Posted on 11/17/2009 10:10:27 PM PST by Swordmaker
A series of tests have revealed that even newer Windows 7 PCs are being bogged down by unnecessary software that makes them run much more slowly than Macs. Comparing factory versions of several notebooks versus clean models, PC Pro finds that Acer and Sony systems take about two whole minutes more to boot because of the "crapware," or third-party utilities and trial apps, preloaded out of the box. They also consume roughly 1GB more extra active RAM and also rob the system of as much as 2.4GB of space in Acer's case.
Other Windows PC makers are only slightly better, as HP's system takes 1 minute 35 seconds to boot, 1.06GB of RAM and 2.18GB of disk space. Dell's choices consume 54 seconds, 1.18GB of RAM and a large 3GB of disk space. ASUS, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba had relatively light use but in many cases still consumed several hundred megabytes of disk space and active memory.
By comparison, a 13-inch MacBook Pro included in the tests booted in 49 seconds. While second place in boot time versus one clean Dell system, it also had the lowest active memory footprint (289MB) of any system tested.
The examination underscores the problem of the added software, which is often installed to subsidize the cost of a given PC but is known to regularly undermine performance gains from faster processors or improved operating systems. Some vendors like Toshiba have promised that new systems will go without the software, but Microsoft has gone as far as to ship specially modified PCs that strip out software that the hardware manufacturers would normally include.
It’s not that hard, really. I have programs as well that help with it.
“Apple still doesn’t run the games I want to play, pure and simple.”
That’s not quite right. Macs will run Windows, and Windows games if you want to dual boot.
Of course, many folks buy PS3 or Xbox for all the games that aren’t available on Windows... :-)
Me, I’m hoping for a Mac Pro for Christmas! lol
I built my own computer using a Post-It note, a paperclip, and a package of Top Ramen. My OS uses only 3 lines of code.
Simply deleting the "crapware," "bloatware," whatever you want to call it is not enough because the uninstall feature almost always leaves behind files, folders, and most importantly registry entries that slow the PC down and may even automatically start the "deleted" program (or the remaining parts of the program) when you boot the PC.
The best way to purge crapware is to do a clean install -- that is, to reformat the hard drive and reinstall the OS, drivers, and only the programs that you need or want. This is a fairly easy, but time-consumng process, that requires pre-planning to ensure that all the drivers and programs needed to operate the PC have been collected on a USB drive or second hard drive and that they are reinstalled in the proper order. This information is widely available on the Internet for most notebooks and pc's.
The biggest difficulty with doing a clean install is that very few PC manufacturers give the consumer an OEM disk that contains only the operating system. Most PCs/notebooks now come with a "hidden" partition and/or CD that contains a mirror image of the hardrive as it existed when it was shipped from the factory, including all of the crapware that you are trying to purge by doing a reinstall, and the only option is to reinstall everything or nothing. The computer manufacturers do have pure OEM CDs containing only the OS and perhaps a few drivers, but they are extremely reluctant to give them out because of the licensing deals that they have with the crapware people, but on rare occassion, I have been able to talk tech support into sending me a pure OEM disk. In the absence of an OEM disk, I have purchased the OS off-the-shelf to reinstall because in my opinion, the extra cost is worth the cleaner, faster PC.
Yep. It’s Microsoft’s fault the maufacturer loaded all that crep on the computer, and Windows won’t run without it.
The install was easy as could be. The OS boots up very quickly, and shuts down in seconds. The Open Office Suite apps are excellent. The loaded music program is basic, but quick and simple as was the DVD/video watching software. There's plenty of legally free useful software for the OS too.
The Firefox browser bundled with both versions is as good if not better than IE.
Great.
What's not so great is configuring things like modems and graphics cards to work properly, nor is it easy to troubleshoot problems. In fact, to anyone raised on Windows it will likely be a confusing, complicated nightmare.
Like running command prompts? You'd better, and you'd better be willing to spend gobs of time learning new ones, along with an OS structure significantly different from Windows. Also, the default password nags are horrific out of the box -- worse than Vista UAC. I worked for three hours trying to install a .tar install package for a wireless broadband modem -- it was a convoluted nightmare and I finally gave up -- after spending hours on the Ubuntu forums.
My final assessment?-- there is a serious learning curve to Linux, even the "user friendly" ones with a GUI. I'm an advanced hobbyist who loves a challenge, but within a few days my foray into Linux became an exercise in frustration. Most ordinary computer users aren't going to bother with the hassle of getting Ubuntu tweaked to their needs.
