Windows 7: What is bloatware

There is often a mention of so called "Bloatware" the comes with OEM installation. But what is bloatware as per your definition - I am sure we will get as many definitions as we get posting.

1. Let me first tell you what i consider as bloatware and what I delete immediately:

1.1. All games - I never use any
1.2. Adobe PDF reader - I use Foxit
1.3. MS Works - I use Office
1.4. MS Anytime Upgrade - I do never intend to upgrade
1.5. Anything Google or Yahoo - I really don't need that
1.6. Napster or any other music stuff - I have my own music
1.7. Anything .lnk - I can find my own links

2. Then there is a second category which may or may not be bloatware.

2.1. McAfee definitely - but not Norton Internet Security for which I have a key (for 3 systems) that is still valid for half a lifetime.
2.2. Some OEM tools that keep popping up all the time asking you to do this or that. But some other (quiet) tools can be quite useful.
2.3. MS Office for those who do not use it. For me it is handy because I only have to insert my product key.

I always put myself into the shoes of someone who buys his/her first PC. I think they are well served with a working AV program - even if it is only for 3 months, a PDF reader because they would not know what that is and where to find one or an Office 3 months trial - at least they can get an idea what that is all about.

And finally, all those programs only take some disk space which is not a big deal these days. It gets a bit more touchy when those programs nest in the startups of a PC with small RAM - but most new systems today come with 4GBs anyhow.

So where is the problem?

1) Same as above
2) All "Trialware", and anything else that nags me to upgrade
3) Utilities of any kind. I have my own favorites by now and use them instead.

Only bought two computers in my life. My first one, and the laptop I purchased for school last fall. Built all the rest.

To me, bloatware includes the free trials that will eventually expire. And it also includes any application that provides unneeded functionality.

For example, I don't use CD/DVD burning apps from the likes of Roxio or Nero...as these are way to much cruft. Instead, I use ImgBurn..as it's light-weight and does exactly what I need. Burn a CD/DVD, or make/burn an image. And I agree completely with WHS on replacing Adobe Acrobat reader with FoxIt or Sumatra PDF. There is no reason for this document reader to be big and bulky like Adobe makes it for such a simple piddly task.

Laptops tend to come with potential bloatware

I think if is not on the retail disk it's bloatware

everytime i buy a new PC, i back up all the drivers and do a clean install, i hate all the bloatware software preinstalled.

Disks that come with hardware also have a high chance of bloatware

Whenever I buy a laptop I use this software to remove OEM crapware
Welcome | The PC Decrapifier

That's what most people do. Typically, you can get newer drivers than what shipped with the system, so it gives a good chance to install cleanly, with updated drivers, and to do away with the restore partitions. I don't like the idea of a restore method being stored on the same disk as the system. If the drive dies, so does your restoration method. I always make the restore DVDs, or just do without them, creating my own system image.

Of course, on the flip side is the fact that hard drives are very large and 20GB is usually a tiny fraction of the stuff on the drive. But I do understand the point that you are driving home...most of my Linux installs come in around 2-3GB.