want and even help the customer install competing software, such as Google’s Chrome browser, or Apple’s iTunes for Windows."

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

Jeff Kibuule — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:49:47 -0000

Honestly, I know this would piss of a bunch of partners, but I wish Microsoft would make it's own d*** PCs. Screw the partner model and make their own. Charge a bit more for them too. But everyone including the EU would cry foul.

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

John Lundin, PhD — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:01:20 -0000

Thanks Walt, but it kinda sounds like your are just exchanging the hardware mfg's bloatware for MSFT's garbage... I really like the former bloatware, but really don't like the latter heavy handed install of all software MSFT. Best, J

Re: Microsoft Gives Windows a Clean Sweep

weetigo — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:37:54 -0000

99bucks to turn your pc into a signature pc; all signature pc's get 90 free phone support and in-store support. The signature computers have optimized settings, faster load/shutdown time, faster operation, microsoft recommended software..
Sounds like a great deal for a new user.