While the argument in the OP was about Sony, I recall that's something that's done with PC's and Windows from stores and such. Both Dell's my parents (and the ones my friend's bought) had some trials and other junk like that pre-installed on them.

Sure, while you'll lose that tech support (is it really THAT awesome?)... is it really worth it to overpay on everything? Building my own PC was quite the learning experience and comparing the price of building your own parts and then going to a place like Dell.com and checking out the price of (pretty much) the same parts should make anybody proud.

The problem is that there is no real viable way to build your own laptop. With the cost of laptop components vs desktop components that warranty and support is much more needed from a reseller. Sure you can get "crapware" free notebooks from several boutique dealers (Alienware, Voodoo, Falcon Northwest) but they are grossly more expensive then a comparable big retailer.

Back on the main topic. I have to give Sony props for listening to the outcry from customers already. They dropped the $50 fee for the "fresh start" and are offering the "service' free of charge now. I plan on having my machine for a while now but if this offer is still going on when I look for my next laptop it will most likely be a Vaio.

Link to engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/21/sony-is-giving-fresh-start-a-fresh-start-losing-the-50-fee/

Source washingtonpost

Sony Retracts Bloatware Removal Fee

Sony has withdrawn its $50 'crapware' removal charge after customers respond with an uproar. 

Agam Shah, IDG News Service

PC World
Saturday, March 22, 2008; 9:19 AM

 

After causing controversy for charging US$49.99 to remove trial software from hard disks of new laptops, Sony has backtracked from imposing the fee on customers.

Starting on Saturday, Sony's Fresh Start software optimization feature will be free, the company announced.

Fresh Start is a Sony feature that lets customers buy certain laptops without so-called "bloatware," trial software that laptop makers often load onto new machines. Sony was asking buyers of the Vaio TZ2000 and Vaio TZ2500 notebooks with the Windows Vista Business OS to pay $49.99 for the removal of the extra software. Those customers already pay an additional $100 to upgrade to Windows Vista Business OS from Windows Vista Home Premium.

But after an uproar erupted online Friday in response to the Fresh Start fee, Sony has decided to offer the option for free.

"We want Vaio users to have the best experience possible with our PCs, and we believe Fresh Start will help ensure that happens right out-of-the-box," the company said in a statement.

Sony earlier justified the fee by saying it covers removal of the unwanted software before shipment.

Fresh Start is only available to buyers of the two Vaio customizable machines.

Customers opting for Sony's Fresh Start could miss out on software including Microsoft Works, bundled with a trial version of Microsoft Office; Sony's Vaio Creation Suite Photo Software with a Corel Paint Shop Pro trial version; the Click to Disc video editor WinDVD; and an edition of QuickBooks Simple Start that tracked only 20 customers.

Software publishers often pay PC manufacturers to include trial versions on computers they ship. Bloatware, as it is also known, can reduce system performance and available hard disk space, and take away system resources. It could also affect office productivity by introducing security vulnerabilities, and bloatware games can distract workers.

Dell last year offered the removal of bloatware from its Vostro line of PCs. Everex is also among a few vendors that offer PCs with the option to remove bloatware.

Sony was quick to remove the charge. Only to the specific model of course. 

 I know the article was talking mainly talking about laptops, but I was mentioning PC's because it's not like they're immune from the crapware.

honestly i think this is cheaper then having firedog or geek squad do it. But of course anyone can just do it for free.