PC buyers aim to cut the 'crapware'
,----[ Quote ]
| One reason that a "clean PC" is a better alternative than wiping
| the hard drive is that PC makers also equip their machines with the
| needed drivers for their specific hardware. Although many PC makers
| do have them for download on their Web site, finding all of the
| needed bits can be quite a challenge.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6179323.html
Some of them cut the c**p (not 'crapware') and just install GNU/Linux. But
Microsoft gets 'market share' vanity (and illusion for the OEM's mind).
Related:
[Live Bundle:] Cut the Craplet?
,----[ Quote ]
| According to a January CBC News story, an unnamed Microsoft
| executive complained about OEM preloaded software as potentially
| causing problems with Windows Vista.
|
| CBC News quoted the Microsoft exec, "We call them craplets,"
| referring to the preloaded software.
|
| Many PC buyers don't want the extra software, either. Last
| month, Dell opened the Idea Storm Website to collect feedback
| from customers on what they wanted or didn't want on their PCs.
| Currently, with 52,068 "promotes," the "No Extra Software Option"
| ranks number six. Apparently, Idea Storm respondents want their
| Linux, OpenOffice or no operating system more than they don't
| want the extra software, or so-called craplets.
`----
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/vista/cut_the_craplet.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535
Connecting the dots on Windows 7
,----[ Quote ]
| I would have asked one more follow up: Was Gates hinting that
| Microsoft will build more of its currently standalone Windows
| Live services right into the operating system?
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=241
Where Should Vendors Stick Their Services?
,----[ Quote ]
| Wondering if you noticed the news over at Microsoft Watch this week
| that Microsoft has done what many considered inevitable: Started
| using Windows as a way to hawk Windows Live Services?
|
| It's not too surprising to me that Microsoft is splashing all over
| its Welcome to Vista screen (at least in one of the latest Vista test
| builds, No. 5506) promotional links, inviting users to download Windows
| Live Messenger, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Mail Desktop, and more.
| But I was surprised the Redmondians would be so bold as to actually
| embed Windows Live Messenger into Vista. After all the antitrust
| lawsuits Microsoft has been slapped with here, there and everywhere ?
| many of which have focused on its "innovative integration" (a k a,
| bundling) strategies, you'd think they'd be a little more cautious.
|
| With the actual Windows Live Messenger code (not just a download link)
| being integrated right into Vista, I think Microsoft might be really
| going out on a limb. When backed into a corner before about its
| integration strategy, Microsoft's defense was that removing any of
| the integrated components (Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player,
| etc.) would break the OS. But if Vista test builds have been working
| just fine (well, middling, maybe, based on some not-so-happy tester
| comments) without Windows Live Messenger, how can Microsoft make a
| case for it being part of Windows?
`----
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,2005413,00.asp?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535
Welcome to college, here's your Windows Live account
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/4/23/3719
Software rivals say Microsoft's Vista illegal in Europe
,----[ Excerpt ]
| Software manufacturers, citing 2004 European Commission finding,
| contend the operating system violates server laws in Europe.
`----
http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/26/news/international/bc.vista.microsoft.eu.reut/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote
'Microsoft broke anti-trust agreement,' prosecutors claim
,----[ Quote ]
| It's claimed Microsoft's engineers used at least 500 undocumented APIs
| to ensure Microsoft's applications worked better with Windows than
| those of competitors.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/18/microsoft_breached_antitrust/
Microsoft rivals file second European complaint
,----[ Quote ]
| ...Microsoft was preventing access to Vista's programming interfaces
| and hindering the development of compatible products, thus repeating
| anti-competitive violations the commission had identified three
| years ago in a previous operating system.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7bAF5B8FB2-488F-4468-80B8-21F6EEE223E3%7d&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo
http://tinyurl.com/2ybdot
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