Google Pack, a software package launched (guess by who) in January 2006, contains several Google-branded programs (Google Desktop, Picasa, Google Toolbar, Google Photos Screensaver, Google Earth, Google Talk) and third party applications (Mozilla FireFox, Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, Norton Security Scan, Adobe Reader, RealPlayer, Skype, StarOffice with Java). Once installed it allows you to maintain all the programs included in the package via a centralized interface (install, uninstall, update).
Sounds fine until now. However, the first questionable thing is that on the main Google Pack page you don't see clearly stated that it's for non-commercial use only - when you start the installation you'll find in the EULA that "The Software is made available to you for your personal, non-commercial use only". Minus one.
If this is common or not in the software business is irrelevant, but the real annoying thing is that they included in there three programs that are either crippleware (you get a limited edition for free, but have to pay to upgrade to a better edition) or marked as badware (by StopBadware.org):
- Spyware Doctor Starter Edition - They offer a paid version for $25, with a "differences" table listed proeminently on the page where you are sent from Google Pack for more information. Why this is offered instead of the "really free" Spybot Search an Destroy it's beyond me - they had previously Lavasoft's Ad-Aware included but removed it for some reason.

- Norton Security Scan - This is a "special edition" from Norton that lets you scan your computer for viruses. However, it does not offer continuous protection, meaning you have to manually scan your computer each time you suspect something. They offer though an upgrade to Internet Security for only $49.95/year (discounted!), and the comparison chart is clearly visible on the Google Pack description page - again, there are other "really free" anti-viruses, such as ClamAV, or why not the free edition of AVG or antivir (that offer continous protection).

- RealPlayer - This was marked by StopBadware.org as, well, badware. Mentionable is the fact that this is not selected by default in the Google Pack.
I won't make any assumptions here but this makes you wonder why these three programs are included in the Google Pack. Too bad on the suggestions page they don't have a Suggest It feature to remove certain applications from this pack.

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