> Microsoft used to strictly control the look and feel of the desktop, so OEMs were not permitted to add a new desktop or uninstallable software. That ended af

> Microsoft used to strictly control the look and feel of the desktop, so OEMs were not permitted to add a new desktop or uninstallable software. That ended after the antitrust case. As part of the settlement, Microsoft was required to allow OEMs to preload anything they wanted on PCs. It doesn't matter if it's bloatware or a new shell -- Microsoft can't say no to any of it. For example, Lenovo is now preloading Pokki on many of its Windows 8 PCs. While the antitrust settlement was binding only on Microsoft, other OS vendors will now look at the Microsoft example to see what restrictions they're allowed to get away with.