Mossberg Calls For an End to Shovelware

I'm late posting about Walt Mossberg's rant against bundled software on new PCs, commonly known as "shovelware." For that I apologize. But you know what, shovelware has been with us for years and it isn't going away. I figured Mossberg's piece could hang in there a week while I got my thoughts together on the subject. Sure enough, it's still timely.

If you're not familiar with shovelware, you're either a Mac owner or you aren't looking hard enough. See all those icons along the left side of the screen? The ones that were there when you first turned on your computer and, unless you've got gumption, are still there now? That's shovelware.

America Online. MusicMatch. Real Player. Napster free trial. Betty Boop Crosswords. Cook'n with Pillsbury. I'm not kidding. This is all stuff you'll find on new PCs.

The problems with shovelware are many: Most of it is useless, shamelessly attempting to "hook you" or even trick you into paying for an upgraded version of the software. It's basically spam, only you have to pay for it when you get your computer. Uninstalling it can be difficult: Anyone who's tried to uninstall the McAfee security suite knows how much it absolutely hates to let go of your computer. Multiple reboots are typically required.

Even after you uninstall everything, remnants always remain. Registry entries, temp files, cookies, setup files... some of this stuff just eats up space, but some of it can wreak havoc on your computer, even after it's been "removed." Many users resort to installing Windows from a retail disk (not the system recovery disc, which will just reinstall the shovelware) when they buy a new PC.

Why does shovelware exist, if users hate it so much? Because PC makers get paid to load it on their computers. With margins as low as they are, it's no surprise vendors have had to resort to such activities to keep afloat. Still, that doesn't make it right. I'd happily lead a call to abolish shovelware, or at least make it a user-configurable option when the computer is purchased. (Dell customers, for one, have been vocal on this point as well.)

What do you think? Is that Sudoko game something that you really wanted when you bought your PC? Sound off and let the vendors hear you! 

LINK: Using Even New PCs Is Ruined by a Tangle Of Trial Programs, Ads