Craplets backlash rising
Monday, April 23, 2007 | 07:01 PM ET
by Saleem Khan, CBC News Online
Frequent readers of CBC's technology news section (or tech news in general) may recall the craplets story I broke in January. After an initial storm of activity, things seemed to settle down. Now it appears that a recent column in the Wall Street Journal has reignited interest in craplets, and the predominantly paid-placement programs typically pre-installed on new computers running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system are apparently starting to fall out of favour.
Given Microsoft's hand-wringing over craplets ahead of the consumer launch of the Vista version of Windows, it's not surprising that the software giant's user experience evangelist, Chris Bernard, has weighed in on the matter, in a post to his Design Thinking Digest blog simply titled On Craplets.
Bernard recounts what he says was a flawless experience installing Vista and application software on his new Sony VAIO laptop computer that "reminded me of other experiences with other operating systems that I won't mention," (after confessing "if Apple put out a MacBook Pro with similar specs in a 13 [inch screen] I'd look at that too as I could run OS X, Vista and Ubuntu and that is some serious tech geek Nirvana").
My Sony is a beautiful machine, I love the way it looks and the way it travels, but there is so much junk software that came with it that it disrupts what should be a much better computing experience. Sadly, this is probably true of a lot of computer manufacturers.
He goes on to echo comments that surfaced online after craplets entered the popular vocabulary in January, suggesting that PC makers could offer machines without the programs for an additional fee.
Doing this would show that they realize people aren't buying a box but that they are engaging in an experience with their products that will allow them to create emotional connections with their customers. This is what makes the world go around these days…. In this world craplets have got to go.
PC makers may be nearing that point, according to a feature about craplets by CNet News service (which graciously links back to our CBC story). Ina Fried reports that PC makers are growing increasingly wary of their customers' ire when it comes to the programs they're piling onto hard drives pre-purchase.
The practice has also alienated some consumers who say all such "crapware" is clogging their hard drives and bogging down their systems.For the moment, computer makers appear to be trying to walk a fine line, tweaking their approaches slightly but hoping not to have to slay a cash cow. Gateway, for example, offers only one program in each category, while Dell has added an option for some models that allow a user to configure a system with no trial software.
"We've seen the evolution," IDC analyst Richard Shim said. "The desktop became kind of a billboard for Internet service providers and software. Now the pendulum is swinging the other way."
As Fried notes, the Wall Street Journal's personal technology columnist Walt Mossberg tackled craplets (alas, without mentioning the CBC) in a recent column about PC Decrapifier software that aims to scrub PCs clean of craplets (as previously mentioned on the Gizmodo blog).
Inevitably, Fried also mentions Apple's latest Get a Mac commercial that takes potshots at Windows machines: Stuffed had us chuckling sadly at the (shaded) truth of its message as PC Guy John Hodgman explained his pain.
"It's all this trial software, they pack my hard drive full of it – all these programs that don't do very much unless you buy the whole thing are just plain useless. It really slows me down."
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Comments
Kirk H.
A pox on Craplets! Ban the darn things. There is nothing like getting a new computer and then having to dump all the advertising, free trials, gimmicks and gee-gaws. It's bad enough getting a PC configured and removing/supressing all the stuff piled in by the OS manufacturer. What's the use of dual core processing and gigabites of RAM if its plugged full of adverts and "helpful" software. Linnux is looking better and better!
Posted April 27, 2007 01:38 PM
Kris M
Nothing quite like formatting a fresh hard drive and doing a clean OS installation, only to have to spend a good half hour removing all the trial software, ISP adverts, and such that came inconveniently bundled in the software CDs of my laptop.
Personally, I'm thinking buying a full box version of Windows would be better than these cheaper ad-filled OEM versions. Too bad I don't have hundreds of dollars to cough up. Maybe I should convert entirely to console gaming and just buy a Mac for World of Warcraft.
Posted April 27, 2007 06:27 PM
K. W.
Vancouver
I too despise the practice of inserting unneeded software on new computers. Craplets is a good term, but it was always clear to me that they're nothing but a collection of adware, spyware, and in some instances, annoying viruses.
I hate that I always have to install and run all the security programs I need to get rid of them (firewall, virus program, adware/spyware removal) on a new computer that is already compromised in both performance and hard drive space. I manually remove all the demos, offers, links myself. This self-removal is time-consuming, and is a total waste of time. Plus, I also have to install my favourite applications for work and play. I also resent having to boot my computer several times in the above exercises.
Someone should be paying ME for doing all this!
Posted April 30, 2007 03:51 AM
Colin
Dartmouth
"... PC makers could offer machines without the programs for an additional fee."
So what we have is: "Nice PC you have sir. It would be a shame if something were to... happen... to it. I'll tell you what, if you pay me a little something I'll make sure that it'll be okay."
Isn't that extortion, or at least a protection racket? Is it legal to get people to pay to remove something they didn't order in the first place?
Posted April 30, 2007 10:30 AM
Bob
Toronto
Give the Windows operating system and it's pre-installed craplets the heave-ho. Alot of the craplets are for various third party security programmes designed to "fix" problems in the crappy Microsoft Windows operating system...problems that shouldn't be there in the first place.
While the Canadian mainstream media hasn't covered this, the tech press certainly has. Dell just announced this week that they'll be offering PC's for sale with the new Ubuntu Linux 7.04 pre-installed starting in about a month. This is the first time in the last couple of decades or so that a major PC manufacturer will be offering PC's without a Micro$oft operating system. Other PC manufacturers (hopefully) will follow suit.
It's a real victory for computer buyers. They finally have a choice in what operating system is pre-installed on their "name brand" PC.
Posted May 2, 2007 09:29 PM