The Vista PC Diet Plan
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Apple's new "Stuffed" commercial pokes fun at preinstalled applications—better known as craplets—loaded up on new Windows PCs. Apple isn't alone in the craplet disdain. |
Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg wrote columns on April 5 and April 12 about the craplet dilemma.
Mossberg identified two problems: "One is the plethora of teaser software and advertisements for products that must be cleared and uninstalled to make way for your own stuff. The second is the confusing welter of security programs you have to master and update, even on a virgin machine."
For Microsoft, the problem is one of experience. The company wants people to have a "Wow" experience with Windows Vista, which an overly preloaded PC could greatly diminish. But Microsoft also benefits from software developer support of its platform, and many partners rely on preloads for lucrative subscription revenue or upsell to fuller product versions.
PC manufacturers benefit from bounties they collect for preloading software, so the economics would appear to work against clean Vista PCs. The bounties help cushion already tight margins.
For many enterprises, craplets are little issue, because of re-imaging. Smaller businesses are more likely to get whatever OEMs put on the PC. But if enterprises re-image, what value do software and services providers get from paying bounties for PC placement? Google paid Dell a billion bucks for search placement, but what's the value if big businesses, which are big PC purchasers, re-image?
In March, we asked Microsoft Watch readers to opine about craplets. Commenter Matchwalk expressed common sentiment: "It's so refreshing to hear others saying the same things I think about. Why do (almost) all PC makers have to include all the crap that comes with the OS, other than to make extra money from advertising and sponsorship?"
The Windows Vista Welcome Center is one potential craplet remedy. Rather than load up unwanted software, PC manufacturers could place links to software—either for download or on the PC but not installed—in the Welcome Center. The latter option would put the software on the computer, but give the end user the choice to install or not.
Such a tact might appeal to Microsoft Watch commenter Alsiladka, who said about preloaded software: "I would personally prefer no Craplets installed without my approval. I don't mind the setup asking me if i would like to install this or that. I can always say no to that, but there may be some users who would like things automated, so this would be a nice option for them too."
The option of removing the software may seem like a good idea for customers, but with razor-thin margins, PC manufacturers would have to recover the revenue elsewhere. Pay-more to get-less option is a good alternative. Customers could pay a premium over the computer's purchase price for a clean system.
Problem: Some of that preloaded software, particularly for security protection, fills in for stuff not included in the operating system. One solution would be to let customers choose the trial software they want and give them an option to receive CDs or download fulfillment instead of preinstallations.
Microsoft's potential role in diminishing craplets is likely limited by its U.S. antitrust settlement. For the benefit of preserving the purity of the Vista experience, Microsoft could offer OEMs incentives, such as discounts or marketing support, for shipping some PCs without craplets. Sure as anything, someone would cry antitrust foul. Antitrust concerns aside, OEMs would still get money to replace the bounties while offering customers more by giving them less.
Craplets should be a concern for Microsoft and OEMs. A bad desktop experience could convince more people to stick with Windows XP longer and extend functions using applications on the Web. There, revenue comes from craplet's kin, advertising—the loose relationship being paid placement. The difference: Except for overly large animated ads, end users won't see the performance hit from advertising that they would get from craplets.
Related Posts:
- Vista to PC Makers: You're Welcome, Microsoft Watch, March 23, 2007
- Cut the Craplet?, Microsoft Watch, March 14, 2007
- Vista Ads Are 'Lost' And Found, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 8, 2007
- Microsoft Starts the 'Wow', Microsoft Watch, Jan. 29, 2007
- Is Vista Ready for You?, Microsoft Watch, Dec. 19, 2006
Comments (21)
Just one tiny delectable morsel, the mint is WAFER-THIN!
(I love this ad.)
Posted by Rick Stockton | April 17, 2007 7:39 PM
The mint is WAFER-THIN, just the tiniest, most delecable little morsel....
(I love this ad.)
Posted by Rick Stockton | April 17, 2007 7:40 PM
Nice post. Do you know how much a manufacturer like Dell would lose if it decided not to do deals with the other software companies? If it's < $100, Dell could easily pass on the extra cost to customers, especially on higher end models. Also, if it's significant compared to the cost of the Windows OS, I don't see what Dell stands to gain by providing Linux. Open Source may not mean lower cost.
Posted by shravan | April 17, 2007 8:50 PM
The issue of scalability is worth addressing. What Bill Gates used to refer to as 'bitrot' does not exist in other platforms -- preloading gigabyes of software would barely affect overall performance. Some people (even MS-MVPs) also refer to this issue which affects speed (fonts, applications, Registry bloat) as Windows rot.
