[Haroldo]

I just came across a new Dell computer and was amazed how much junk came preinstalled.
In case you aren't aware, these computers come with

On the desktop

Dell Documentation and Support
AOL Free 6 Months, Internet Service Offers, NetZero - First Month Free!

Start Menu

MSN (twice)
America Online 9.0 (and subfolder)
Install Netscape Internet Service
NetZero - First Month Free!
InstallShield Update Service (it only updates itself and Corel Photo Album 6)
RealPlayer
WordPerfect Office 12

Background Process

AOL connectivity service

IE Shortcut

Real (3 links)
Dell (4 links)
MSN

Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs

America Online
AOL Coach Version 1.0
AOL Connectivity Services
EarthLink Setup Files
ESPNMotion
Dell Get High Speed Internet!
Dell Internet Service Offers Launcher
NetZeroInstallers
RealPlayer
WordPerfect Office 12

I found a great product, called Dell de-crapifier.

It is a simple program that gets rid of all the junk!
It is free!
It took a few minutes to clean out all of it.

I highly recommend it!

[guest]

In order to keep Dell systems inexpensive then they have to add tons of ads.

[hewee]

Do they add junk to all there PC's. I mean the Small Business PC's and the Dual-Core Intel Xeon, 690 and 490 Workstations.
I have been looking at them. My sister has the 470 Workstation and loves it.
I just found out they have a Store in the next town over so I could go there and see everything they have.

[Haroldo]

can't say for sure, but with prices that low...they must be getting revenue from somewhere.
the good news is that you can clean out the junk in under 30 minutes

[hewee]

I know the lower price Dells you see in the ads all the time thy need the added money from the junk. But if you get there high end Dell are they still doing the same?
But yes I would take all the added junk off because I bet it is on all there PC's Maybe less on the Small Business PC's. Then there are the some models that you can get without a OS so I have to say they don't have any junk. But don't know if those are PC that we can buy or not. You have to look at the Medium & Large Business PC's to see the other optons on OS's etc.

[Haroldo]

my friend bought from small business

[hewee]

Can anyone buy from small business or do you have to have a small business account?
I know my sister does not have a business but she works on all the network PC's at her church and they had her get the new PC's and she got hers at the same time.

[Donna]

All those unwanted or trialware that you listed as installed on Dell is true but not to all Dell system.. It depends on users location Haroldo. My Dell system ... do not have any of the items you listed
There is no trial software or unwanted software except Dell Webcybercoach which seems part of Dell Support Software. But I simply disable Dell Support Software because I know when and how to get updates

It's quite obvious that Dell US site is offering those items that you mentioned. Go to Dell Hong Kong website and you'll see no unwanted items when you configured a dell computer. Sometimes they offer trial version Norton Internet Security but when I ordered and received my Dell duo core system... there is no trial

Now.. if they will only give me a non-faulty hardware.. alll is good
I like the support, warranty, return policy and customer care. I did have issue with them but it's not about their service but about the hardware in the computer. Not so bad service because they'll replace the computer when a hardware issue is found on or before 30th day. Replacing parts is 1 year or depending on the subscription of your hardware warranty. I took the 3 years warranty so I don't have to spend for parts and labour for 3 yrs.
That includes completecover (accidentally spill or breaks), complete cover guard (stolen notebooks) and international support (bring anywhere and they'll fix/replace/service your computer or notebook).

Again, there is no unwanted or trial software in my dell system. I purchased via Dell Hong Kong. The product was made at Dell China. Free shipping.

[Donna]

Screenshot of the Add/Remove Programs in a new Dell notebook purchased in Dell Hong Kong:

• Dell installed an outdated Sun Java application. I updated it.
  
• Dell installed Microsoft Framework because it is required in running the Dell Media Experience software (this Media Experience is required if the user want to enjoy the media buttons found in Dell notebooks (view media files e.g. movie, video, pictures, music without booting to Windows)
  
• PowerDVD and the Sonic applications where installed but this is not unwanted software but an OEM software that came with the optical drive - DVD R+/-RW. Users can of course remove those if they prefer other DVD/CD software.
  
• Dell Quicket - this isn't junk software. It is required to use the Fn key and is not recommended to remove if user want to continue using the Media Buttons for MediaDirect/Media Experience software
  
• Bluetooth application - also not unwanted software since I opted for Bluetooth module.
  
• Dell System Restore - another not unwanted part in Dell computer unless the user didn't opt for this System Restore. (Dell Hong Kong allow the buyers to choose whether to have System Restore or not in their Dell computer). With or without System Restore, Dell HK provide reinstallation CD of Windows XP SP2.

The only unwanted software I have is the "Dell Webcybercoach 3.2". That is part of Dell Support software and was created by Gteko Technologies:



If user's will not uninstall or disable Dell Support Software and Webcybercoach and if a two-way firewall software is installed... the Webcybercoach will phone home. So it's best to disable or uninstall these two software if the user do not want to receive alerts (updates on Dell computers).

My only gripe with Dell system is the driver for the graphics card. If a user opted to dedicated graphics card such as NVIDIA or ATI Radeon, the user will not be able to update the driver of the said graphics card unless Dell released one. That is unacceptable. As we all know, there are incidents before that a security update in Windows will cause instability with the computer after installation of security update because the driver installed in the system is outdated. If Dell and vendors will continue to customized the driver or application to their system and block users in updating then one is released to retail users.. then it's UNacceptable.

There is a solution though:

Some advanced users have to go to http://www.laptopvideo2go.com just to get the inf file and the setup file of the new driver.

But how many are aware of the said laptopvideo2go.com?

Please note that according to NVIDIA, not only Dell computers is affected:

Quote

Mobile GPU's like the GeForce Go and Quadro Go family of mobile GPU's use drivers that have been customized to support hot key functions, power management functions, lid close and suspend/resume behavior that are normally found in notebooks.  The reference desktop graphic drivers that are provided by NVIDIA on our driver downloads page do not include these custom features.  For this reason, the NVIDIA Forceware NVIDIA graphics display drivers will not install on most Geforce and Quadro family of mobile GPU's.  Some newer laptops have been designed to work with our drivers.

Most PC vendors

Quote

For other notebook models, please visit the drivers page for your notebook manufacturer.  Since UDA drivers support backward compatibility more recent drivers for more recent notebook models from the same notebook vendor typically provide enhancements and maintain support for hot/keys and suspend/resume behavior.

Acer - www.acer.com
Alienware Corporation - www.alienware.com
AOpen - www.aopen.com
Apple - www.apple.com
Asus - www.asus.com
Dell - www.dell.com
Fujitsu - www.fujitsu.com
Gateway - www.gateway.com
Gericom - www.gericom.com
Hewlett Packard - www.hp.com
Lenovo - www.lenovo.com
MaxSelect - www.maxselect.ru
Medion - www.medion.com
NEC - www.nec.com
Sharp - www.sharpsystems.com
Sony - www.sonystyle.com/vaio
Toshiba - http://www.csd.toshi.../su_sc_home.jsp

See: NVIDIA FAQ

[Haroldo]

hewee, anyone is a small business.
you are a small business, your job is to create banners, your salary is $0.00
you are not a successful small business, but you are a small business!

[hewee]

Your right the pay stinks