This article voices a lot of complaints by new PC users who start up their shiny new system, only to be bombarded by software they don’t need:

The problem is a lack of respect for the consumer. The manufacturers don’t act as if the computer belongs to you. They act as if it is a billboard for restricted trial versions of software and ads for Web sites and services that they can sell to third-party companies who want you to buy these products.

The worst was a desktop icon called “Watch Hit Movies Now!” This turned out to be four full-length films from Sony’s movie studios, which the company had preloaded onto my computer at the cost of more than four gigabytes of precious hard-disk space. But they aren’t a gift. If you want to play them, you have to pay Sony.

My two cents:
Working at a privately owned PC company, I am all too familiar with this complaint. When I was monitoring some new system builds, I saw that one system had a search bar installed in the bottom left of the task bar. It turned out that it was a default add-on that is installed when you load Nero, the burning software. Luckily, our company prides itself on not pre-installing crap you’ll never need. I got rid of the search bar, knowing all too well that over time things like this “helpful” tool will slow down the computer. Why would burning software need a search bar? Or want to provide you with one? It’s really just a way for you to keep their logo on the screen at all times.

I’ve realized that these advertising tactics are a lot like SPAM. The more advanced users will know enough to get rid of them ASAP, while the more basic users will buy into them. It pains me everytime someone tells me they paid so-and-so amount for some software (that more than likely is available for free with some internet searching) because their computer told them to. It’s not the user’s fault–what would you do if your car told you it felt a flat tire coming on?

The trick is, you need to examine the programs on your computer critically. Do you have broadband? You don’t need AOL. You get all of your music from iTunes? You don’t need Napster. Know that you’re a safe internet browser and user? You don’t need Norton Antivirus. You can get rid of a lot of junk software this way, cleaning up your computer while making your way to becoming a smarter PC-user.

Or you could break down and get a Mac. That works too.

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