Sony's decision to first try to charge customers $50 to remove some of the free software on certain configurations, and then eliminating that charge, is highlighting the practice of adding "bloatware" to desktop and mobile PCs by nearly every system maker, the key exception being the custom system builder.

Nearly every brand-name desktop and mobile PC vendor adds a number of "free" software, mainly trial software, utilities, and games in exchange for a chance to share in the revenue should the user decide to purchase the full version of the software.

However, this free software, known as "bloatware," can slow down system performance, according to custom system builders. That software is typically built into the system image, which is a collection of customized operating system and application files which are copied onto the hard drive of new systems before they are sold.

Source:→ CRN

Sony, Bloatware, OEM, Desktop, PC, Mobile PC