Pre-installed software (also known as bundled software) is the software already installed and licensed on a computer bought from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).[1]
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Bundled software is another name for pre-installed software, as pre-installed are all bundled with a hardware device of some kind. However, bundled software may also refer to the practice of including several related computer programs into a single software suite. For example, Blizzard Software sells "Battle Chests" in which all releases of such games as Diablo II, StarCraft and the Warcraft series are sold in one package. Bundled software may also be older video game titles being resold to maximize profits or to deplete the remainder inventory.
Purchasing hardware and software together is cost-effective, and discounts are possible from OEMs on bulk orders. [1]
Pre-installation provides the convenience of turnkey solution, when the user does not have to worry about installation of various commonly used software, such as operating system or word processors.
Pre-installed software commonly suffers from one of more of the following problems:
Often new computers come with pre-installed software which the manufacturer was paid to include but is of dubious value to the purchaser. Such unwanted pre-installed software and advertisements are derogatorily called craplets, a portmanteau of crap and applet,[2][3] and crapware. In January 2007, an unnamed executive spokesman for Microsoft expressed concern that the Windows Vista launch might be damaged by poorly designed, uncertified third-party applications installed by vendors — "We call them craplets." He stated that the antitrust case against Microsoft prevented the company from stopping the pre-installation of these programs by OEMs.[2] Walter Mossberg, technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, condemned "craplets" in two columns published in April 2007, and suggested several possible strategies for removing them.[3][4] According to Ars Technica, most craplets are installed by OEMs who receive payment from the authors of the software. At the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, Dell defended this practice, stating that it keeps costs down, and implying that systems might cost significantly more to the end user if these programs were not pre-installed.[5]
Some system vendors and retailers will offer, for an additional charge, to remove unwanted pre-installed software from a newly-purchased computer; retailers, in particular, will tout this service as a "performance improvement". In 2008, Sony Corporation announced a plan to charge end users US$50 for the service; Sony subsequently decided to drop the charge for this service and offer it for free after many users expressed outrage.[6]
These additional programs often have the characteristics of bloatware or shovelware.
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