It looks like Redmond is backing slowly away from its previous IE-or-else stance on
Windows 7 for European markets. According to an article just published, the OS giant has apparently caved to
pressure from the European Commission over "monopoly abuse" (practices which essentially force users into Internet Explorer as their main browser). The last we'd heard on this story, the company was considering shipping the new operating system
without a browser altogether, but it looks like those plans have changed. Microsoft has relented and will now offer consumers a "ballot screen" on first boot, allowing purchasers to make their own (we're hoping informed) decision about which window into the web they'll be looking through. Additionally, while Windows 7 will still include an install of IE, users will have the option to disable it, and computer-makers will also be allowed to pre-load any browser they see fit for their systems. We're glad that Microsoft is taking the inclusive approach here, though there are lots of good arguments against the EC's actions. We don't see Apple getting the same heat for Safari, though Apple doesn't currently hold the lion's share of the market. At the end of the day, we're personally just happy to not be using IE -- no matter how you slice it.
posted July 24th 2009 2:16PM
I heard if you buy windows 7 your forced to use windows 7 and you don't get the choice to use vista, xp or mac! What were they thinking. Thank goodness the European Commission will save us!
One another note if I make a product I should be able to put what I want in it. After all its my product and if people buy it they know what they are buying and so not being forced to use anything.
Next we will have adobe going to the european commission because microsoft bundled paint with their product instead of giving consumers the choice to install photoshop instead!
Well a least the European Commission is dealing with other companies who do this such as nokia, apple and htc etc..ohh wait
"Microsoft relents to European Commission, will give users browser freedom in Windows 7"
We already have browser freedom, no one forces you to use IE, but on the other hand you need IE to get that browser freedom
For consistency why doesnt the EU force nokia(the market leader in mobile phones) to remove the browser from its phones
Reply to Microlith: Are u people able to reply to a reply? Am not.
Let us not confuse Microsoft of initial years of this decade with Microsoft of today.
Earlier, MS was trying to hang on to its market share in OS and was basically trying to use that to kill any threat or competition in other areas. Their products were not great too, win 95/98 were bad.
Over the last few years, Firefox and Google have shown MS that they will only lose market share if they continue the way they were working and to keep growing, they would need to make better products and compete instead of kill. Yahoo taught them that just cash is not enough.
MS is transforming into the new avatar really well. Though Vista was a disaster, they had a few winners in the recent years. Bing is promising. But what is really positive is the products that are coming in the next few months: Win7, Natal, new Zune, Project Pink among others.
I am hopeful of a Windows Mobile winner next year.
So, look at MS in the new light. What they did to Netscape is history. Get over it.
Personally I think if you can not download and install firefox in windows now your are a computer illiterate. You should not worry about which browser your using until you figure out how to use the computer.
I have been running firefox since windows XP and microsoft never stopped me once! :)