Computers & Networking

[spjon25]

I am looking to buy a new laptop for my work and have unfortunately been looking for a PC (I am a 99.9% Apple person due to the number of issues I have had with PC's). I have been looking at some mid end laptops and see that they all come with a questionable "Best Buy software installer" which I am told is automatically added into the laptop and I am charged for it? Do I have to buy these laptops from Best Buy with this questionable program? 

[JoshSB]

The Software Installer doesn't cost anything, if they performed a PC Setup With Restore then yes there would be a charge (AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT HAVE NEW IN BOX PRODUCT).

If they do have new in box product or are out of new in box product they CANNOT charge you for services that you may not want, if they do attempt to strong arm you post here or call 1(888) Best Buy.

Also, you can uninstall the software installer fairly easily like any other program.

~ Josh

[spjon25]

However, why is it advertised that it is preinstalled. To be honest, I am sketchy of any store pre-installed software and such. I have had bad experiences with PC's and pre-installed "installer" programs screwing around with stuff in the BIOS and system folder. So all of the laptops MUST come with this software?

[JoshSB]

Not all laptops are coming with it, however alot of the manufacturers have agreed to put it on there and not put on their own trial software most of the time so it saves you having tons of trial junk on the PC.

Also, I can guarantee you the ONLY think the software installer does is put an entry to boot when the computer does (unless you disable that using the GUI or uninstall it). It can be uninstalled in about 2 minutes via the add remove program.

~ Josh

[Adamtech Emerging Expert]

The Best Buy Software Installer gives you an easy way to obtain productivity, security and entertainment software. We partnered with several manufactures and told them that, based on customer feedback, people did not like a ton of trial and "bloatware" on their PC when they first booted it up. As an alternative, we developed the Best Buy Software Installer to aid customers is obtaining and purchasing software for their PC that they may need. This installer is pre-installed by the manufacture on all PCs except HP and Dell. You can request the BBSI be installed on any HP or Dell that you purchase and we automatically install it on these brands as part of our PC Setup service.

[starhelper2587]

Instead of asking why the circular advertised the software as being pre-installed, I would just be happy that it mentioned that!  I would be much more upset if I went in not knowing b/c I would feel cheated.

[JavierBonillaC]

I just tried to uninstall it with the Control Panel Uninstaller. Well, it over-rides the uninstaller and launches an updater. Can you think of something more disrespectful?  Javier Bonilla, Boston, Mass