All in all, the point is that a diet might not be needed. Scalability is the answer.
Posted by Roy Schestowitz | April 17, 2007 9:53 PM
Apple's hypocrisy is overwhelming. My MacBook came preloaded with about 4 time-bombed applications. Yes Apple think it's fair to install MS MacOffice on new PC's and then complain about the competition doing the same thing.
Posted by RichB | April 18, 2007 7:49 AM
Yeah, my two-year old Powerbook was the same. MS-Office and iWork trials, and other ads and crap. The funny thing is, my new Vista PC was the cleanest system I've ever purchased, even more than the Apple.
Posted by JackS | April 18, 2007 8:07 AM
Yeah, my two-year old Powerbook was the same. MS-Office and iWork trials, and other ads and crap. The funny thing is, my new Vista PC was the cleanest system I've ever purchased, even more than the Apple.
Posted by JackS | April 18, 2007 8:08 AM
On the Mac, four trial applications that don't autolaunch and hide in the system in the background and require no more than moving the application folder to the trash hardly counts as craplets. There are no system library-wide craplets on the Mac as there are on the PC. Hypocracy - hardly. Also - a restore disk on a Mac lets you reinstall the system sans demo software. Again - impossible with a Windows machine. Try again "Paul Thurrott" wannabe.
Posted by BillG | April 18, 2007 9:41 AM
To clarify the point: iWork comes in a folder in the Applications folder. The applications within it are *NOT* installed - at all - until you attempt to run them. Drag the folder to the trash, and it is done. Takes a couple of seconds, and you don't have a mountain of dlls in your System32 directory, startup items configured, and a load of useless entries in your registry.
Office 2004 demo: same thing. Until you run it, it is not installed. So it is not chewing up system resources *AT ALL*.
As Bill G pointed out, you can take the system restore disk - or any retail disc of OS X - and do a clean install with nothing else loaded. The "restore discs" you get with Windows PCs today - assuming that you actually get a disc and don't have to burn it yourself - does not give you this option.
I've got a Toshiba Satellite sitting on the desk in front of me, running Windows Vista Home Premium (now Ultimate), and with all the stuff pre-bundled the machine crawls like a turtle. Why should a Windows computer be consuming 800 mb RAM right out of the box?
I find the option of paying extra money to NOT get stuff pre-installed on my computer laughable. You could even say it is extortion.
The days of home-building your own PC to save money may be over, but there's still good reason to do it: you get exactly what you want, no more and no less, and you know exactly which components go into the box.
Posted by rmeister0 | April 18, 2007 10:01 AM
I don't know why but to me these things looks very CHEAP to me. If you have something better then you should tell people that you have a nice product. Telling in this way is like CRYING. Whatever ads you guys make but the truth is when it comes to OS, M$ has beaten Apple like anything continuously in last 20+ years. And if you claim that M$ has copied everything from you and achived 90+ % market share against 4+ % of yours, then you are the MOST STUIPD person on the earth and you have CRAP marketting/business skills. So instead of crying try to learn from MS. This is also applicable to so called Apple Fanboys (Hi Joe :))
This video on Youtube proves it all,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qYA2SU59cg
Posted by DD | April 18, 2007 10:13 AM
Yes, the situation with pre loaded apps on Vista is, umm, well, SNAFU. In the wonderful "ecosystem" Gates and Ballmer created, the only way commodity box dealers can turn a buck is to take those few pennies from all of the ISVs hawking this crappola. Add in a system software architecture stuck in the 1990s and we end up with what we have today, brand new systems that poke along.
The commercial is well done and makes its point. I wonder where they got that suit for the PC guy? One of my relatives needs one in that size...
Posted by Julia | April 18, 2007 10:58 AM
I find more and more people buying from the "true" build to order smaller shops (not Dell). One reason is they seem to be able to sell at the same or lower prices than Dell, HP, Acer, etc. Often the components are a bit better. And the biggest bonus is, that they just install the core operating system and nothing more. Ie they haven't made any craplett deals. So you get a better computer than you could get at Best Buy at often a better price with no craplets. I think the bigger manufacturers are just cutting their own throats here.
Posted by smist08 | April 18, 2007 11:26 AM
The one thing to remember about this is this is not Microsoft's doing. I believe that Microsoft would not mind a bit if new systems came with Windows Vista and nothing else installed. The problem is that it is not in Microsoft's control. Microsoft decided a long time ago that they were in the software business and not going to build hardware. If Microsoft did everything proprietary like Apple does you would not find extra stuff on Windows based systems.
