European Commission likes Windows 7 browser ballot screen, will probably fine Microsoft anyway

Well, it took two months, but the European Commission has finally decided that Microsoft's idea for a Windows 7 ballot screen, in which users pick which web browser they want installed, is acceptable, saying it'll give users "an effective and unbiased choice between Internet Explorer and competing Web browsers." Previously MS was working on a custom version of the OS for EU shores, called Windows 7 E, but nobody was particularly fond of that idea. We're glad to see the European Commission and Microsoft finally starting to warm to each other -- maybe money can buy you love.

[ninsei Posted Oct 7th 2009 11:39AM]

Microsoft is being punished not because it is too big, but because they made IE so tightly integrated with Windows that it prevents users from having real choice of browser software. You can not uninstall IE and install Firefox or Safari, or replace IE completely - IE will always sit behind your desktop to show when you for example type in web address in 'My Computer' window. UE tries to give even chances to all software makers -is it bad? UE does not sue Apple, because you can use Mac OS X without Safari - plain and simple. Market share has its weight here as well - too many users are forced to use fixed version of browser (of to be honest shitty browser) because they bought Windows XP from Microsoft. Is it bad to have better choice?

[berzirk Posted Oct 7th 2009 12:16PM]

Trendy internet hate for Microsoft aside, I still can't believe the EU and their strong arming tactics in this issue. If you're too f***ing stupid to realize that there are other browser options that you can freely download, then you're the one that should be paying a fine. What other company is forced to offer their competitors products? Do all Mac systems have to offer Windows in Bootcamp? Maybe Nintendo should be required to include a PS3 controller in with all the Wii's they sell into Europe just so people realize there are other consoles available.

EU, you group of commerce Nazis, shove it!

[spodee Posted Oct 7th 2009 12:32PM]

Once again the EU will win a lawsuit over competition. Force $100's of millions of dollars to be settled and INCREASE EVERYONE IN THE WORLD'S PRICE FOR THE OS THEY WANT TO USE. WINDOWS! I'm tired of paying more $ in the US for Windows so that the EU can win it's anti competition lawsuits. Yeah I'm smart enough to know that windows is priced more expensively in Europe but quit friggin complaining because the EU's lawsuit costs get passed around the world in the form of increased retail prices to everyone and that sucks! Sue Apple for the same practice with Safari. Inspire competition in some other way like making a product that works better. Why does the EU have the right to tell MS how to build and package their own product. PS France I think the eiffel tower shouldn't be made with European steel your enforcing your market dominance to much on the rest of the world I think you should tear it down and build it with some PA steel and some from India and pay the rest of the world hundreds of millions for imposing this atrocity in the marketplace on the rest of the world. Is the retail marketplace the only place that people in the EU can explore software options? B.S.! What a bunch of puckey! Until citizens of the EU can explore outside the retail chain we will all be forced to pay more for an OS. Someday I think this will come back to haunt every consumer in the EU.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 7th 2009 4:11PM]

where is all the fine money going?

[xbryan Posted Oct 7th 2009 2:03PM]

The EU are a bunch of crooks. Safari is bundled with Mac OS X, so Microsoft should be allowed to bundle IE. I guess Linux distributions shouldn't bundle Firefox? Let's have a ballot screen for all OS's! In fact, let's have a ballot screen for media players too!

As long as Microsoft doesn't disable the possibility of loading another browser, this whole issue is so 1999. Netscape is dead already. It's too late.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 7th 2009 2:14PM]

The only reason why i care about this, is because the EU is picking favorites. Last time i checked OSX ships with both Safari and itunes, so where are they to say that Apple has to endure similar fines if they don't comply.

The EU thinks its citizens too retarded to open IE, go to firefox.com/google.com/chrome and click a button, THIS demands a 2billion dollar fine and inquiry>?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 7th 2009 5:06PM]

The EU was instituted to be in a position of dominance and have the ability to abuse power, and it doesn't want the competition from MS.

[Miral Posted Oct 8th 2009 2:01AM]

Bit confused with this. installed Windows 7 pro the other day and it never asked me to chose. just stuck me with IE. i am in Europe and all that.