Windows 7 will let users 'turn off' some components, including Internet Explorer 8
Microsoft confirms IE8 removal option for Windows 7
/v3-uk/news/1986216/microsoft-confirms-ie8-removal-option-windows
09 Mar 2009, Dave Neal , V3
Microsoft engineers have revealed more information about the ability to turn off certain applications, most notably Internet Explorer 8 (IE8), in Windows 7 rollouts.
A posting on the Engineering Windows 7 blog confirmed that IE8 and Windows Media Player were among the applications that had made a list of features that users will be able to remove from view.
"Turning Windows features on or off has a long history in Windows, going back to the earliest days of the 32-bit code base. We've received a lot of suggestions about features that you would like to turn on or off using your own criteria for choice. For Windows 7 we've engineered a more significant list of features, and worked to balance that list in light of the needs of the broad Windows platform as well," the blog post explained.
"We want to provide choice while also making sure we do not compromise on compatibility by removing APIs provided for developers. We also want to strike the right balance for consumers in providing choice and balancing compatibility with applications, and providing a consistent Windows experience."
The list has been extended since rumours about the option to remove Internet Explorer hit the internet last week, and screen grabs on the blog show a list including Windows Media Player, Media Center, DVD Maker, Search, Fax and Scan, and a number of other features such as the Virtual Print Driver.
However, applications selected from the list become hidden, rather than actually uninstalled. Microsoft said that this was necessary because removing one element of the operating system could create conflicts with other applications, possibly affecting their ability to function.
Comments posted in response to the removal feature have been mixed. One reader wrote: "What I'd really like to see is Group Policy management of enabling/disabling these features. That would be so much more convenient than having to script the addition/removal of features on a large network."
Another simply added: "We don't want to hide the stuff we don't want. We don't want to install it in the first place."
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Do you agree?
Who cares?
If you don't like something, don't use it? Apple doesn't catch flack because their OS is functional out the gate, why should MS? Last I checked, IE is free, browsers are free, and you can use IE to download anything you want to use. Why the fuss?
Posted by Bryan, 09 Mar 2009
Nothing New
Unless I'm missing something here, this is nothing new...
In XP with the Classic Start Menu or Windows 2000, for example: Start --> Set Program Access and Defaults --> Custom --> Internet Explorer --> uncheck "Enable access to this program" --> OK.
Alternatively, Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Add or Remove Programs --> Add/Remove Windows Componants --> uncheck Internet Explorer --> Next --> Finish.
Posted by WulfTheSaxon, 09 Mar 2009
Out of sight, Out of Mind
I like the idea to hide the stuff i don't use. Besides most of the apps you can hide you need to keep your pc working properly, so removing them sounds like a bad idea.
Posted by Emiljan, 10 Mar 2009
It's Business
I think the reason why it's being debated is because within a business environment, the IT department want every PC to be as uniformed as possible making pc roll out easier and quicker. They do not want users who are supposed to be working to be using things like WMP and in some cases might want to restrict users from internet access by removing IE.
Posted by Jon, 13 Mar 2009