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02 Aug 2009
Microsoft has dropped plans to ship a version of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer, after the European Commission voiced its objections to the proposals.
Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel at Microsoft, said in a blog post that the firm will not be shipping the unique browserless version of the new operating system, dubbed Windows 7 E.
The plan was originally conceived as a way to satisfy European competition laws, but the Commission made it clear soon after they were originally announced that it was not happy.
"Consumers should be offered a choice of browser, not that Windows should be supplied without a browser at all," the Commission said.
Microsoft finally acquiesced last week, unveiling new plans to present consumers with a ballot screen offering a choice of browsers, which the Commission welcomed.
"In the wake of last week's developments, as well as continuing feedback on Windows 7 E that we have received from computer manufacturers and other business partners, I am pleased to report that we will ship the same version of Windows 7 in Europe in October that we will ship in the rest of the world," wrote Heiner.
He added that another reason for dropping Windows 7 E was concerns raised by computer manufacturers and partners.
"Several worried about the complexity of changing the version of Windows that we ship in Europe if our ballot screen proposal is ultimately accepted by the Commission and we stop selling Windows 7 E," said Heiner.
"Computer manufacturers and our partners also warned that introducing Windows 7 E, only to later replace it with a version of Windows 7 that includes IE, could confuse consumers about what version of Windows to buy with their PCs."
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Do you agree?
I agree with David "Why Just Microsoft?"
Don't get me wrong, I'm not Microsoft's biggest fan but it is a good point, when you think about it apple is just a proprietary as Windows/Microsoft. If you are going to apply a ruling to one software vendor then it should apply to them all. I also know a lot of users that just want something that works and don't really care what it is. Personally I always recommend Firefox because I believe it's safer (e.g. doesn't let you run .exe's straight from the web) and has more handy features than IE. I can see the Open source operating systems such a linux being a issue though because of the massive range available, not all are developed by well managed organisations and they're certainly not all developed in Europe. Plus it's free, you're not paying for something to then essentially be 'forced' to use someone else's proprietary software that isn't standards complient (I know IE8 is different in this respect). Still I think it's fair to say, stop picking on Microsoft.
Posted by: Martin 02 Sep 2009
Why just Microsoft?
Ok so you now have a choice to what browser you want, thats a good thing, better than no browser at all. So why does Microsoft only have to give a choice, Apple bundle Safari in OSX, if I am an apple customer i should have to have the same choice of what browser i want from what is available, Firefox is mostly chucked in with Linux distros. Its the same law, so all should have to follow this thing with a choice/ballot screen, not just Microsoft because the EU doesn't like them.
Posted by: David 24 Aug 2009
To Those Anti-EU Respondents
If you had a half a brain you would realise that the EU has actually made M$ give you the choice rather than butted out as was inferred. M$ aceded to the EU's demands of a choice rather than just offering nothing which would help no-one. Have a look at each browser & look at the add-ons as well. This is where Firefox leaves IE8 so far behind it's fairly cut & dried. But it's your choice. Go ahead & choose IE & watch you security patching sky-rocket bcoz it's crap just like Windows. Get Linux instead!
Posted by: Rex Alfie Lee 10 Aug 2009
internet browser
most computer users could not care what browser they use just want the thing to work out of the box, bout time the ,e u butted out instead of making things worse at least with everyone useing the same system there is less problems with having to learn a new system when using another machine
Posted by: david wallace 05 Aug 2009
Windows 7
I heard that Microsoft mat not be shupping full Windows 7 product, instead an upgrade from Vista. Is this TRUE?
Posted by: Graham Woodison 04 Aug 2009