I'll wait a few years before futzing with it again. Maybe by then they'll have made it easier and more intuitive to use and easier to tweak. For now, XP's my choice. I just run it devoid of crapware and eye candy and it runs quickly and reliably.
Yeah, but how long does it take to boot?
It boots before I turn it on.
Really. I mean, isn't boot time the right time to go get your cup of coffee ready?
So.... for some reason that’s Microsoft’s fault?
If your time is worth more than $50 an hour, I guess it's not worth it, but you do end up with something just to your taste, and something that can be upgraded in a few years for less than a new PC would cost.
When I built my first one it was before plug and play, and it took me hours to maually configure IRQs and DMIs and such. Now it is easy and fun.
“My final assessment?— there is a serious learning curve to Linux,”
I’ve been fiddling with Linux since about 1995 so, yes I’ve done of ton of command line stuff. However, right now I’m using a little Acer netbook and the Ubuntu install worked like a charm. In fact I did an automatic update to the latest release a couple of days ago with zero problems! I haven’t had to tweak anything at all.
There CAN be a serious learning curve to Linux but it sure isn’t like the old days ;-)
Yes, facts are inconvenient things, especially when the article itself points out that Windows can boot faster than a Mac; no, we still have to claim that such a result isn't true! It hurts our poor little egos if our status symbol of a computer isn't number one...
Build your own computer, if you wish, but some of us prefer the best thing available, and are willing to pay for it. Successful people are the biggest users of Macintosh computers.
Yes, because some of us just want a computer to work, and do so at a reasonable cost, and do not hang our identity on using the same computer so-and-so uses...
I own 5 cars and a motor home. I know how to turn the keys and drive them. I don't build cars, or computers. I prefer to use them. I own a Mercedes Benz that is 22 years old, and drives like new. My '90 TownCar is running strong at 190k, and drives daily. My 3- '87 300ZX's are all running, and one is used to race SCCA. I don't work on any of their parts. I drive them. My Macs are the same.
Some of us don't have to brag about our material possessions, some of us use our computers for actual work. Why should we buy a very expensive computer and still have to load Windows on it so we can actually Get Work Done. You do know there are tremendous amounts of software that simply do not exist in the Mac world? Good luck with any real engineering (like FEA, 3D parametric CAD, FPGA, schematic capture, and the like).
Play your games and stay in your play pen. You've apparently not made it past the toddler stage... and for pete's sake, wipe that drool off your chin.
Jeez, what is this, high school? Is your ego so fragile that you can't stand a little ribbing about your choice of computer? Fanboi, now you know why the name is appropriate...
My XP Dell at work takes 10 minutes to boot, but that’s beacause of all the crapware that the IT dept has loaded on it. Another old Dell under my desk, running Linux that it has to decompress when booting, takes under two minutes to boot.
At home I build my own and load my own crapware on it.
When I buy a netbook just for on-the-road surfing, voiping and emailing, I’ll probably go for the Linux OS. Makes sense, given the puny processors in a lot of them. I’d hate to run a bloated OS like Windows on one. If I do start playing with Linux again soon, hope I can private email you for some guidance!
Man, I’m chomping at the bit waiting for the price of those SS drives to come down and for capacity to go up. Great way to dramatically increase performance on older machines.
ohhhhhh.... I want to be successful should I get a mac? what kind of coffee does rush drink? maybe i should get the same kind
I suggest going a step further and reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows. Eliminates all the hidden trash.
As for Mac usefulness, I have built 497 homes as a General Contractor, and operated three other businesses, all the time using Macintosh computers. My Macs left me with the time to make money, not play around with it's innards. I do real work that pays well. I don't use my hands and mind to play games or build toys. I've been a computer user since the '60's in the Navy.
I am happy to flaunt my success. If I want a computer to "just work", I'll always use a Mac! My first one in 1984 took me a half hour to set up, and print my first document.
My Mac cost is quite reasonable, since my time apparently has more value than yours. I don't need a status symbol. I have nobody to impress, except Spot. I got him some pigs ears at Costco today... and he's wagging his tail off! I drive old cars that do as they were built, like Macs.
Have a nice day. I appreciate the response. It shows you're perfectly willing to give me free rent in your mind. Now, try to get me out!
Get a Mac and you'll never go back.
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