@terry flores
It's a photo management program, IM/chat program, email program, and a blog-writing program, along with some support services for synchronization and the like.
If you want to get a cheap copy of Office with a new PC (OEM bundled copy), you can only buy a product key, because the trial has to be preloaded too. The OEM packages don't include media. Retail versions can be purchased with media, support from Microsoft, and the 3 PC rights for Home and Student, but they cost extra. Customers looking to save money can just buy a product key and unlock their preinstalled trial instead.
All of the software can be uninstalled though, and at least Windows Live Essentials uses a single installer/uninstaller for all of the applications. Ditto for Office.
Also, installing Bing Bar is stupid since WL Essentials already includes WL Toolbar. If Microsoft wants to include support in the browser for all kinds of online services, they should build a better extensibility framework than just toolbars. If they had a webslice-type option for online photo, mail, blog, etc., it would be a lot better.
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