What is Bloatware?

September 11, 2015

Think back to the time when you purchased a new gaming computer. How many programs came preinstalled on the machine? Probably plenty. We call this bloatware.

Bloatware includes programs that are installed on workstation PCs and can end up doing more harm than good. Also referred to as adware, crapware or shovelware, these programs take up precious space on the operating system and leave less room for the things you want to do.

Why is Bloatware on Your Gaming Computer?

So why is there bloatware in the first place?

For the most part, it has to do with brand awareness and money. Companies like to offer their programs to consumers so they can give them a try and hopefully continue to use them. Some programs come with free trials and the money is made when you buy the full version. Other programs make their money from having to be updated often.

Computer companies don’t mind having the programs on the system because the manufacturers pay for the advertising space.

Why You Don’t Need Bloatware

Bloatware isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s probably not something you want on your gaming computer. First off, space is limited, and you don’t want any of it taken up by programs that you’re never going to use. Many people are confused about which programs to keep and which ones to remove, so they end up keeping them all.

Second, bloatware can cause problems with programs that you want to install in the future. Even if you uninstall the programs, there may be bits and pieces leftover (script files, shared files) that can interfere with new programs you want to use. This is rare, but it happens.

It’s a good idea to review the gaming PC you have and find out what programs are worth hanging onto. Remember, you paid for this space.

How to Avoid Bloatware

If you want to avoid bloatware, your best bet is to purchase a high-end gaming computer such as one from Velocity Micro. These computers contain NO bloatware, so you don’t have to worry about free trials, software you didn’t ask for, search bars you’ll never use and so on. Instead, you get a clean system that is free of bloatware and ready to be used for gaming or work-related tasks.

You’ve paid for the space – might as well use it the way you want!

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