Tag Archives: bloatware

AceMagic Mini PCs With Pre-Installed Spyware — Now Multiple Reports.

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by Anura Guruge
on February 7, 2024

Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google News‘.
My post from 5 weeks ago. Click to access post.

I told you about this, i.e., SPYWARE pre-installed on AceMagic mini PCs, as soon as I heard about it. I happened to see a YouTube video & a news story on the same day.

I was NOT amused.

This was NOT good. This was intentional. They can’t claim it was accidental.

My concern is that this will tarnish all of the sector. Now, I have tried Geekom, Minisforum and Beelink mini PCs in the last few weeks. All three were CLEAN and none of them had any bloatware. The Geekom IT12, that I opted to keep, was a very clean and good install. I was impressed.

But, this makes you nervous to deal with any of these Chinese mini PC companies.

I recommend that you stick to ASUS, Geekom and Beelink. I am not happy with Minisforum, for now.

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Windows 11 Pro — Check ‘Optional Features’ (Under ‘System’) For A LOT Of MS Bloatware You Might Not Need.

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by Anura Guruge
on January 20, 2024

Click to ENLARGE.

I got ‘Windows 11 Pro‘ on my BACKUP ‘Geekom IT12‘ so that I can get accustomed to it, before I switch from ‘Windows 10′ to ’11’ on my MAIN (work) PC. That is how I tend to do things. Before I make any major changes to my MAIN PC I like to check it out on another system.

Works for me. Glad I do it.

I have now had the Geekom IT12 for a week. Yes, the fan is noisy and it bothered me. But, I now pushed it back a bit … away from me .. & put it on some ‘felt’ … to try and reduce the noise. Plus, I think I am getting used to it. I am quite pleased with it. Seems to work. Yes, I had issues with SLEEP but it would appear that I MIGHT have fixed most of them.

So, every night I spend a few minutes slowly going through EACH OPTION & SETTING in Windows 11. The other night I got to this ‘Optional Features’. I looked at the list. Yes, after 50 years in IT I recognized some of the acronyms such as ‘SSH’. But, I also kind of knew that I had NO use for SSH.

So, last night, I went through each of these FEATURES. There was about 8 I did not need. Then I found the ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL FEATURES. About 5 there I did not need. Easy enough to remove all of them. I did.

So, just a heads up.

I think this is because it is 11 Pro. Would appear all of these features are for CORPORATE USERS. Not HOME users. So, have a look.

This Claim That Mini PCs Are Shipping With Pre-Installed MALWARE Is Very Disturbing — Since I Am Going To Get ONE.

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by Anura Guruge
on December 30, 2023

Click to ENLARGE. Link to original at ‘reputable’ ‘Windows Central‘.

What I found MOST disturbing was that I have watched MULTIPLE YouTube videos about mini PCs from ‘AceMagic‘. They have ALL RAVED about these mini PCs. No mention, whatsoever, of BLOATWARE — never mind malware.

So, this raises the whole question as to the credibility of YouTube reviews.

I have watched a LOT of YouTubes about mini PCs to help me make up my mind.

Now I worry that I have been hoodwinked.

I lucked out with the ‘Beelink SER6 Max‘ I bought. There was NO bloatware. Very clean Windows installation. My only gripe with that was the bloody Ryzen.

Now I am worried. Beelink doesn’t have an Intel mini PC that meets MY requirements.

Will I get burnt?

‘Beelink SER6 MAX‘ I got from Amazon,
with a Ryzen 9 9600HX.

The Beelink SER6 MAX worked, appeared to work VERY NICELY
— and I was getting quite attached to it.

Nothing wrong with the Beelink. I just HATED the AMD Ryzen processor!

NEVER GETTING AN AMD PROCESSOR AGAIN.

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