Dell Installs Google Software at Factory 242
simonjp writes "BBC News are reporting that Dell will be installing Google software onto their new machines as part of the software build. Details appear sketchy, but this signifies the first step for Google from being just something you can download to an almost 'essential' software provider. They report that both sides are to benefit from the deal, and that 'more is to come.'"
This is gonna suck. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:This is gonna suck. (Score:3, Funny)
Not that it really matters to me in any case, since I run Linux or FreeBSD on all of my machines except one (and that box isn't allowed to surf the Net).
(I can't believe I'm about to get downmodded for going to bat for someone who's on my Foes list...)
Old news? (Score:5, Informative)
yes and no (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Old news? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Old news? (Score:4, Funny)
Anything from Google going out of beta is news.
Re:Old news? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Old news? (Score:2)
Re:Old news? (Score:2)
wait a sec (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:wait a sec (Score:2)
Re:wait a sec.. No, it might become (Score:2)
(Iffff Google ever goes into the hardware business...)
Re:wait a sec (Score:2)
But Google's robots.txt does [outer-court.com]!
Re:wait a sec (Score:2)
Also, I wonder if Google would be able to push for Firefox there?
They've been doing this for a while. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:They've been doing this for a while. (Score:2)
Once i've the got the 'htf can they sleep after putting all this crap on the desktop' rant out of my system, I slide in my WinXPSP2 CD, and put the world right again.
-Jar.
Details sketchy? (Score:5, Insightful)
Damn right they're sketchy. It's annoying enough when a computer comes with extra software, but if it's adware--which is what the Google stuff is no matter how "cool" they are--it's "value reduced". Google's just becoming more and more like every other publicly traded company.
Re:Details sketchy? (Score:5, Insightful)
Normally I wouldn't reply to an AC, but is this thinking why I was modded down?
It's one thing for a search engine to be ad supported, it's another thing entirely for ad-supported software to be installed on a bought-and-paid-for computer, especially when that ad software runs in the background, indexes your e-mail and other documents you nomally think of as private, and gives Google a way of circumventing people's normal attempts at privacy, like deleting cookies.
This is spyware, no way around it, and it'll only get more invasive.
Re:Details sketchy? (Score:3, Insightful)
As far as not knowing what it's doing. Do you really know what any software is really doing on your system?. What about those Dell supplied drivers? They might be sharing all with the Dell Corporation. Never mind what the evil Microsoft Minions have crafted in their OS
Personally, after running some of Google's software under Purify and seeing instability in IE after installing Desktop I opted to remove it from m
Re:Details sketchy? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Details sketchy? (Score:3)
You forget one thing. You aren't the only one who can "buy and pay" for your "bought and paid for" computer. Dell and other computer vendors sign contracts so that software vendors can "buy and pay" for the right to install their demoware/nagware/adware/crippleware on your brand new computer. Just like software vendors "buy and pay" for shelf space in retail shops.
Don't like it? "Buy and pay" somewhat mor
Re:Details sketchy? (Score:2)
Re:Details sketchy? (Score:4, Informative)
Goole toolbar tracks your clicks in a sesion and phones home with the results as a way to tweak their listings based on traffic patterns. You CAN turn is off, but the average user doesn't have a clue that they can or how to do it.
Google desktop phones home with user tendencies to "help" them build more user friendly tools. It ALSO phones home with your web surfing sessions.
The issue becomes a little cloudy when people don't agree on the definition of "spyware". Some people define it as anything that sends information about your activities, anonomous or not, to a collecting party. Some people say it has to have a personal identfier for you or it doesn't count as spyware. Others won't believe its spyware unless there is no way to disable the "feature." Alot of people like the qualifier that that the software has to be installed without the users consent. Pesonally I stick with the definition of anything that phones home with my activities.
Godwin II: Electric Boogaloo (Score:2)
Palindrome (Score:4, Interesting)
.. or (Score:2)
Re:.. or (Score:5, Funny)
No, wait . . .
This is new? (Score:2)
What makes this different?
Re:This is new? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:This is new? (Score:2)
Well done.
OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
There's nothing more entertaining then some poster on slashdot who doesn't understand that once your a monopoly, the rules change.
Oh - did I say entertaining? I meant sad.
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
I'm refering, of course, to all of the people who insist that if something must be bundled in a distribution (like Dell is pushing in this case), especially something that (gasp!) is there specifically to generate ad revenue dollars for Google, that end users be given some sort of organic, free-as-in-rainbows alternative that doesn't involve the Corporate Man limiting search c
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
As to your little rant.
because it involves Google and Dell, is getting only a minor semi-negative buzz from the groupthink... and I find it hypocritical, that's
Bullshit.
People react to things more strongly coming from MS because they're a monopoly & have different rules.
How much do MS pay you?
Agreed. (Score:2)
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
Ok, apparently you're a FUCKING IDIOT, because the first (well, third, after drivers) thing I did after reinstalling XP was installing Firefox and disable IE.
Can I remove it? Well, no. Can I disable it and render it as impotent as you on a Saturday night? Well, yes. Well, nearly. It's at least still there.
-l
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
Name-calling does not make your argument stronger. Though, I can understand why you would be tempted. You have a very weak argument.
Please tell me how you "disabled" IE... even when it's there? Yeah
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
Thank you for exactly making my point. The Google fanboys are a fair-weather, depends-on-the-circumstances bunch. This is a perfect example of it in (in)action.
Re:OMG! Pre-installed = Lack of choice! (Score:2)
No, it's not! You're missing my point. We're not talking about a moral issue, here. We're talking about who gets to sell advertising, and is willing to strike deals to accomplish that. Dell ships machines with *nix installed, too, so choice, per se, isn't even an issue. When the end user chooses to buy a box loaded with Windows, the brows
So... (Score:3, Interesting)
Dell's ridiculous amount of pre-installed crap is taking the concept of bloat to all new levels.
Crapware (Score:2)
When I buy a dishasher, I don't mind a free sample of detergent and rinse agent beacuse it is obvious that it can be removed from the dishwasher and it is obvious that it is just a sample. The problem with the "free" software on new comp
uninstalling (Score:2)
Re:So... (Score:2)
Full reinstall (dual boot between xp pro and fedora)
Re:So... (Score:2)
Whoa (Score:3, Funny)
This just once again proves my point... (Score:5, Funny)
Google Toolbars will form Skynet, all that we know and love are DOOMED!
Who buys from Dell anyway? (Score:2, Insightful)
Oh, and so it comes with Google, just one more hunk of junk software to remove after the machine arrives. You want a clean install? Pay for a clean disk and a copy of the OS to install yourself.
Re:Who buys from Dell anyway? (Score:3, Insightful)
The company I work for does, for one. It is much easier to work with hundreds of systems when you've got only a handful of types in the building, and can get replacement parts for years (warranty or not).
Oh, and so it comes with Google, just one more hunk of junk software to remove after the machine arrives. You want a clean install? Pay for a clean disk and a copy of the OS to install yourself.
Dell is also modifing the Default User's NTuser.dat to add this Google stuff int
Re:Who buys from Dell anyway? (Score:2)
When was the last time you received an order of Optiplexes and had to uninstall junk software before deploying them to the masses? Or are you being cheap and ordering Dimension computers for your corporate environment.
The fact is, this software will only be
Re:Who buys from Dell anyway? (Score:2)
Sorry, but nobody that uses Dell in the enterprise uses the default XP home build that they are talking about in this article.
Corporate users image their computers with a volume license key version of XP pro and something like Ghost.
I do. (Score:2)
I don't really have any problems with Dell, apart from the software, and the only thing that bugs me about that is that they force me to buy Windows.
Re:Who buys from Dell anyway? (Score:4, Interesting)
Though, in all realisticness, I dare any slashdotter to build a $300 system with monitor and legal copy of XP. A third of your budget is shot on the OS, and even if you figure $400 shipped (and quite often they've got free shipping) you'll be hard pressed to beat that price. I'm not advocating or vouching for them, but you've gotta admit that they own the entire value segment. Of course, if you could buy your hard drives by the millions, feel free to start competing.