The fact that Microsoft does not care who builds the system leaves them little control over what the system builder includes. Apple maintains complete control which is why Apple is not likely to ever gain a large amount of the desktop market.
Posted by Jake | April 18, 2007 11:48 AM
For the record, Macs do come with trial versions of Microsoft Office and Apple's iWork, though all other included applications are full versions of programs, including the company's iPhoto and iMovie, as well as third-party titles such as Comic Life.
Posted by WildSignals | April 18, 2007 12:11 PM
OK..I'm a Vista fan..I have BOTH the latest Apple iMAC and a Laptop running Vista Ultimate. Apple has all the widgets TOO. Alot of them are CRAPLETS too. In fact..you CAN't get them OFF your APPLE without causing some OS damage...but you can clean up a Vista PC..talk about Apple forcing you to use their applications..I guess they want to be a Microsoft when they grow up...ha..ha..
Posted by Rick Kazi | April 18, 2007 4:12 PM
OK..I'm a Vista fan..I have BOTH the latest Apple iMAC and a Laptop running Vista Ultimate. Apple has all the widgets TOO. Alot of them are CRAPLETS too. In fact..you CAN't get them OFF your APPLE without causing some OS damage...but you can clean up a Vista PC..talk about Apple forcing you to use their applications..I guess they want to be a Microsoft when they grow up...ha..ha..
Posted by Rick Kazi | April 18, 2007 4:12 PM
DD
What a truly uplifting Video !! Showing how computers help people these days.
AND THEN .....
Apple ... the little baby ...not helping anyone, because its not grown up yet, and ... continually crying, and in the context put by this video doing what we in Australia call "Windging", which is basically going angry at someone for being what they are, and the unhappy person thinks that they are better than them ! But they are not ... so they tease and torment the other, but the truth wins out.
And I would like to know who coined the "Craplets", that derrogertry in it's self. They are actually small applications and or "trial programs" which as "Wildsignals" has said are even on Macs.
You can take the Windows ones off the computer, but... you can't take the one's off that are provided by Apple as "Rick Kazi" stated.
So on these points alone, it shows that Apple is envious of Microsoft and ... does include things that CAN'T be removed if you want to.
And we all know that the Mac VS PC ads are "highly" exagerated towards making Apple "look" good !
Posted by Neil | April 18, 2007 7:47 PM
Just to post my .02USD. I'm running 7.04 Kubuntu and it isn't even officially out yet! Lots of bells and whistles, runs on my ( admittedly souped up ) Compaq Armada 1750 with a 500Mhz PIII, does my office work, plays games, listens to music and watches videos.
What more do you want? Oh, and with over 21 THOUSAND applications YOU choose to install for free AND Click N' Run coming for commercial apps, I have the best of both worlds. Who needs Apple, WindBlows OR Crapplets?
The desktops are following when W2000 is made obsolete.
Posted by Kubuntu 7.04 user | April 18, 2007 9:16 PM
Kubuntu 7.04 User
I am curious ... do you feel the need at all to say how bad Apple or Windows are (in your opiinion) ?
Or are you happy with what you have and don't need to justify yourself to anyone !
If you are happy (and I feel by your statement that you are) you wouldn't need to "constantly" go on and on about how good your system because you know it is.
So tell me something... why does Apple feel the need to constantly denegrate Windows(Pc's) if their OS is so good.
Don't get me wrong if your happy with your system I am happy for you, "each to their own" I always say.
It just gets me why Apple feels so insecure that they have to do these sort of campaigns.
And as "Rick Kazi" commented Apple has their "Applets" too ! So why are they going on about PC's.
As the saying goes "That's calling the kettle black" isn't it ???
Posted by Neil | April 18, 2007 9:39 PM
Kubuntu 7.04 User
I almost forgot you stated that you received "21 Thousand" applications with it.
Do you consider this "Bloatware" or HELPFULL ?
The main subject here is "added software" ... yet you seem very happy about the included software (and personally so would I).
This is what Apple is berating MS over, and why shouldn't you get some extra software... you've paid for it ... why not ??
Bloatware...craplets...call it what you like, why shouldn't you have it, unlike Apple you can "uninstall" it ...if you want to !!
Posted by Neil | April 18, 2007 9:48 PM
The "21 thousand" applications are in repositories on the net, freely available for downloading. They don't come pre-installed, thank goodness!
Posted by Eric Layne | April 19, 2007 11:08 AM