First Windows 8 PCs appear early, crapware included

Windows 8 doesn’t officially go on sale until October 26, but at least one high-volume retailer has jumped the gun on PC sales.

Over the weekend, HSN.com, the online edition of the Home Shopping Network, offered a special on two new Gateway notebook PCs with Windows 8 preinstalled. A search turned up a total of 5 Acer and Gateway machines (Gateway is a division of Acer) available for sale today, with Windows 8 installed. A customer service representative confirmed that all five models are in stock and will ship immediately when ordered.
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Update 2, October 8, 5:00AM PDT - A Microsoft spokesperson responds:

Unfortunately, HSN made this offer without the support or authorization of Microsoft.

Microsoft and major retailers are getting ready for general availability of Windows 8 devices on 10/26 and not prior to that date. Once Microsoft learned of the HSN promotion, we contacted them and asked that they discontinue the on-air and online offer since it is not yet 10/26, the date that marks the official availability of Windows 8.

An e-mailed statement included this quote from Peter Han, Microsoft's VP, US OEM: "We are looking forward to Windows 8 General Availability on October 26, when customers can take delivery of Windows 8 PCs at retail for the first time."

The e-mail also included this quote from Scott Ledterman, Acer's VP, US Consumer: "We are excited to support Windows 8 with great Acer and Gateway offerings starting on October 26, but this HSN offer came prematurely and we've requested its immediate removal."

Update 3, 8:00 AM PDT October 8: All five products are still listed on HSN's website, but attempting to purchase one results in this message: "We're sorry, this product has sold out and is no longer available."
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Source

A Guy
 
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I am wondering if the Surface Pro is all solid state? Any fans? ...like the idea of a touch screen laptop...
even if only as a novelty.

Would like to see a solid state laptop, no fans, touch screen, i7 cpu, 16GB memory, minimum 128gb ssd, 1920 by 1080, hdmi, vga ports, usb3, touch pad of course, full keyboard, no fn keys, at least 17" screen, etc... as a desktop replacement.

What, they are offering more trial stuff with new Windows 8 computers?
I think I will do a clean install on unallocated space.

We are looking forward to Windows 8 General Availability on October 26, when customers can take delivery of Windows 8 PCs at retail for the first time.
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Happy Holidays :party:
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
I also wish to have a fanless i7 CPU, but I think it's not possible due to laws of thermodynamics and heat transfer.

These OEM PC retailers should remove those preloaded crap and useless startup programs they include with their PCs. This is one big reason those consumers want a Mac.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Core i5 4300U @ 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Surface Pro 3
    Memory
    8092 MB DDR3-L 1.35 V SDRAM @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 @ 200 MHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in 3:2 display
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD + 128 GB micro SD
    PSU
    36 Watt power brick
    Cooling
    Active
    Keyboard
    On Screen Keyboard
    Mouse
    Surface pen
    Internet Speed
    300 / 20 TWC
    Browser
    IE 11 Metro, IE 11 Desktop
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I am no fan of so-called cr*pware, and indeed that last time I purchased a PC one of the first things I did was to uninstall the trial software. *I* will choose what I run on my machine, thank you. Unfortunately, a lot of people would not know how to remove what they didn't want, and some wouldn't even know that they don't need most of that stuff.

The upside of it though is that these companies PAY manufacturers to install this stuff on new machines. That keeps PC prices lower.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
mdmd said:
Would like to see a solid state laptop, no fans, touch screen, i7 cpu, 16GB memory, minimum 128gb ssd, 1920 by 1080, hdmi, vga ports, usb3, touch pad of course, full keyboard, no fn keys, at least 17" screen, etc... as a desktop replacement.
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I don't require that much computing power in a portable device. For a desktop replacement, I want terabytes of storage space, I want replaceable graphics cards, I want easily upgradeable commodity parts, and I want a screen a helluva lot bigger than a 17" screen.



mdmd said:
What, they are offering more trial stuff with new Windows 8 computers?
I think I will do a clean install on unallocated space.
Click to expand...
Every mfg is going to include some things called "Crapware". Some people actually think these things are "valuable". We enthusiasts are always going to start out clean. I just got some new Dell laptops at work for eval and within 2 days, they were formatted and rebuilt. I wouldn't have it any other way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
pparks1 said:
I don't require that much computing power in a portable device. For a desktop replacement, I want terabytes of storage space, I want replaceable graphics cards, I want easily upgradeable commodity parts, and I want a screen a helluva lot bigger than a 17" screen.
Click to expand...

I agree with that. Portables don't need that much horsepower. ...have always used externals for terabytes...
agree also upgrade ability is very important - changing motherboards or CPU, memory etc... prefer to work on a small screen and plug in an external larger one for streaming videos - movies - Netflix etc..
For years, fan noise has annoyed me, so I was never a big fan of towers with mega fan power. Even drive noise annoys me. Now, considering building a silent PC or spending some dough on a rig from endpcnoise.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Agree totally on fan noise. I run in towers, with quiet fans, and I use the minimum amount of fans that I can get away with. I shop for video cards based on fan noise more than performance.

My workstations at work are running in Antec 300's, with the 2 x 120mm Antec Tri-Cool case fans on the lowest possible setting, and I use the stock Intel cooler even with a small overclock and it's nearly silent, and runs great.

At home, I'm in an Antec P182, with 3 case fans all at lowest settings, with the stock Intel cooler, minor overclock and a reference eVGA GTX 570 and it's very quiet too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
In less than 5 years IMO, we will definitely have fanless x86 CPU and GPU hybrid tablets with enough horsepower to do moderate to heavy tasks like HD editing (through hardware acceleration) or heavy multitasking like crunching heavy calculations in MS Excel while streaming HD video.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Core i5 4300U @ 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Surface Pro 3
    Memory
    8092 MB DDR3-L 1.35 V SDRAM @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 @ 200 MHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in 3:2 display
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD + 128 GB micro SD
    PSU
    36 Watt power brick
    Cooling
    Active
    Keyboard
    On Screen Keyboard
    Mouse
    Surface pen
    Internet Speed
    300 / 20 TWC
    Browser
    IE 11 Metro, IE 11 Desktop
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Well, crap. I would wish OEMs put their crapware shortcuts on Start at least.

As for the Surface Pro, I remember watching the keynote speech when they went over the Surface Pro. It's been designed with perimeter venting, so air can get in all over the sides on it. I think it will pack a third gen i5 processor, but I've read elsewhere it will be an Intel Atom Clovertail chip. But I feel like it'll an i5 as an Atom chip doesn't really need a lot of air cooling as it is.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
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