Bloatware Pushing Me to Chromebook

[TromboneAl]

Lena got a new small laptop yesterday (Acer Aspire Cloudbook 14), but the thing had so much bloatware on it, that it was pretty much unusable out of the box. So much software was running in the background, that the CPU usage was at 100% all of the time, and it was very slow.

I've spent hours removing things. I want to install the anniversary update, which has a native bloatware removal option (Reset), but there isn't enough disk space to download and install it.

Dealing with all these Windows hassles (reboots, long upgrade times, etc) makes me think she'd be better off with a Chromebook. All she does is surf the internet and check email.

I read through an old post on Chromebooks. Any new opinions?

 

[sengsational]

You could get a Windows 7 Pro disk and install only the OS. That's what I'm planning on for my FIL, but he has some XP software I need to migrate, not just web and email, like Lena.

 

[W2R]

Lena got a new small laptop yesterday (Acer Aspire Cloudbook 14), but the thing had so much bloatware on it, that it was pretty much unusable out of the box. So much software was running in the background, that the CPU usage was at 100% all of the time, and it was very slow.

Wow, that's disappointing.

I have had my eye on an Acer too, but a regular laptop instead of a cloudbook. I have never had an Acer before, and don't know if they tend to have more bloatware than other brands. I haven't really had a strikingly awful problem such as you had, with the bloatware that came with my Toshiba Windows 10 laptop back in 2015.

Never had a Chromebook so I can't suggest one.

 

[REWahoo]

Al, DW and two of my teen grandsons have Chromebooks and really like them. Great machines for surfing the web and email.

 

[2017ish]

Al,

We just bought an HP Spectre laptop/tablet for DW--a "signature edition" direct from the Microsoft store. It is a clean install. But, far from an entry level price point. (She wanted something to allow photo/video editing when traveling....)

E.T.A.--if you envision always having internet access close at hand (we won't), the Chromebook is going to be very attractive on price.

 

[Peter]

One way of getting rid of the bloatware is to do a clean install of windows 10. I followed the procedure here:

How to do a Clean Install of Windows 10, the Easy Way

I'm assuming that the new PC did come with windows 10 installed.

Another option, depending on what Lena wants to do with her computer, would be Linux. The Linux mint 18 UI looks for all the world like windows 7. Browsers, e-mail clients, all the standard stuff is there. But not turbotax, photoshop, and other specialized programs.

Not answering your question, I know, but, hey, this is an internet forum after all!

 

[broadway]

If you want the least bloatware, buy Dell Optiplex desktop or the Dell Latitude laptop. These are business class equipment not consumer class. HP and Lenovo have equivalents.

I purchased a Dell Optiplex 3020 desktop this past summer. It came with a Windows 7 Pro downgrade from Windows 10. Almost no bloatware except for Dell's Protected Workspace by Invincea. It is great.

I also have a Chromebook. It is perfect to take somewhere to do some light web surfing, but I would not want to use it for my everyday use.

 

[Chuckanut]

You could try this with an old computer and see if you can convert it to a Chromebook - sortof.. maybe...

How to Turn an Old Laptop Into a Chromebook with CloudReady

 

[TromboneAl]

Lena got a nice, small HP computer a while ago when her Asus was acting up, and we took it back because it was so slow. I now realize that it was the bloatware that was slowing it down.

Still working on the machine ...

 

[tomz]

Al, DW and two of my teen grandsons have Chromebooks and really like them. Great machines for surfing the web and email.

+1. I have a desktop for Windows stuff and a Chromebook for web and email. The Chromebook is great as long as you recognize its limitations.

 

[easysurfer]

I'm peacefully using Win 7 on my desktop.

 

[RobbieB]

I love my Chromebook, it's my travel computer. It would be my only computer if I didn't need some other software for entertainment.

Fast and immune to viruses, you can surf the porn w/o worry -

 

[ejman]

Lena got a new small laptop yesterday (Acer Aspire Cloudbook 14), but the thing had so much bloatware on it, that it was pretty much unusable out of the box. So much software was running in the background, that the CPU usage was at 100% all of the time, and it was very slow.

I've spent hours removing things. I want to install the anniversary update, which has a native bloatware removal option (Reset), but there isn't enough disk space to download and install it.

Dealing with all these Windows hassles (reboots, long upgrade times, etc) makes me think she'd be better off with a Chromebook. All she does is surf the internet and check email.

I read through an old post on Chromebooks. Any new opinions?

Linux! No bloatware no forced updates. It's really easy to install in any old computer ( this is being typed on an ancient HP desktop that originally sold with Windows XP! more than a decade ago) I Installed linux Mint XFCE and it runs just as fast as my laptop with Windows 10. Installation was very easy. I can understand the fear factor because I shared preconceived notions about Linux but it really does work and it's easy.

BTW, Chromebooks run on a version of Linux ( as is Android)

 

[Bamaman]

I use this Asus Aspire One Cloudbook 11 most of the time for surfing the web. Nothing's really on it. It's kind of choppy, and not nearly as smooth as my old Dell laptop with the broken hinges.

We also have a 10"Chromebook, and it's a little smoother in operation. The grandkids prefer it when UTubing and watching cartoons.