Re:Who buys from Dell anyway? (Score:2)
What value to consumers is this? (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't know of any software Google produces that is worth bundling with a new machine. Google Earth? Nope. Picasa? Maybe. Google Desktop? No thanks.
As far as I'm concerned, Google belongs in one of my browser tabs, not on my hard drive.
If Dell and Google want to do a service to consumers, Google would give Dell a pile of money to put Firefox on the desktop.
Re:What value to consumers is this? (Score:4, Insightful)
Speak for yourself. Many users want Google Earth, Picasa, Google tool bar, etc. I certainly do, though I don't personally need them on Windows.
Do you work for Microsoft by any chance?
Then you haven't used them enough (Score:5, Interesting)
You are probably familiar with the earlier versions of Google Desktop which, aside from the search, were basically a fancy distraction, but the features that I have on mine right now enhance my productivity: nice to-do list, scratch pad, google calendar, weather. None of these things are present or nearly as convenient in Windows. The search is also fantastic, and completely obsoletes the default Windows search.
You left out Google Talk. I think including a chat program that uses an open standard, with no ads and a nice interface is a good addition.
I haven't tried to use Google Earth for more than the pretty factor, but I bet someone who has can tell me what they do with it.
Re:Then you haven't used them enough (Score:2)
btw have google opened up interaction with other jabber servers or is it still a closed system.
Re:Then you haven't used them enough (Score:2)
Googletalk is now Federated. [digg.com]
That sound (Score:5, Funny)
Re:That sound (Score:2)
Re:That sound (Score:2)
"Though the news may appear to be a blow to Microsoft, Rob Enderle, analyst with the Enderle Group, said it actually could serve the company well in the near term as it continues to battle antitrust charges in the European Union."
Re:That sound (Score:2)
All in all, you local.live.
Firefox? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Firefox? (Score:2)
I wonder if that's because Google has more mojo then Sun or that MS is much weaker then they used to be.
Re:Firefox? (Score:2, Insightful)
Google is cool with the masses. Dell sells things to the masses. Dell ships Google stuff.
Java was never cool (or even noticeable) to the masses. Dell sells things to the masses. Dell has no reason to ship Java.
Let me get this straight... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Let me get this straight... (Score:5, Insightful)
The difference is that Microsoft is leveraging it's position as the dominant OS manufacturer to allow it to force its way into different markets for free whereas all of MS's competitors have to pay a lot of money to do the same thing. I'm inclined to agree with Google.
Lenovo is doing this too (Score:5, Funny)
It was one of the first things I removed.
The Dell De-Crapifier (Score:2, Funny)
http://www.yorkspace.com/2006/04/38 [yorkspace.com]
Uh... Haven't They Already Been? (Score:2)
Less software, not more (Score:2)
from your point of view only (Score:2)
Who mostly buys pre-configured computers at a price much higher than a custom-built pc? Average joes. Mr. Average Joe thinks The Internet is the blue icon on his computer and when that icon isn't there, he has no internet
Mr. Average Joe NEEDS the programs shoved in his face because Mr. Average Joe is a lazy fucker who's too lazy to search for programs a
Re:Less software, not more (Score:2)
I swear, the best thing to do is go back to the olden days, buy the pieces, throw it together, say "no! I'll install my own damn OS my way". Can't be worse than a XPS that's almo
As much as I hate Dell, (Score:2)
What's being included? (Score:4, Interesting)
Google Earth - 3D Earth browser
Google Desktop - Desktop companion
Picasa - Photo organizer
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Google Pack Screensaver - Photo screensaver
Google Talk - Voice and IM application
Google Video Player - Video player
Additional Software
Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar - Web browser
Ad-Aware SE Personal - Antispyware utility
Norton Antivirus 2005 Special Edition - Antivirus utility
Adobe Reader 7 - PDF reader
RealPlayer - Media player
GalleryPlayer HD Images - Images
One wonders what Dell is pre-instaling. Would they install firefox and get on MS' bad side?
