Paul Thurrott: The worst part of buying a new PC is the so-called crapware that PC makers litter all over Windows, ruining the user experience in order to pad their bottom line. Running a close second, however, are the terrible little utilities that these PC makers supply for their own hardware, especially for mobile computers. It seems that every networking device in your PC is accompanied by a third-rate, barely functional software application that pops up at alarming intervals.
Microsoft feels your pain. And while it hasn't yet solved the crapware issue--though, believe me, they are working on it--they have implemented a new feature in Windows Vista that they hope will inspire PC makers to calm down a bit on their homebrew mobile utilities. It's called Windows Mobility Center. And like the other activity centers in Windows, it's designed as a one-stop-shop, this time for all your mobile computing needs.
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