Dell Ships Gaming Systems Sans Bloat 94
An anonymous reader writes "Dell has followed up and put their money where their mouth is after HardOCP panned them last year for selling 'gaming systems' that you could not even install some popular 3D games on due to the bloatware on the system. You can now get clean installs on some XPS Dell systems. Dell is running a 'You Spoke, We Listened,' header on their site." From the article: "It seems that Dell has taken our criticism (and our readers as well) to heart and has made the much sought after move to offer select XPS systems with "limited" pre-installed software. We phoned a Dell sales representative late Monday, and he confirmed that the installation is completely clean, except for the included anti-virus program. As explained to us by Dell, There is no AOL installation, no "media jukebox", and no ISP offers to weigh the supplied operating system down."
About Time (Score:1)
you people are forgetting... (Score:2, Insightful)
They're confused enough.. (Score:2)
Re:They're confused enough.. (Score:1)
Re:They're confused enough.. (Score:2)
Re:They're confused enough.. (Score:1)
Re:you people are forgetting... (Score:2)
How much more? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:How much more? (Score:2)
Re:How much more? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:How much more? (Score:1)
Then I went through customizing a system and the only thing I saw as options that related to pre installed software were the options for which "security suite" (I hate that term), which photo crap software selection, and which CD burning software. The last 2 were defaulted to none. So, all I
Parent is not flamebait - windows subsidy is real (Score:5, Interesting)
With these gamer systems, Dell's margin's are high enough tha they don't need this subsidy; but for the most part, noone in their right mind (even Dell) would be paying Redmond taxes if someone else weren't paying them to do so.
That's the real reason Windows can never get serious about combatting spyware -- OEM support for windows depends entirely on the ability to hide deceptive spyware on the systems.
Re:Parent is not flamebait - windows subsidy is re (Score:4, Funny)
Clearly this is an area where Linux to match or exceed Windows in order to capture the desktop.
The scary part is that I am not quite sure if I was kidding or not.
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Re:MOD PARENT UP (Score:2)
Dell makes money on volume, so a small per-machine bloatware kickback still adds up to big numbers for them. Large manufacturers count every penny on their items.
Re:How much more? (Score:1)
I'm still happy building my own machines, seeing as they seem to invariably outperform any similar specification Dell for a significant amount less cash. It doesn't take a degree in computer science seeing as everything is practically colour-coded nowadays.
Re:How much more? (Score:1)
Re:How much more? (Score:2)
Granted, I could build a similar system for less, but for that kind of cash, it's awful tempting...
Re:That changes everyting. (Score:2)
Re:That changes everyting. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:That changes everyting. (Score:3, Insightful)
My friend added a few bells and whistles where
Re:That changes everyting. (Score:4, Insightful)
I think you will find that by the time he's playing games you probably sucked up the difference in price, and then some, with your labor.
Re:That changes everyting. (Score:3, Informative)
Don't believe me on $350 quote. Check out
the newest deal on slickdeals.net
Still I ask (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
When you get a computer with windows on it, that version is tied to that computer. Technically you are supposed to destroy your copy(s) of that Windows along with the key. Or transfer it if you are giving it to someone.
How many idiots do you think would take windows off to save extra money, and get pissed when their brand new computer won't boot? Then they find out they need windows and go to a store, on
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
No one would say all machines should come without a pre-installed OS, but it should be an option. Then again it may not be worth it, as most people who would be in a position to transfer Windows in the manner described above would be perfectly capable of building their own machine a
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
My understanding is an OEM copy of Windows is not transferrable to another machine. Nor are you eliglble for the upgrade price of a newer version of Windows.
Although not straight from the horses mouth per se, this article has some interesting Q and A's on this...
www.michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm [michaelstevenstech.com]
If you buy the full retail version then I believe you are correct, the license is transferrable, if limited to one machine.
My favorite work around is to get these guys [ubuntu.com] to send m
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
If not, what is the critical component? Surely I could replace any single component and not have to rebuy Windows.
Re:Still I ask (Score:3, Informative)
Sorry but not quite. When you purchase a copy of windows, whether with a new computer or separately, the activation process ties that copy to the hardware it is installed on. This does not [microsoft.com] stop that copy of windows from being moved to another machine.
If you significantly change your har
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
Re:Still I ask (Score:2, Interesting)
On a slightly related note, the USPS pays EXTRA to get vehicles without air conditioning and radios. I guess this improves gas mileage.
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
Removing the AC sure does. 10% better mileage on the outside.
Removing the radio, well. That supposedly cuts down on accidents. Don't want a PS employee running over some schoolkid because he had Pantera at '11'. At least that's the excuse I've heard from every company I've worked for that ran delivery or job-site vehicles, and I'm inclined to believe it.
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
You'll piss away that 10% a savings when the employees drive with the windows open on that AC-less car. Rolling down the windows at highway speeds can easily increase gas usage by 20% or more.
Re:Still I ask (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
Funny, but USPS does have 18-wheeler trucks that go between cities on the interstate, and rural deliveries often involve driving on highways to get to the destination - at highway speeds.
Depending on the vehicle, it's usually more efficient to use the AC at 45 mph and over rather than rolling down windows.
Re:Still I ask (Score:4, Informative)
One thing to look into if you are pushing that many systems through, Dell offers a service where they will load a custom image on new systems for you. They will only do it if your volume is high enough, and your's probably is. You simply setup an image, send it to them and all new systems come pre-loaded to your configuration.
