“Start menu” on Lenovo Windows 8 PCs will nag you to install apps

[Arthur]

More OEM bloatware to get rid of! Is this the sort of thing that would make you stop recommending Lenovo Windows PCs to people?

 

Source: Ars Technica

 

Windows users looking for something resembling the classic Start Menu that was stripped out of Windows 8 don't have to look too far. Several apps that roughly recreate the Start Menu's functionality can be downloaded and installed easily enough.

 

But some PC manufacturers are making Start menu replacements more visible to users—and we suspect not all PC users will appreciate the way they're going about it. SweetLabs, a company that makes one of these Start menu replacements, announced today that it has a deal with Lenovo to "preload SweetLabs’ Pokki software on new Lenovo PCs shipped worldwide, starting with consumer devices." That's a big deal, as Lenovo is now the top seller of PCs worldwide by some measures. SweetLabs already had a deal with Acer to preload Pokki and various Zynga games.

 

Today's Lenovo announcement prompted a Bloomberg story titled "Lenovo Turns to a Startup to Bring the Start Menu Back to Windows." But the devil is in the details. This isn't a straightforward replacement of Microsoft's iconic Start menu, which was left out of Windows 8 in favor of the touch-friendly Start screen. According to SweetLabs, Lenovo PCs "will include Pokki’s modern Start menu, app store, and game arcade out-of-the-box, all powered by SweetLabs’ dynamic app recommendation and distribution platform."

 

SweetLabs says its app store includes desktop apps like Dropbox, Evernote, and Skype, along with "desktop versions of Web and social apps (e.g., Facebook, Gmail, Kabam games)" and "unique Pokki apps (e.g., popular Instagram app, Instagrille, and Twitter desktop app, Tweeki)."

 

The Pokki app store even includes some Windows Store apps—which is kind of odd given that you can get those apps from the Windows Store.

 

Pokki's Start menu provides some familiarity, with access to the Windows control panel, power options, and programs and files. But it will also nag you to install new stuff. "Apps are dynamically recommended in the Pokki Start menu, app store, and game arcade to users by SweetLabs’ real-time app recommendation system," SweetLabs' press release notes.

 

http://i.imgur.com/gEwcAKj.jpg

[speckytecky]

Thanks @Arthur - I'd have hit the thanks button but it's not there!

 

Not a problem for me as after my ongoing bad experience with the Lenovo M92Z All in Ones I have voted never to buy in another Lenovo again. It's back to the tried and trusty Fijitsu Siemens for us, received a new batch in recently - excellent value and above all minimal bloat ware.

[TechSupp]

What issues did you have? Just installed a few in a room for my school (MZ73 from memory) with our W7 32bit image on them.

[synaesthesia]

Not likely to worry us; as with the vast majority of schools, they'd instantly be reimaged. For home use though - meh, some Toshiba stuff is beyond diabolical for crapware.

[speckytecky]

How do you stand with the 3 year warranty if you re image?

[Dos_Box]

I just uninstalled Pokki (it was free but got annoying) and splashed out for Start 8 from Stardock: Windows 8 start menu returns with Start8 from Stardock!

It cost a whole £3 but is well worth it IMO.

[synaesthesia]

How do you stand with the 3 year warranty if you re image?

 

The software used on the machine should have absolutely no impact on warranty - certainly never has done before on a PC and they would have a tough time arguing otherwise.

 

And as above, start8 really is awesome. Cheap, and makes windows 8 an extremely good OS.

[plexer]

How do you stand with the 3 year warranty if you re image?

 

Whut!!!!!!!!!! never heard of installing different software to in-validate the warranty.

 

Ben

[sted]

The software used on the machine should have absolutely no impact on warranty - certainly never has done before on a PC and they would have a tough time arguing otherwise.

 

And as above, start8 really is awesome. Cheap, and makes windows 8 an extremely good OS.

sony refused to warranty a friends laptop because he had reimaged wanted go charge £50 to reimage even though issue was dvd drive which it wouldnt boot from either

[FN-GM]

sony refused to warranty a friends laptop because he had reimaged wanted go charge £50 to reimage even though issue was dvd drive which it wouldnt boot from either

 

You wont have this if its a business machine.

[speckytecky]

Why is the thanks button not available on this thread?

[sted]

Why is the thanks button not available on this thread?

 

its only available on certain forums

[FN-GM]

Why is the thanks button not available on this thread?

 

Yep people instead