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EU get its wish: Microsoft to ship Internet Explorer-free Windows 7
Holy about faces, Batman!Credit yet another Microsoft-related leak with some truly interesting Windows 7 news. The EU is going to get their wish, and Microsoft will make special OEM and retail versions of Windows 7 available that are totally Internet Explorer free.
Here's the meaty part of the memo:
"Microsoft will offer IE8 separately and free of charge and will make it easy and convenient for PC manufacturers to preinstall IE 8 on Windows 7 machines in Europe if they so choose. PC manufacturers may choose to install an alternative browser instead of IE 8, and has always been the case, they may install multiple browsers if they wish."
Which means we probably haven't heard the last of the shouting just yet. It'll just be about unfairly leaning on manufacturers who decide to include Internet Explorer - even though they might choose to do so of their own free will. After all, a big portion of the general computer-purchasing public still doesn't know what the heck a Firefox is.
[via CNet]
Comments
31
Subscribe to commentselement4life3Jun 11th 2009 3:39PM
I find it absurd Microsoft is giving into the EU. It is their os, they should be able to pre-load it with whatever software they wish. How hard is it anyways for someone to just go to Mozilla.com and download Firefox, or find any other browser for that matter? Ridiculous...
mkoJun 11th 2009 3:45PM
It's an order not a demand.
216Jun 11th 2009 3:54PM
its either that or get sued even more
KarlWJun 11th 2009 4:02PM
The point is not that it's difficult, it's that Microsoft's monopoly in desktop browsers is illegal since it stems from their monopoly in desktop OSes. Once there is a version of Windows without IE, having IE becomes a decision. That is, somebody has chosen to have IE rather than had Microsoft decide for them.
And yes, Microsoft is going to do what the EU says, because it's the largest economic unit in the world - larger than the US and China.
There are no European businesses developing alternative OSes, so this isn't an attempt to sabotage US businesses in favour of EU ones. If Microsoft wants to do business in the EU (and it really does), then it will have to follow the law. Simple. Just as EU businesses have to follow US law when doing business in the US.
SkryingJun 11th 2009 7:01PM
KarlW, Opera is developed in Norway. I know Norway is not part of the European Union but they may as well be. They're part of the EEA and adopt most of the EU legislation.
Tom MoitieJun 12th 2009 4:27AM
So, I get Windows. Right, on to download Firefox... Wait how am I meant to do that?
And what of all other applications that are included in Windows. RDC, Calculator, WMP, Paint, Games, Windows Explorer (yes even that). Surely these are all applications that have competitors and deserve the same treatment as Firefox.
Ubuntu includes Firefox, OS X includes Safari, where's their anti-competitive ruling?
PeterJun 12th 2009 12:38PM
KarlW - That may be true, but as others have asked, why is the EU singling out the browser?
Why don't they have to remove Windows Media Player, Paint, Notepad, and all the other applications that are also available from third parties?
KarlWJun 12th 2009 1:27PM
Peter - They do have to remove Windows Media Player (The "N" SKUs).
For the others, competitors have not complained (remember this process isn't started by the EU. They don't pick on people because they're bored. Microsoft was brought to the European court by a competitor and it was decided they are breaking EU law). If they have, the courts have determined that paint applications, for example, are not a separate market.
With media players and browsers, the courts have decided that there is enough variety in choices and features for this to constitute a distinct market.
Brent SchmidtJun 11th 2009 4:00PM
So how do the people who buy systems with this version get online? I mean, easy answer is with a thumb drive of a internet program exe on it, but seems a bit much for the regular user.
Paul S.Jun 12th 2009 2:23PM
so true!
Zachary WaldowskiJun 11th 2009 4:48PM
I'm absolutely sure, as with Windows XP and Media Player 9+Movie Maker, there will be an extra CD in the package saying, "Enrich your Internet experience" that'll load up IE8 just fine.
Lee MathewsJun 11th 2009 4:49PM
+1 on that, Zach.
hazardJun 11th 2009 6:33PM
Get a grip guys, the OEM's will install whatever browser(s) they choose which will most likely be IE plus one other. This is all very trivial since OEM's create an image containing various additional softwares.
IriverconvertJun 11th 2009 4:06PM
Shouldn't the title be "EU gets its wish..." instead of "EU get is [sic] wish..."?
coolcapncJun 11th 2009 4:12PM
So basically, anyone who wants to download and install Firefox or any other browser has to go to a machine with a browser already installed, be it in their home or somewhere else, download, transfer the file, and then install. Not too many more steps, but certainly gives people even more of a reason to state that Windows does not do everything "out of the box." I can see a big red sticker on it now: "Now without internet browsing!" Thanks a lot EU; start going after Apple to even the playing field.
Zachary WaldowskiJun 11th 2009 4:48PM
I'm not a fanboy for anybody, but I don't think Apple corners 85% of the computing market.
BufsabreJun 11th 2009 4:43PM
This is stupid, I'm sure most customers don't care what browser they use. People like us who use DLS prolly are like 90/10; alternative browsers/IE. But for the general population using IE isn't an issue they focus on. The ones who care will goto getfirefox.com or apple.com/safari, or chrome.google.com but most people wont, and given the option will prolly just install IE anyways cause that's what they're use it.
Besides that, think about those of us who make our money fixing computers, if you scrap IE, than there would be a profit under cut in the EU. Glad I'm in the US and don't have to worry about that.
KareemJun 11th 2009 7:30PM
Meh, when ever I or anyone I know gets a new system, the first thing I do is install a fresh copy of the OS. I don't need all the crap that comes with it.
Normal_PersonJun 11th 2009 7:51PM
This annoys the hell out of me. Here's a comparison: if Starbucks has a signature ingredient that they put in their coffee, using the EU's logic, Starbucks should have to use a competitor's special ingredient. It's MS's freaking OS. Let them put their crappy IE on it if they want. People who actually care about their browser will get Firefox or whatever they want.
And I might sound stupid, but how do you get an Internet browser if you don't have one on your computer in the first place?
BrianJun 11th 2009 9:27PM
That's the end-user's problem, not the EU's.