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
Re:Still I ask (Score:2)
I gotta say. (Score:5, Interesting)
A person who just spent 1500 bucks on a new laptop isn't going to be wowed when their new laptop is taking longer to boot than their old one...
Re:I gotta say. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:I gotta say. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I gotta say. (Score:1)
Re:I gotta say. (Score:2)
Someone want to explain to me why they bundle three different antivirus trials with an OS? Give me a break people...
Re:I gotta say. (Score:1)
Re:I gotta say. (Score:1)
Re:I gotta say. (Score:1)
Re:Worthless summary (Score:1)
Sign of the times? (Score:1)
Am I wrong to assume that computer sale hasn't been like this since the start in the 90s?
Re:Sign of the times? (Score:2)
Heck, windows 95 comes with some "trial offers". Not as invasive as Dell's stuff, but it's still there.
Re:Sign of the times? (Score:1)
"Select XPS Systems"? (Score:1)
Re:"Select XPS Systems"? (Score:2)
Alienware (Score:3, Insightful)
Remember, they were shoving this crap down our necks for years then all of a sudden just mere weeks after buying Alienware we see this...
Re:Alienware (Score:1)
Not that big of a deal. (Score:3, Insightful)
Wonderful how Dell is charging you more to offer less. The hardware in the XPS M1710 isn't nearly good enough to justify the 1.5-2x price difference between a similar E1705 configuration (with the only difference being an Nvidia 7800GT vs. 7900GTX).
A clean E1705 would've been WONDERFUL.
Re:Not that big of a deal. (Score:2)
The tradeoff is a lot of bloat and money wasted on a product that doesn't seem to be useful at all. The only thing I have that's worse behaved is ZoneAlarm, which has to be the most bloated firewall of all time.
Re:Not that big of a deal. (Score:2)
Re:Not that big of a deal. (Score:3, Interesting)
This is no joke. I just ran into a perfect example of this last weekend on my parents' computer. Here's the story:
1) F
Re:Not that big of a deal. (Score:2)
Not too much later I switched him over to AVG Free edition, which worked fine until we replaced the comp with an iMac just over a year ago (his choice, and I wasn't going to discourage him on it -- I gutted the old box and turned it into a fileserver for myself, Norton-free of course).
A good start (Score:1)
Re:A good start (Score:1)
To be a good start they would need to do something to indicate that they will offer this for all of their systems. They haven't done anything to convince me that they are starting on a path to go all the way. Instead they've chosen a product line where they hold a sm
Something bad this way comes (Score:2)
Something is really getting messed up in the computer market last few years when the lack of software is the hottest and most welcomed feature from the majority of computer users (adware, spyware, rootkits, bloatware, offers, crap on top of crap on top of crap...).
Oh and you gotta love when they screw up and start running "you spoke, we listened" ads.
Re:Dell Recommendation (Score:2)
Re:Dell Recommendation (Score:1)
Re:Dell Recommendation (Score:2)
Re:Dell Recommendation (Score:2)
Re:Dell Recommendation (Score:2)
I wipe and reinstall all the machines we get at my office. We have our suite of stuff, we don't need or want Dell's. I usually keep the drivers on a CD, and burn a new one with each model we get. Reinstalls are done from the most recent Windows CD from Dell, regardless of machine, as the C
Re:Dell Recommendation (Score:2)
Bring it on, just keep it cheap! (Score:4, Interesting)
Catching up? (Score:2)
But then how else do you think Dell (or every other OEM) makes computers cheaper? I could build you a $300 computer too if I got paid $200 to put advertising all over it.
Why this is no big deal.. (Score:2)
DIY Cleaning (Score:1)
La Di Da (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Economics (Score:4, Insightful)
"Why don't they just ..... blah ....?" we ask ourselves constantly. In some cases, there are contracts with hardware suppliers, advertisers, marketing teams, delivery and supply chains, retail outlets, and other behind-the-scenes business partners that must be, at the very least, scanned carefully by Dell's legal staff. More often than not, a renegotiation is necessary to change business practices that may impact those contracted partners. This takes time. And when the negotiations stall, there's no option but to wait it out.
So Dell is going the right thing, and the response here is almost universally negative. Not about the fact that they're doing the right thing by their customers, but that they even had to because they did the wrong thing first. Well I'll tell you what. It's rare that a business "has it right" out of the gate and never looks back. Google is one of those rare companies that has mostly pulled this off. Few businesses do it. They must learn from the market, and shape and mold their business model to maximize profit. Profits are maximized by providing the most people with what they want to buy at a price they'll pay. When the sentiments or demographic composition of that group changes, the company must adjust. Dell has become very successful while bundling garbage on their machines. Clearly the lost revenue from boycotting Slashdotters was made up for by whatever business arrangements they had with AOL and what not. As much as it may pain you to hear it, Slashdot readers make up a tiny minority of the nation's consumer population, and the portion we do make up is a weird niche that is largely disliked by mainstream retailers and traditional businesses.
So, frankly, there's been no reason to pander to the nitpicky anal retentive whims of a bunch of dorks. Until now.
You What??? (Score:5, Insightful)
Okay, where's my AMD X2 Processor? .
.
.
.
I'm waiting...
Re:You What??? (Score:2)
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Anti-* (Score:2)
So where's my automatic anti-bloatware remover?
true enough (Score:1, Interesting)
Listening but not Reading (Score:2, Informative)
Changed my mind completely about a new system I was planning to buy. No dual cores for me, thank you. I'll either grab an FX-57 when AM2 comes out and drops the DDR1 systems' prices, or I'll wait until the end of the year, see if Conroe lives up to the hype and how Vista affects either system.