The unwanted software I’m referring to is called c***ware or c***let.
This c-ware, as noted in the Wikipedia article linked to above, is installed by some PC manufacturers who are usually paid by the authors of the software. This supposedly reduces the price of the computer to the consumer. Most computer manufacturers do this or have done this, including Dell, HP, Sony and others. The main problem is that it slows down and takes up space on otherwise new computer. Some computer users incorrectly refer to it as bloatware, which is more like additional features in software Systems which you really don’t need.

Just having bought a new computer c-ware came to mind. Initially I thought that Dell hadn’t installed much unwanted software on my new desktop computer. It wasn’t as obvious as the HP I bought on special at a retail store about two years back – there is still some lurking about on that PC. Although some unwanted software may be useful, like the Google Desktop – which I uninstalled from the Dell machine - a number of otherwise computer literate people may not even know what Google Desktop is, or not recognize the in the notification area of the Windows toolbar. Even if you are not using Google Desktop it is busy chewing CPU cycles every time your PC is idle. Other programs I found on the Dell included Google Toolbar for IE and Search Assist (A program which modifies the default search engine in Internet Explorer). It did not have some of the worst offenders, like Microsoft Office 60-day trials and the WildTanget Web Driver.

Sony now offers some of their laptops c-ware free, with an option called “Fresh Start”, which initially cost users $50, but is now free (currently only if you are buying a notebook preloaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition!).

Posted on April 7th, 2008 by mervyn