Either is really the thing for traveling the world, as they're very, very light. My old 17" Dell laptop is a heavyweight.

 

[aja8888]

My Chromebook is my best friend. I use it more than anything. My laptop is lost somewhere in the house and I don't care. I am typing this on the Chromebook.

 

[Rosie]

I have no experience w Chromebooks, but if you're looking to avoid bloatware, I've had good experiences w laptops purchased from the Microsoft store.

The 2 laptops I purchased from the Microsoft store -- an ASUS laptop about 3 years ago, and, after that was stolen 2 years ago (boo!), a Dell XPS13 -- came with very little bloatware.

Although I don't know if that's still the case now.

 

[easysurfer]

... All she does is surf the internet and check email.

I read through an old post on Chromebooks. Any new opinions?

If all she does is surf the internet and check email, I'd say go with something like Linux Mint. Bonus that's it free too.

 

[marko]

DW and I have had Chromebooks for several years now. Can't imagine going back to the old way. There is a learning curve insofar as finding apps that will do things and working from the cloud, but I haven't missed my MSFT laptop...not even once.

 

[growerVon]

I have no experience w Chromebooks, but if you're looking to avoid bloatware, I've had good experiences w laptops purchased from the Microsoft store.

The 2 laptops I purchased from the Microsoft store -- an ASUS laptop about 3 years ago, and, after that was stolen 2 years ago (boo!), a Dell XPS13 -- came with very little bloatware.

Although I don't know if that's still the case now.

Big MS fanboi here, and I can confirm the Microsoft store sells all manner of laptops that have the bloatware removed; it is called the "Signature" version.

Al, wondering if the problem with the updates is compounded by the relatively small onboard storage of that Aspire One Cloudbook... it comes is 32 and 64 GB storage variations. If she got the 32 then I would worry about space issues between bloatware and the big anniversary update.

 

[LauAnn]

Love my two Chromebooks -- one Dell; one Acer. I stepped on the Acer and cracked the screen but fixed it with a $30 replacement.

On the other hand, in the last 6 months I also purchased a low end Dell Inspiron laptop with Windows 10. The anniversary update was run last week and it took a couple of hours to update. I bought the PC simply to run Adope Photoshop Elments and view photos. I am very frustrated with the slow speed of this PC. My fault for not researching better the processor it shipped with.

 

[ERD50]

While I'm a Linux fan myself, if all she needs is basic web surfing and email, I would think a Chromebook would do the job nicely.

If you need more computing options, and want to avoid all the bloat-ware, then Linux could be a good way to go. I sure like it, far easier to use than any other system I've been on. I'm used to Macs, and now getting on a MAc feels like I've got an arm tied behind my back - everything seems hard to do (and not from lack of familiarity).

-ERD50

 

[TromboneAl]

Al, wondering if the problem with the updates is compounded by the relatively small onboard storage of that Aspire One Cloudbook... it comes is 32 and 64 GB storage variations. If she got the 32 then I would worry about space issues between bloatware and the big anniversary update.

Yes, that's an issue.

So, first I ran a Windows reset (or reinstall), which freed up just enough space [long story] to install the Anniversary update. Then I installed the Anniversary update, and that worked. Then I did a system reset, using the new option to remove all non-essential software (aka bloatware).

It's now 6% complete at this point. ["This may take a while. Don't turn off your PC. Your PC will restart several times and will act as if it has crashed."]

 

[aja8888]

While I'm a Linux fan myself, if all she needs is basic web surfing and email, I would think a Chromebook would do the job nicely.

If you need more computing options, and want to avoid all the bloat-ware, then Linux could be a good way to go. I sure like it, far easier to use than any other system I've been on. I'm used to Macs, and now getting on a MAc feels like I've got an arm tied behind my back - everything seems hard to do (and not from lack of familiarity).

-ERD50

The Toshiba Chromebook I have can load Linux if I cared to go through the trouble. But with a large capacity SD card and the ability to create Google Docs and Sheets, this Chromebook is my laptop replacement. I still have a desktop for more program related stuff.

 

[TromboneAl]

All the bloatware was gone, but CPU utilization was still high. I uninstalled OneDrive, turned off indexing, and put Windows Defender to sleep, and now it's down to 2% on average. I think those apps were setting things up.

I'm giving it back to Lena to play with and decide what she wants to do.

Fixing Windows problems can be like long, unpleasant drives. Most people forget how unpleasant it was once they get to their destination.

 

[Lakewood90712]

The windows updates on a " New" computer can take days. I bought two refurbished HP desktops from Walmart, one with 10 the other with 7. The 7 machine sat for 10 mo before I even fired it up. I thought it was fubar, so I took it to a local small computer shop. Got it back in a week. machine was just fine , tech said " the updates took over 3 days online because it was so long between installation start up " ( 10 mo.)

Periodic updates are usually quick now.

The 10 machine runs just fine, as does the 7. both were refurbished with zero bloatware , and start-up /shutdown are quick.

Also have an acer netbook, came with 8. Hated 8 upgraded to 10. No Drama. Does OK, it's a slow machine due to cheap cpu.