Of the whole list, I personally use Picasa (on Windows, my primary app is iPhoto on my G4), Firefox, and Acrobat. Some of the apps, I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole: Norton's, Real Player.
now i'm really interested to see what they're bundling, or are they just including a link to the google pack?
Re:What's being included? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What's being included? (Score:2)
So google is (Score:2)
Hah.... morons
HP, Compaq, Emachine, Gateway, others (Score:2)
Java (Score:5, Interesting)
I can think of only one reason, and that is that Microsoft had some compelling reason for _not_ installing Java.
If Sun had managed to do this 5 or 6 years ago the software map might have been looking completely different.
Re:Java (Score:5, Insightful)
But a few years ago, when Sun was trying to get the govt to force Microsoft to bundle Sun's JVM, Sun had difficulty getting OEMs to bundle it because the OEMs wanted Sun to pay them to bundle it but Sun wanted the OEMs to pay Sun for the right to bundle it.
Re:Java (Score:2)
It works.
Re:Java (Score:2)
So the question should be reversed:
I always wondered why sun prevented Dell and other companies from bundling the java vm.
Re:Java (Score:2)
Except it installs an auto-update utility without prompting the user, and always is load on memory at startup
Re:Java (Score:2)
So? (Score:3, Interesting)
The default configuration also happens to use up more than 512MB of memory AT STARTUP. No programs open, just the tray icons for software that won't work for much longer, and AOL sitting there like the sword of damocles.
the first thing I always recommend someone do after buying a Dell is getting rid of any trace of that install, because it's worse than useless. A bare install with the utilities you actually want and basic drivers will run so much faster than the standard install, work so much better, and try to sell you so much less in the process, that I'd go so far as to say that google adding their 2 cents to this software cacophany is just a nice addition to the tragedy.
Wait... (Score:3, Insightful)
Now that it's Google, which has been shown recently to filter news and engage in other (arguably) unconscionable actions... is it.. still... BAAAAAAD(!)?
I'm.. just.. wondering.
The Dell Startup Page on Google (Score:2)
Link here [google.com]
first AMD, now this (Score:2)
I wouldn't be surprised if soon Google does something more with ISP, especially if the telecoms get their way on the net neutrality fight.
I wouldn't have noticed... (Score:2, Interesting)
Hhhmmm (Score:2)
Does anyone know of a manufacturer of reasonably-priced, reasonably powerful laptops available in the UK who doesn't feel the need to install lots of unnecessary cruft on them?
All I really want is the laptop, OS, and drivers. I'll add everything else myself, thanks.
Re:Hhhmmm (Score:2)
like they lined up a bunch of Chicklets on a desk (yes, they're really
that wobbly) and they don't give you any tactile sense of when you've
pushed the key far enough to activate it.
Otherwise, they're fine machines (be careful not to get a broadcom
wireless chipset...getting the Centrino package is an easy way to
avoid this).
I can't believe ... (Score:2)
Removal (Score:2)
if exist "%programfiles%\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopSetup.exe" start "uninstall" "%programfiles%\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopSetup.exe" -uninstall
reg del "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion"
Unfortunately I don't know of any command-line switches to make it uninstall silently; you still have to go through the prompts and tell it not to keep any indic
Re:Removal (Score:2)
reg del "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\R
How about the third side? (Score:2)
Dell's obvious benefit is obviously that they're being paid by Google to do this, which means they'll make it hard for the customer to remove.
So how does the third side of all this joy -- the customer -- benefit by having software they didn't order and may not want? It wouldn't be the first time I've heard about a customer actually having to pay Dell support to be told how to uninstall some crap Dell stuck on his system
About Installed Software (Score:2)
So how much more vulnerable is your new computer with all this other stuff included? I'll bet more than you wish!
And this is all aside from how much gaming performance you lose from this crap running in the background.
Re:That and the kitchen sink (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Shake it clean (Score:2)
2. boot new machine and test that all hardware works
3. wipe hard drive.
4. reinstall OS (or install another OS).
Seriously, it's easier than trying to fix the default install.