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Ways You Can Avoid Getting Junk Programs On Your New Computer
Personal Technology ^ | 04/12/2007 | Walter S. Mossberg

Posted on 04/12/2007 7:36:38 AM PDT by Swordmaker

Last week, when I condemned the flood of crippled trial software, ads and offers that come loaded on new Windows Vista computers, readers reacted strongly. I received roughly 700 emails, all but a handful agreeing with me. The column was the most popular article that day on WSJ.com and was cited on numerous other Web sites.

Clearly, many people are furious about these unwanted programs and icons, which are sometimes called craplets. Many would like to smite them without going through the laborious process of uninstalling them manually, one at a time. Some readers suggested strategies. The following are some options.

One ray of hope is a free program called PC Decrapifier. It can be downloaded at pcdecrapifier.com. This software automates the process of uninstalling craplets. It was written originally to clean up Dell computers, but its author says it will work on other brands, too. Before PC Decrapifier runs, it allows you to remove from its proposed deletion list any programs it considers junk, but which you might prefer to retain.

(Excerpt) Read more at ptech.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: malware; operatingsystems; pc; personalcomputer; software; spyware
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1 posted on 04/12/2007 7:36:40 AM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: 1234; 6SJ7; Abundy; Action-America; af_vet_rr; afnamvet; akatel; Alexander Rubin; Amadeo; ...
Mossberg article - Avoid Craplets: Buy a Mac - PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

2 posted on 04/12/2007 7:37:46 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE)
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To: Swordmaker
Avoid Craplets: Buy a Mac

$1000 more for the computer or fifteen minutes of work to uninstall the trial software "craplets". Gosh tough choice.

3 posted on 04/12/2007 7:54:18 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: rdb3; chance33_98; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; PenguinWry; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; ..
De-Crap-ify your PC
5 posted on 04/12/2007 8:08:39 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: The_Victor
Right, for that $1,000 I bought a computer, not a bunch of software to protect my system from viruses, spyware, and other pain in the butt problems.

Let's not forget the time necessary to constantly check that PC to insure it isn't infected. The multiple crashes, the painfully slow boot up.

I run a top-end Mac, three older Macs and a high-end PC. My 11-year old Mac G3 hooked up to my network easier than my PC, which require several hours a a call to the help-line to get it to work. I just plugged in the Macs.

6 posted on 04/12/2007 8:11:26 AM PDT by Military family member (GO Colts!!)
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To: Swordmaker
Avoid Craplets: Buy a Mac

It ain't a "Windows" problem, it's the OEMs who are making money off of shipping this stuff pre-installed.

7 posted on 04/12/2007 8:11:37 AM PDT by kevkrom (Al Gore is to Global Warming as L. Ron Hubbard is to Scientology)
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To: The_Victor

Some of us choose to not drive a Yugo...


8 posted on 04/12/2007 8:12:05 AM PDT by tubebender (Whom keeps stealing my Tag Line???)
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To: The_Victor

Um, no - Macs are often cheaper than Dells.


9 posted on 04/12/2007 8:12:22 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: The_Victor
$1000 more for the computer or fifteen minutes of work to uninstall the trial software "craplets". Gosh tough choice.

That's hardly the reason to buy a Mac and the article doesn't pretend that is so.

No wonder Dell and HP succeed at selling craptastic computers with low-quality components. The buying public are mostly idiots.

Beyond that, it's a valid criticism of the PC makers. Why should their customers tolerate their attempts to profit from them after the sale or use the product as a slipstream to other purchases, even if those revenue enhancers are known security risks?
10 posted on 04/12/2007 8:14:39 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: Swordmaker

Lots of IBM-PC -vs- MAC stuff in this thread, so I thought I’d throw in my opinion.

Buying a MAC is like buying a laptop. If you want something for it you have to go to the OEM.

Buying a IBM clone is like buying a piece of property. If you want something for it you can go where you please.


11 posted on 04/12/2007 8:25:31 AM PDT by MarineBrat (My wife and I took an AIDS vaccination that the Church offers.)
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To: Swordmaker
Choice of vendor when you purchase a new computer could solve this problem. Microsoft dosen’t sell computers it is the different computer makers and resellers that add all this additional products. Many which are not available on Apples products.

So if this is a big problem in your life after spending the short time it takes to remove this programs stop and take time to thank God that your life is so blessed that you have time to complain of such small things.

12 posted on 04/12/2007 8:33:39 AM PDT by ThomasThomas
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To: The_Victor
$1000 more for the computer or fifteen minutes of work to uninstall the trial software "craplets".

Or pay less for an equivalent system and don't even have to worry about this software. Was the last time you checked Mac prices back in the 90s?

13 posted on 04/12/2007 8:37:06 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: George W. Bush

LOL! Bravo!


14 posted on 04/12/2007 8:49:23 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Monday, April 2, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Swordmaker

One thing to consider, at least with Dell, is to buy models aimed at business. Dell Diminsions have lots of crap on them. Dell Optiplexes do not.


15 posted on 04/12/2007 9:14:38 AM PDT by gondramB (It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.)
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To: rrc
$1000 more for the computer or fifteen minutes of work to uninstall the trial software “craplets”.

????? How do you figure Macs cost $1,000 more than an equivilant PC?

Mac Minis don't even reach $1,000

16 posted on 04/12/2007 10:06:56 AM PDT by Tribune7 (A bleeding heart does nothing but ruin the carpet)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: George W. Bush
That's hardly the reason to buy a Mac and the article doesn't pretend that is so.

Uhm, just FYI, my comment was not about the article itself but the commentary in the Mac ping.

18 posted on 04/12/2007 11:03:55 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: Spktyr
Um, no - Macs are often cheaper than Dells.

The cheapest Mac I can find is $599 without the monitor or any software other than OS. Not cheaper than a Dell. I can also spend the same amount of money on an Acer 64 bit AMD machine and get ten times the computational power. Even if the price difference is only a few hundred dollars, my position is the same. A few minutes of work or hundreds of dollard more in price. Duh!

19 posted on 04/12/2007 11:09:12 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: The_Victor

Compare a top of the line Dell Optiplex to a Mac Pro.

The Mac Pro is *faster* and cheaper.

In anything but the bargain-basement category, Macs are cheaper as a rule.

Of course, there’s always people who buy bottom feeder computers, just like there were people who bought Ford Festivas, Chevrolet Chevettes, and Yugos.

I just don’t happen to be that stupid.


20 posted on 04/12/2007 11:20:26 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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