Because
we know just how much
you like to know exactly whose crapware you'll be removing from your next store-bought desktop or laptop, this is a just a quick heads-up that HP customers worldwide can soon expect to be confronted with portals, toolbars, and default search settings courtesy of AOL (which also happens to own Engadget parent network Weblogs Inc.). Since it was almost exactly a year ago that
HP made a similar deal with Yahoo, we can only assume that AOL has pushed its rival off of HP machines altogether, extending its current agreement to provide only the co-branded portal for domestically-sold rigs. Perhaps the best news here is that for those folks who haven't bought a PC in several years, the pre-loaded AOL software may provided a much-needed connection back to the days of dial-up in this scary new world of broadband, Vista, and MySpace.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard @ Sep 17th 2007 10:35AM
Why do companies do this? It makes new computers feel like, well, old computers...
Aol as well...
Further proof that the best thing to do with a new computer is to reformat, partition in a more sensible way, and reinstall...
insertAlias @ Sep 17th 2007 10:40AM
Great, just what I wanted, MORE crap from AOL preinstalled on my machine.
AOL offers an obsolete, useless product, and they have to trick consumers into using it by preinstalling it on the systems that they buy. It may have been a useful, necessary product at one point (15 - 20 years ago) but it has become completely obsolete. AOL needs to fall off the face of the earth.
bcamp92979 @ Sep 17th 2007 11:01AM
AOL isn't going anywhere. They own a company called Time Warner, which, in this area provides the only broadband service in the area (Roadrunner).
It's not just dial-up they provide right now, although they are greedy assholes and try to push the service off on everyone.
I agree, AOL needs to die and fall off the face of the earth, but realistically, its not happenin...
jamierobinson @ Sep 17th 2007 11:45AM
I'm afraid it's the other way around, Time Warner owns AOL...oddly enough AOL bought Time Warner in a disasterous merger in which AOL came to the table with phony cash....Time Warner 2 years later realized the error of their ways and dropped the AOL from their name and restructered to make AOL a subsidiary of Time Warner
Zach @ Sep 17th 2007 11:49AM
Incorrect, AOL is a subsidiary of Time Warner... not to say the least that AOL has had a TON of financial trouble as of recent years.
bcamp92979 @ Sep 17th 2007 2:23PM
You're right, i apologize for my uninformed commenting...
BUT, i still believe that AOL isn't going anywhere. Everyone I know that subscribes is die hard. WILL NOT give it up. Why you ask? I have NO idea. The only thing that software does (along side a broadband connection) is slow windows down even more than it already is.
Anyways, the whole point of my comment was to basically agree with the rest of you... AOL must die!!
SubGenius @ Sep 17th 2007 10:48AM
I wish AOL would do mankind a favor and die already.
Ryan Block @ Sep 18th 2007 2:25AM
Unfortunately, that would mean Engadget would die. I imagine since you're commenting here that you probably don't want that to happen.
SubGenius @ Sep 18th 2007 10:44AM
My bad. I forgot you guys work for the man.
R1cebrner @ Sep 17th 2007 10:51AM
There are still alot of people who like aol, my fiance for one, grandparents, and most other children who are not old enough for myspace.
Just think one day aol will be veiwed as retro and cool again. (scary huh)
BestSnowman @ Sep 17th 2007 11:02AM
I don't want to live in a world where AOL crap infesting a machine is "retro cool"
Justin @ Sep 17th 2007 11:18AM
Wait, so your fiance(e, I'm guessing) and grandparents are children not old enough for MySpace? Huh.
Zach @ Sep 17th 2007 11:54AM
haha that's the way I initially read it too
bob e @ Sep 17th 2007 10:52AM
Yep, Sony has sold its soul to AOL as well. I bought one of those new 11.1" Vaio's and if pre-loaded with more crapware than you can shake a stick at. AOL Search AOL Toolbar - just as bad as all the Google crap on the Dell.
I removed it all and now Vista is a cool kitten!
andyo @ Sep 17th 2007 11:11AM
CRAPWARE is an understatement for this AOL shit. Oh, I see a disc with FREE all over on my mail. Oh, there's FREE stuff on my new computer, I just need to install it. Reminds me of a certain "free" gift that someone gave to the Trojans. What's its name again?
Sickmanseth @ Sep 17th 2007 12:39PM
Obviously there is only one thing to do.
Unbox the computer,pop an ubuntu CD in it,and reload.
Vista sucks
Aol Sucks
Why have either? Unbox and De-OS!
BJohnDawg @ Sep 17th 2007 1:48PM
HP and other computer makers are dependent on this revenue stream from AOL. Due to slim margins on the hardware they produce, when AOL throws a bucket of money at them, they lap it up. That is why you see AOL's garbage installed in, on and around almost every computer.Hopefully one day the public will stop click on the icons and programs, and HP and other makers will understand and realize that the buying public does not want nor need this garbage.
Eric M @ Sep 17th 2007 3:57PM
The current state of modern PCs are a joke. All the crap that comes on it completely ruins the experience for average consumer, and slows the computer down. I don't like Macs, but I'm going to keep recommending them to everyone non-tech savvy until PCs don't come with crapware.
NowhereDan @ Sep 17th 2007 8:22PM
Ballsy move, (rightfully) calling the owner's software crapware. Then again, The Simpsons get away with it...
Znuff @ Sep 17th 2007 8:33PM
How to refresh a new computer:
1. Go buy the computer/laptop.
2. Unbox it and set it up.
3. Throw away all the CDs that come with it.
4. Use your other computer to download a clean copy of your $windows_os
5. Burn the .iso you just downloaded to a cd or dvd
6. Stick the disc in the new computer's optical drive
7. Just boot directly off the cd and just hit next next next, DO NOT - UNDER ANY CHANCE - LEAVE THE COMPUTER TO BOOT FROM IT'S POST-OEM process!
8. Enjoy your new clean computer
Naveed @ Sep 17th 2007 11:51PM
the only good thing AOL ever had was Active Virus Shield(rebadged kaspersky)for free and now thats gone in favor of McCrappy Antivirus.