Sony charges $50 to remove laptop bloatware

[Doctor Q]

Macworld reports that Sony ships a bunch of trial software with it's VAIO PCs, then charges you extra to remove it at time of purchase!

That takes a lot of nerve, but I guess some people (or businesses) are willing to pay for non-software.

I wonder if they actually delete the bloatware. Don't they just avoid installing it in the first place, then charge you as if they installed it and then removed it for you?

Does anybody want to pay me $50 to delete my next post in this thread after I make it? Or, equivalently, does anybody want to pay me $50 to not make my next post? If so, I'll skip directly to my third post and not make my second post. If you expect to dislike my second post, I'm sure it will be worth the money.

 

[dukebound85]

dang thats crazy as it should be vice versa lol


on a similar note i want to get rid of bloatware on a sony laptop. can i use a retail xp disk since used on my other comp (home built) to install xp back on the sony laptop but use the oem key sticker on the bottom of the machine for activation?

i hate preinstalled bloatware

 

[jaw04005]

I would understand the charge if this was Dell, but this is Sony.

Dell is a low-cost leader. They frequently compete at bottom of the barrel pricing with other manufacturers. By agreeing to install "trial-ware", Dell will receive compensation from the said company and can offer PCs with even lower prices.

On the other hand, Sony rarely competes in the low to mid range PC space. Many of their PC products are aimed at the design conscious, high-end entertainment or business crowd similar to Apple's market.

Whether Sony rightfully belongs in that space is another story, but they really have no excuse for not offering the option for free—as they already charge a premium for their products (and their products accessories, etc).

Sony is also a company known for not responding to criticism, complaints or feedback from their customers. So I doubt this will change anytime soon.

 

[rdowns]

All trial software should come with a one click remove button. When I'm all benevolent dictator of the world, so it shall be.

 

[Nermal]

Sony is also a company known for not responding to criticism, complaints or feedback from their customers. So I doubt this will change anytime soon.

It's free now

 

[Doctor Q]

Phooey! There goes my chance to earn money by not posting in this thread!

 

[rdowns]

Wouldn't want to disappoint the gods.

 

[bartelby]

All trial software should come with a one click remove button. When I'm all benevolent dictator of the world, so it shall be.

It's free now

Wait. So does this mean rdowns now rules the world?

 

[Doctor Q]

Wouldn't want to disappoint the gods.

Thanks. You "Granted" my wish.

 

[BlakTornado]

Jesus, I am so glad I bought an Apple.

The only "bloat" I got with that was Office 2004 and iWork demos, which were easy to uninstall.

However, having bought PCs, I am aware of the sort of bloatware you get on PCs, and deleting it is nowhere near easy.

Oh well. At Least Sony might be moving towards a better future, even if it is still using Windows.

 

[EricNau]

I must admit, it actually makes a bit of sense to me. Sony undoubtedly makes a profit by including trial software, which is passed on as a "discount" to the customer, who can also choose to pass up this discount in exchange for an "ad-free" computer.

 

[kuebby]

The only "bloat" I got with that was Office 2004 and iWork demos, which were easy to uninstall.

However, having bought PCs, I am aware of the sort of bloatware you get on PCs, and deleting it is nowhere near easy.

And Office and iWork aren't really even bloat, IMO, since most people use one of them and since they come pre-installed (trial version) all you have to do to use them is input a serial number.

Windows bloat on other hand is like a tumor. I mean, I don't think I ever fully got Windows Messenger off my old Dell.

 

[jaw04005]

It's free now

Wow. I'm speechless. That has to be a first for Sony.

 

[Sesshi]

Macworld reports that Sony ships a bunch of trial software with it's VAIO PCs, then charges you extra to remove it at time of purchase!

That takes a lot of nerve, but I guess some people (or businesses) are willing to pay for non-software.

I wonder if they actually delete the bloatware. Don't they just avoid installing it in the first place, then charge you as if they installed it and then removed it for you?

Does anybody want to pay me $50 to delete my next post in this thread after I make it? Or, equivalently, does anybody want to pay me $50 to not make my next post? If so, I'll skip directly to my third post and not make my second post. If you expect to dislike my second post, I'm sure it will be worth the money.

As I understand it, the bloatware is paid for by the bloaters, so either it gives Sony an additional profit margin or subsidises the reail price of the machine. It's a necessary evil every time I buy a Sony. However, since their premium notebooks are far superior to anything Apple has sans bloatware, it's a one-time pain I'm not too bothered about.

I'm glad the removal option is there now though, that's for sure.

 

[dmw007]

It's free now

Good, Sony charging $50 to remove the software was just ludicrous.

 

[clevin]

its stupid, and im glad sony dropped it now

anyway, what are the bloatwares are we talking about in this case? any list?

 

[Sesshi]

The usual (Norton, shortcuts to web offers, etc) and also more irritatingly the Sony own-brand crapware. Who needs a Sony-ecosystem-only media server on a business machine Sony's infamous Sonicstage + DRM extensions? Apparently Sony thinks we do. Once de-crappified (and a backup image taken) all is gravy though.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

While people are complaining sony could easy be charging for the tech guy taking the time to remove it all.

My guess is the software is on the ghost drive they use for all their computers. So it is really taking them so time and money to remove that software. You need to remember most big OEM companies use a master drive off the server and ghost the image on to all the ones they sell.

The 50 bucks was to pay some one to take off all the extra stuff. My guess is once you factor in the labor cost they are paying there guy to do it. Sony might b e making 3-5% off of it.

 

[d_and_n5000]

While people are complaining sony could easy be charging for the tech guy taking the time to remove it all.

My guess is the software is on the ghost drive they use for all their computers. So it is really taking them so time and money to remove that software. You need to remember most big OEM companies use a master drive off the server and ghost the image on to all the ones they sell.

The 50 bucks was to pay some one to take off all the extra stuff. My guess is once you factor in the labor cost they are paying there guy to do it. Sony might b e making 3-5% off of it.

What's keeping Sony from having a second ghost drive that doesn't have all the bloat on it? Especially considering that this was likely to be a very popular option(who wants bloat?), that would be the cost- and labor-effective thing to do, wouldn't it?

 

[Aperture]

While people are complaining sony could easy be charging for the tech guy taking the time to remove it all.

My guess is the software is on the ghost drive they use for all their computers. So it is really taking them so time and money to remove that software. You need to remember most big OEM companies use a master drive off the server and ghost the image on to all the ones they sell.

The 50 bucks was to pay some one to take off all the extra stuff. My guess is once you factor in the labor cost they are paying there guy to do it. Sony might b e making 3-5% off of it.

Yeah I highly doubt Sony is paying some tech to take the software off. As the above poster said, they probably have 2 ghost drives.

 

[Sesshi]

Dang. That's a sneaky edit from the mods.

(makes like Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men )