Since changing jobs my new company laptop cannot be used for personal stuff so I need to buy one, I just want a bog-standard laptop for internet browsing, storing photos and music etc. I could just go to PC world et al and pick one up, but they all seem to come with a load of pre installed ‘free’ software which I never use and just get annoyed with. So please advise where I can get something with windows and nowt else?

Also what anti-virus software does the job without being a pain in the arse (either constantly telling me it’s working or asking me to update etc)?

Thanks

You can always uninstall the extra software. That way you don’t limit your choice of laptop based on the software it comes with.

Apparently the Signature series laptops from the Microsoft store are bloatware free. I think every other OEM will bundle you a load of crap you don’t need.

What is your budget? I ask because a macbook might be good solution?

I have windows laptops and desktops but also a macbook and an Imac. The mac stuff is so much more stress free. Constant virus trouble on my windows stuff. Using AVG which is supposed to be good.

If you want to go windows just get the best spec for the money and uninstall the rubbish. Or have one built to your spec? What ever machine you buy off the shelf it will come with bloatware.

How accessible is the HD in the company laptop? Run your own disk with it’s own copy of windows on it and swap in and out as necessary. Not a workable solution if there isn’t a quick way in and out of the disk area.

“How accessible is the HD in the company laptop? Run your own disk with it’s own copy of windows on it and swap in and out as necessary. Not a workable solution if there isn’t a quick way in and out of the disk area.”

Not a clever idea at all if your it department are half ways switched on.

I just bought this one http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-pavilion-15-p189sa-15-6-laptop-white-10075548-pdt.html#cat-0 seems resonably snappy for a personal computer. graphics aren’t great on it mind, but i didn’t buy it as a gaming machine.

Doesn’t particularly come with any extra software, just don’t buy the extra warranty or the usb stick they are trying to sell you. It has a few other bits and bobs like av trial and some games stuff but just uninstall those.

Dell business ones tend not to come with bloatware or just buy a Mac

Is it really a big deal? I’m typing this on a Surface Pro 3 and I’m struggling to think of what unnecessary stuff is on it. Whatever it is, I can’t say it bothers me

Whichever is best deal/most suited, and uninstall the bloat (CCleaner helps with this I found).

In answer to your second question,

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/antivirus-software

Just make sure it comes with a system disk so you can reformat and start again without the bloat?

Every PC we’ve ever sold (1000s a year) came with bloatware – Novatech claim they’re bloat free but they’re not really – our guys use PCDCRAPIFER to remove it – its a 5 min job on a new PC.

As for AV, we use Avast if you want free – but it’s annoying or ESET if you’re prepared to pay £10 a year, it’s very good.

How accessible is the HD in the company laptop?

It may be possible, but definitely against IT policy and not worth the potential bother!

Is it really a big deal?

Probably not, but it is to me! A past machine had loads which insisted on loading every time I switched it on and I couldn’t work out how to remove it (probably just me being dim), this was particularly annoying when the machine started slowing down!

Thanks all, looks like I’ll just have to find a way to remove it (either reformat or use pcdcrapifier).

You all know that Windows has had variations of an “Add/Remove Programs” applet for the best part of 20 years now, yes?

A past machine had loads which insisted on loading every time I switched it on

msconfig would help

You all know that Windows has had variations of an “Add/Remove Programs” applet for the best part of 20 years now, yes?

Yes, but I couldn’t remove all the Toshiba crap on my last laptops using the Add/Remove Programs thingy!

EDIT: msconfig didn’t seem to work either!

Would a Chromebook not solve this problem?

Would a Chromebook not solve this problem?

Can you use a CD drive with a chromebook?

Spec your own, and choose your s/w
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/laptops/

gobuchul – Member
A past machine had loads which insisted on loading every time I switched it on
msconfig would help

they’ve added the startup items as well as other bits to the updated version of the task manager in 8.1. Task manager is much better I have to say.

Must admit, I’ve been using 8.1 for about a few days now, I don’t really understand all the hate I’ve heard about it, pretty decent OS imo.

I bought an Acer laptop a few years ago and it didn’t have tons of bloatware on it. There was a bit though, and I used PC decrapifier to get rid of it all. Worked fine.

Would a Chromebook not solve this problem?

These are ideal for Internet Browsing, email etc but most come with small SSD harddrives(around 16gb).
You could then either add a large SD card(128gb) or plug in a removable HD if you want to store pics and music etc.

No bloatware on them so they are pretty speedy and dont really require Anti-virus either(well according to Google’s spiel on them)

Bought a laptop for my lad from ‘Computer Assistance’ in Oxford, expected to take it away that day, but no, they take all the crap off it, install stuff you want, set up email and anti virus. Amazing, didn’t know places did this.

Sony offer a fresh start install which is suposedly bloatware free.

I didn’t upgrade this option when I bought my s-series.. but I did buy a SSD and re-install windows from scratch.

MS let you download the same windows build as on your oem install and install with that same key.
Sony have all drivers available for their hardware. others should also.