Bloatware and the alternatives

I reinstalled windows 8.1 pro and setting it up with less bloat.

Bloatware I have identified so far:

1. Adobe Flash

Alternative: Switched to HTML5 videos in firefox. But still had to install it for other sites.

Why it is a bloatware ?
It's slow and the constant update service notifications are an annoyance. Takes up lot of resources. Not to forget the macafee optional install which is by default ticked.

2. Adobe pdf Reader

Alternative: Foxit Reader, PDFXViewer. Will update this space.

Why is it a bloatware ?
Update notification service and the usual slow as hell software.

3. Logitech Gaming Software

Alternative: Yet to check.

Why it is a bloatware ?
It's a one solution for all and uses clunky UI. That causes slowdowns and sometimes it just stops working at all unless I restart the process.

List down your experiences in the same fashion.

Using Sumatra PDF as an alternative here. IMO windows itself is a bloat but since the "devs" at acer can't develop drivers for linux/debian, I'm forced to use windows 8.1 (touchpad is being wrongly identified as PS2 mouse :facepalm:

in legacy boot mode )

I am using sumatra pdf on my laptop and genius pdf reader on my desktop. both are just fine to serve the purpose.

Logitech Gaming Software is irreplacable, especially for G400s+ mice with multiple buttons

I have profiles for various applications like Unity Engine, League of Legends etc

Nerevarine said:
Logitech Gaming Software is irreplacable, especially for G400s+ mice with multiple buttons

I have profiles for various applications like Unity Engine, League of Legends etc

I concur.. I need it for gaming with my G400. and it can configure the mouse for lots of other apps too.

Installed Logitech Gaming Software because I too rely on different profiles for application. But the fact remains that they need to update it.

Using laspass used to slow down websites. Installed the addon. Using Keepasx.

For PDFs, I use Chrome... It's like killing two birds with one stone!!!

powerhoney said:
For PDFs, I use Chrome... It's like killing two birds with one stone!!!

I am using Foxit. Keeps the last read location. Don't like using chrome.

Another Foxit user here. Using it for years now. Happy with the progress it have made.
Another bloat now is uTorrent which is replaced by Deluge now.
Also I use an app named Everything to search for anything on my system instead of default crappy Windows search.

^ There's also Avafind & Instant filefind. Both are better in indexing than the default search.

Faun said:
Installed Logitech Gaming Software because I too rely on different profiles for application. But the fact remains that they need to update it.

Using Logitech Gaming software without any sort of update from 2013

and never gave a me an error or any sort of trouble. Using it with a G105 and G400 - configured only once and have not touched it too much after that.

Foxit has also become quite heavy with recent versions. The first thing I have to do now is disable ad and opening tab in settings.

I liked the older versions of foxit.

Moreover, Adobe reader has improved a lot, still a bloat though.

Won't keep LastPass in bloat category.

dashing.sujay said:
Foxit has also become quite heavy with recent versions. The first thing I have to do now is disable ad and opening tab in settings.

I liked the older versions of foxit.

Moreover, Adobe reader has improved a lot, still a bloat though.

Won't keep LastPass in bloat category.

Lastpass makes website navigation jittery.

All adobe softwares are bloat IMO. It's just that there is no good alternative that people can switch over to.

P

Nero is a CD / DVD writer, which I used to use during my college time and I always found it very difficult in use but the PowerISO is much helpful.

promo87 said:
Nero is a CD / DVD writer, which I used to use during my college time and I always found it very difficult in use but the PowerISO is much helpful.

Nero is bloatware.

Faun said:
Nero is bloatware.

Imgburn.

Foxit has also become quite heavy with recent versions. The first thing I have to do now is disable ad and opening tab in settings.

Indeed, it did become a major pain, so I went looking for alternatives and found : Download Sumatra PDF - a free reader - which is lite , opensource and much much better with much saner keyboard shortcuts.

cute.bandar said:
Indeed, it did become a major pain, so I went looking for alternatives and found : Download Sumatra PDF - a free reader - which is lite , opensource and much much better with much saner keyboard shortcuts.

Thanks dude, it way better for viewing pdf files.

W

i still use nero 7 micro,the best cd/dvd writing software in my opinion & i am saying this after using imgburn.i already have the serial key from the nero 7 i got with dvd writer & use it with this micro version.it is an unofficial version but it has all the best points of nero 7 & none of the bloat.

I haven't used nero for the longest of time.

I havent written a disk for the longest of time

W

i also burn dvd rarely but for those who do it often nero 7 micro is a very good choice especially if yo already have nero serial that used to came with many dvd writers a few years back.