Finding a desktop PC with minimum bloatware

Hence my followup question about what the end goal is.

If you're doing hardcore MS development using Visual Studio etc, then Windows is probably a good idea. If all you do is email/surf and nothing too niche, it's more than likely Linux will suffice - given that some applications such as Handbrake (video ripping) are available for Windows and Linux.

If you're running some obscure piece of hardware, such as a Telex handler with no new drivers since the company folded in 2003, then you are probably stuck with Windows.

Of course. so there's your answer. hardware and oemwindows from novatech. TW

All bloatware.

Try Linux.

IME its even easier to install Linux Mint and never have hte bloatware again and get abouut a 10:1 performance increase

What's the bloatware on a Mac ?

If you want to spend all your time doing nothing linux is the way to go, but to get something done even windose is better than linux.

My experience has consistently been that Linux requires way less messing with & is quicker to use. Windows has only worsened since I last used it much, Linux has only got better. Neither is perfect of course.

NT

and if you have a properly activated Win 7 or 8.1 machine it will upgrade to 10 without any hassle even though the "free" upgrade period is technically over.

Having bought shed loads of HP and Lenovo laptops in recent years, it has to be said that the included crapware is relatively minimal these days. Usually a bit of warranty nagware, and 3 month demo version of McCafee, or Norton. All relatively easy to dispose of.

I would expect[1] their off the shelf desktop machines to be similar in software fit.

The main impact on performance is whether it has a SSD or not as its main drive, and what CPU you choose. Mid spec i5, SSD, and 8GB will sail through pretty much any business or productivity application.

This machine that I'm using startted life running Win7 - now on Win10. But a laptop really didn't like the upgrade due to memory limitations.

Win10 runs alright on a laptop with 1G of RAM and a 60GB disk with a 600 MHz celeron CPU. Its a bit slow to boot so I don't reboot it just suspend it.

Well, to be honest they are only cheap due to their bloatware. If you want a clean machine go to a small store but it will cost more. Otherwise allow a couple of weeks for removing crapware first.

Avast should be the first to go!

Brian

Its easy to download the ISO and do an install of vanilla win10 if there is too much cr@pware.

Even with an i7 photoshop elements can bring it to a crawl.

Yes but if you are looking for a bare bones then you can just as easily put on a clean windows install. Brian

What they say about pets is true of PCs too.

It isnt hard to delete that with Win.

Havent used a modern Packard Bell but there isnt a lot in it with the rest.

Well maybe maybe not. I tend to not let them onto the net until I've uninstalled all I can.

avast is a bit of an issue as avastclear can damage the registry or so it seems. Mind you the damage mainly affects some APIs for screenreader use most of the time. Also beware removing office and reinstalling it, as this too has problems. Whatever you get though get an SSD main drive on it. Also get a back up drive that you can unplug.

I seem to recall a web site I stumbled across with the main list of bloatware updated periodically. I went to an independent builder and had no bloatware but remember, you pay more if the profit is made from you rather than the bloatware companies. Brian

But not as easy to use as a file and backup server when your other machines are Win systems.

I reinstalled win10 from a downloaded USB drive last week and it talks to you for the installation. You can also tell it the answers if your mic is working.

Quite.

So, given I'm not 'fan' of any OS (it's a means to an end) but like having flexibility (range) and compatibility (the world *IS* still very Windows centric) then that means it has to be Windows.

If you are willing to forgo all of that then yes, Linux can be a solution for some.

It's like Windows is a petrol powered car, Mac a diesel and Linux LPG. Yes, the latter two can have their advantages but only as long as you are also willing to put up with their shortcomings (if you aren't part of the minority it happens to suit).

Those of us who *have* been involved with Linux for a long time and over many real-world machines (that were often built / designed for Windows, not Linux) and with many real world users are able to judge such things from a RW POV.

I have many instances of Linux on many machines here and yet I rarely run one of them up to do anything and when I do, it's generally just for fun, because I haven't for a while. For me, Mac OS is eve worse (it's only a Bootcamp away but I've not booted to OSX for *years*.

Why haven't I? Because there is little I can't do on Windows (even this XP) that I could do better on the other OS's?

An exception might be the likes of GParted.

If you take my most simple of daily desktop needs, Firefox and Thunderbird are pretty similar across both platforms but Pan simply doesn't work as fast or as well for me as Forte Agent (on the exact same hardware).

It's like walking shoes / boots. I still haven't found any wide enough but I have found some that 'might do', if I didn't care about actually being comfortable. Outside of FF, TB and LO etc, pretty well every other Linux app is a crude and often difficult to install (because you don't generally have one setup.exe for a wide range of platforms) alternative.

Teamviewer is fine of course, as it's the Windows version running under Wine (but you don't have to configure the Wine bit yourself). ;-)

And that's the point ... Linux is great when it's not being interfaced directly by people, like on Android phones or file / web servers, doorbells and TV's etc. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

I'll bite.

Which Mac is "costing up to £350"?

Andy