Microsoft has classified certain software as “PC Essentials“. These are software which Microsoft feels many end customers may already be using and they may therefore expect to see pre-installed on their new OEM PC.
They are:
- Office (Starter) software
- Windows Live Essentials notably Windows Live Messenger & Movie Maker.
- Search Bar – Bing Bar provides easy access to search, entertainment, news, videos and such Windows Live Hotmail. In addition, the Bing Bar also has several features that help users to be online more safely, including protection against both pop-ups and phishing.
- Bing & MSN – Bing, the world’s first search engine, as the default search engine, will help users make decisions. The default start page is also set to MSN, which offer both news & entertainment.
- AntiVirus protection – Microsoft Security Essentials is Microsoft’s free and excellent antivirus security software.
To encourage OEM’s to install these PC Essentials, Microsoft offers them at a symbolic license cost to the OEM and system builders! 
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