Seriously. We didn't even have anything to do with this one. And it's just amazing. See it here. Every once in a while Walt just punches one out that blows you away. Usually, like this time, the idea is pretty simple. Walt just went out and bought a new Sony laptop running Vista, and describes what it's like to get the thing running. The simplicity of the concept is what makes it so brilliant. Walt says his new machine forced him to "spend hours as a digital maintenance man wading through annoying and confusing chores." Here's what he found:
Two dozen craplets and trial offers.
Four icons for AOL offerings.
Two icons for Microsoft come-ons.
Start menu and program menu loaded with unwanted items.
Napster lodged in bottom of screen.
Four movies from Sony pre-loaded, using up 4GB of space-- and to watch them you have to pay Sony.
Security software that's all messed up and prompted loads of scary warnings, prompts, scans and updates.
21 software updates pending on a machine that was brand new.
Restart time: more than 3 minutes (v. 34 seconds on a Mac).
Cold start time: more than two minutes (v. 29 seconds on a Mac).
Money quote: "The problem is a lack of respect for the consumer. The manufacturers don't act as if the computer belongs to you. They act as if it is a billboard for restricted trial versions of software and ads for Web sites and services that they can sell to third-party companies who want you to buy these products."
Amen, Walt. I love this story. (Though it makes me steaming mad to think that somehow despite all this we still have such tiny market share. How can this be?) Walt, I take back all the bad things I've said about you in the past. Free MacBook Pro is on the way. No crapware, I promise. Though if you want to pollute the karma and load Microsoft Office on it, well, that's your decision.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
I highly recommend Walt Mossberg's column today
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
I think this is the article you where looking for
http://ptech.wsj.com/ptech.html
"The problem is a lack of respect for the consumer..."
That line says it all.
Thought I would help you out. Here is the column (Walt runs it on his blog):
http://ptech.wsj.com/ptech.html
Much love.
The column: http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20070405.html
Since when has Mossberg ever given a flying fart about "the consumer." He lives in an isolated world, demands that people ceawl towards his throne, face averted and speak only when spoken to.
It's time for the GoBerg to go climb on the pallet with his rug and wath the tribe depart down the trail.
But glad you liked his blowjob. Did you at least give him a reacharound?
the original Anon on the Ashram
And this, dear readers, is why your generic Craptacular PC is so dang cheap. I bet it costs Sony exactly the same amount to have a laptop made that it does Apple. To bring the price down, they subsidize it by selling space to the crapware vendors.
Why does Windows keep its share when it and its dependent cohorts treat people like swine? Ah, well, the answer is in the question! So much of the consumer experience is like that now through years and years of training.
Why do people find it a miraculous experience when they unbox a Mac or an iPod? Because they're used to eating s**t.
Oh, come on, FSJ. We both know you like having a small market share. Oh sure, 10% would be better than 5%, but you don't want your beautiful hardware populating the cubicle jungles of corporate America. You want the cubicle dwellers lusting after Macs, not actually able to get them. People always need something to dream about, and that's what Apple provides. Once market share hits 10%, Apple must raise prices until growth stops. If (God forbid) Apple were ever to become dominant, it would stop being a status symbol and become the new evil empire.
We -- the few, the proud, the Mac users -- are the chosen people. All hail RSJ!
FSJ:
Not only did you invent the friggin iPod, you designed it to save lives!!
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31500/145/
Oh hai! Found teh link: http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20070405.html
HTH!
Sony is one of the very worst offenders for "crapware". Their hardware is actually quite nice, but, my God, do they load those machines up with crap.
I don't even want to tell you how long it took me to clean a Sony Vaio laptop I bought last year. And every time you need to reinstall - as you do regularly on a Windows machine, since the damn Registry bloats over time - you have to go through the same again. You know: you reinstall off a hidden partition, because Microsoft cuts deals with the OEMs to persuade them not to distribute genuine Windows discs. The hidden partition has all the crapware of the original install stored in it ... aaaaggghhh!
No way. Crapware is not a minor but a *major* reason to stay away from Windows. It also spoils the *experience* of ownership, of booting up a machine for the first time. It's like diving in a swimming pool and finding turds floating there.
Right now I have Linux running on my Vaio, and while it has its faults at least I'm spared that.
But, of course, I prefer my Mac mini to the Vaio. ;-)
Yes, Walt is quite right there.
Sony may be a Japanese company but they're hardly in touch with Japanese traditions of minimalism. If you gave Sony a Zen garden, they'd add some pink fluffy dice, some nodding dogs, and some tacky garden gnomes with fishing rods.
Post a Comment