Dell pre-loading music mixes, CinemaNow movies, world again asks "Why?"

When Dell started pre-loading digital copies of Iron Man in new systems for $19, we didn't think that was very enticing, but at least it was a pretty good movie, right? Quite possibly encouraged by thousands of accidental purchases (we kid, sort of), Dell's announced two new content pre-loading partnerships -- Universal Music Group and CinemaNow. The music comes in 50 and 100 song bundles starting at $25, but at least it's DRM-free, so if you don't mind a mega mix chosen entirely by Dell it's not all evil. CinemaNow, though, offers $25 and up bundles including (among other flicks) world-renown classics like The Fast and the Furious and the Matrix sequels. Fear.

Read - Universal Music Group
Read - CinemaNow

[Zunavio @ Oct 25th 2008 1:42AM]

Because...

[lawrra @ Oct 25th 2008 1:54AM]

Were you ever told that "Because" is not a valid explanation for anything? It still isn't...

[A.C.E.R. @ Oct 25th 2008 1:57AM]

Why?

[Paulmichael @ Oct 25th 2008 2:56AM]

Because I said so.

[Shinigami @ Oct 25th 2008 1:54AM]

Because an empty crap-ware-free laptops are just plain boring xD

[Nineteen88 @ Oct 25th 2008 1:55AM]

I heartily agree.

[Nineteen88 @ Oct 25th 2008 1:54AM]

BLOAT.

A nice offer but, no thanks.

[lowdef @ Oct 25th 2008 3:42AM]

good ol' dell bloatware. dell: nobody wants your shit on their machine. you just piss off average users when their computers run slower than they expect because of your free/bloat/trial ware you plaster your pcs with...

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 25th 2008 6:09AM]

@Dell:
Instead of bloat software and movies, could you please just put URL SHORTCUTS to your crap? So if I want help, I'll click on the link. If I want a trial, I'll download+install. But if I want get rid of everything, I just delete them!

[Adderz @ Oct 25th 2008 9:24AM]

You do know companies pay Dell to load their programs on. No one likes bloat, but instead of that system costing $600 it would cost $650. The little effort it takes to do a clean install is worth the saving in my opinion.

These movies and music bundles on the other hand is just stupid. Appealing to ONLY the ignorant.

And no, Iron Man was a terrible movie, the acting made me want to gouge out my eyes with my drink straw.

[Tired_ @ Oct 25th 2008 2:12AM]

$25 for 50 random songs I might like? Where do I sign up?

[Paulmichael @ Oct 25th 2008 2:57AM]

Well The Matrix Ultimate Collection is now on BRD, so I have no need for the only part of this that would have caught my attention.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 25th 2008 2:57AM]

Are Cracks and Keygens included..? Like the ASUS notebooks had... :)

[BigD145 @ Oct 25th 2008 3:19AM]

Nickled and dimed.

[DarkLight @ Oct 25th 2008 3:45AM]

It reminds me of this: http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/apparent-300-eee-pc-turns-up-in-the-form-of-the-701sdx/comments/14897725/

Actually I'd prefer it to come preloaded with comedy mp3s than with a bunch of random music I will not like (because I am into oldschool electronic music - I bet you $2k that they don't even know what is it)

To each his own, I guess... (and that includes clueless people getting scammed)

[Joe @ Oct 25th 2008 11:34AM]

Oldschool electronic? Like Devo?

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 25th 2008 4:02AM]

Its a good machine, just dont forget to uncheck that crap when you order.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 25th 2008 7:15AM]

Re-install the OS of your choice on arrival and everything will be fine.

[Skyride @ Oct 25th 2008 7:15AM]

Ah. All the more reason to reformat it when you get it :)

I make loads of money removing all this crap from dell laptops so thank you dell :)

But seriously, Consider this. People will happily give me their laptop for a reformat. Infact I actually just have an HDD image of a properly configured inspiron which I just load up and people are happy with it. Why do they not take the sort of approach i do? My image is bloatware free. Its got everything people will need, not everything they might use. That means Firefox (set as default browser), OpenOffice, Avast Anti-virus and a whole host of the little utilitys people need but struggle to install (like flash player, Adobe Reader, ISO burner, etc,,,)

[Ross @ Oct 25th 2008 9:55AM]

You get paid!

...i get volunteer hours ...whoo.

...I'm being scammed by my school -_-

[Thebrieze @ Oct 25th 2008 12:54PM]

Adobe Reader? Foxit Reader FTW!!!

[Brian @ Oct 25th 2008 9:36AM]

Not so much "why" but more "so what?"

[digitallysick @ Oct 25th 2008 10:49AM]

for 24 dollars i can get a nice stick of 2gb ram, they should just bump up the specs instead.

[David @ Oct 25th 2008 11:27AM]

If only they could offer the option to preload their boxes with Linux... I went to Dell's store in Brazil and had a look at the XPS M1330: they only sold it bundled with Vista which I would hate to have to pay for.

[chefgon_ign @ Oct 25th 2008 12:34PM]

Did someone just mention the amazing Matrix movies in the same breath as Fast and Furious, which still stands as the absolute worst movie I have ever seen? Shame on you.

[Virtuous @ Oct 25th 2008 10:00PM]

It's idiotic marketing like this that demonstrate that movie and music companies are completely clueless.