EU settles affairs with Microsoft, no fines this time
By Vlad Savov 
posted December 16th 2009 8:24AM
posted December 16th 2009 8:24AM
Momentous moment alert -- the EU has just closed the book on its lengthy investigation into potential Microsoft antitrust violations. Lasting through nearly the entire noughties, The European Commission's dissatisfaction with what it perceived as monopolistic practices from Redmond has resulted in some hefty fines over the years, but the conclusion to hostilities has been pleasingly amicable. In exchange for Microsoft's legally binding promise to offer up to 12 other browsers alongside its own, the European executive will give the company a clean bill of competition-friendly health. All this means is that the ballot screen will be around on Windows operating systems for at least the next five years (starting in mid-March 2010), which should give the EU plenty of time to think up the next batch of allegations to throw Microsoft's way.
@(Unverified)
-puts on tinfoil hat-
It's all a conspiracy by Apple to make people so complicated by Windows that they switch to Macs.
They'll take one look at the Home, Home Premium, Ultimate, Super Gold, Mega XXII, Triple Platinum Stupor Edition...along with the browser ballot and then say "Well...Mac just has one and it just works. I'm choosing Apple"
CONSPIRACY!!!!
I'd laugh along with you - if it weren't for the fact that SAFARI has to be one of the browser options.
How come I get this feeling that suddenly a lot of Europeans are going to be seeing "SAFARI by Apple, the best browser EVAR" ads on their TVs?
"Ooh", they'll say, when they buy a new computer, "that's the one from the ad, let's go with that one"
Macworld 2011: "we've got the most downloaded browser in the WORLD" *audience all simultaneously, and loudly, orgasm*
If you actually look at the history of this case, Microsoft paid much, much less in fines than what has been reported. The "billions in fines" line is particularly inflated, and contrary to public information. That isn't unusual in these kinds of major fine situations, either.
The next step: getting Apple to do this with their OS as well. What's good for the goose....
I'd like to see the EU take care of those "amazing" exchange rates first that a lot of companies (example: HP) work with instead. 'Cause we all know 1 USD is not 1 EURO and yet prices have exactly the same price-number ($399 and €399 for the same thing) in Europe as in the US.
I found the fix they made for this is not good enough at all as IE is still very integrated to the system keeping all the old vulnerabilities.
@(Unverified) I'd say taxes are the main culprits of such price. Taxes are heavier here in Europe, pretty much everywhere comparing to the USA taxes.
@Johanu
The problem is... imagine... 399 USD = 274.11 EUR
Now i add 25% (i don't think we have taxes this high anywhere?) in taxes to those 274.11 that is 68.53 and we get the magical number of 342.54.
So what are those 58+ EUR (84.42+ USD) for again?
@(Unverified) Not defending it in any way, you're right, prices should be lower compared to those in the US.
I was just saying it is normal for the prices to be at least a little higher here than in the US. Sales taxes here in Portugal are 20% right now, bringing a hefty weight over pricey gagdets.
@(Unverified)
Not only are there costs associated with a different regulatory reigeme (taxes, product testing, licenses), but administrative costs and additional marketing expenses to deal with. This isnt even taking into account minor changes they might need to make in the design of the product to sell it in a different country (power outlets and other little minor things). Companies try to apply these costs to the product or region that creates them and this is an easy way to do it.
Yes there is some extra profit in there too, but companies charge the price that maximizes their profits. If the price is too high, not enough people buy the product and the company leaves money on the table. If the price is too low, then they are also leaving money on the table. If you want this practice to stop, then don't buy the product and prices will drop. But keep in mind, this extra profit is the incentive for companies to deal with the extra difficulties and bring the new toy you are lusting over to Europe.
Sorry for the long post, I've just seen the 'why don't those yanks account for the exchange rate?' question/argument a lot.
wait seriously, they didnt need another payday?
"EU plenty of time to think up the next batch of allegations to throw Microsoft's way"
Yeah thanks for that unbiased sensible and sane reporting.... NOT
@Wwhat
"Yeah thanks for that unbiased sensible and sane reporting.... NOT"
Did I just wake up in 1998?
@Wwhat
Wow, dude. Who shat in your cornflakes?
Think about this. If and when Windows ever loses market share, we're all screwed.
Having 90% of people using only platform is great for software. Once we're all off in lollyland with our new OS and it's not compatible with software made for operating system A, but it works for B and C, then we get D, but it's got it's own software...just putting that out there :P
I think a good thing for Microsoft to do is band together with Intel (like they probably do anyway) and pull out of Europe, dropping all support for any products already sold. Then see what these anti-American organizations think of our products.
@Icediamond
that's the whole point, there are independent (if they aren't bought by MS) bodies who set, and should set, the standards, and the various players should then use that for interchangeability,
Having one commercial large group do it for themselves is called a 'monopoly' and is unfair, especially if they don't allow others to use their crap or won't disclose details, which is why we have our governments and arbitrators force companies to not be lame and play fair so everybody can be happy.
And GET IT IN YOUR FREAKING DIMWITTED BRAIN THAT IT'S NOT ANTI-AMERICAN and that the US DoJ also sued them for the same kind of thing years ago which is why there now is a 'set access and defaults' menu in all versions of windows.
@Wwhat
Do some research. The market worked itself out. Firefox has a 40%+ share of the browser market, without the silly "rtard EU browser selector". Soooooooo the EU was just plain wrong and they pulled weak arguments out of their ass to fine them.
2009 IE8 IE7 IE6 Firefox Chrome Safari Opera
November 13.3% 13.3% 11.1% 47.0% 8.5% 3.8% 2.3%
@UnsilentMajority 40%? Where did you get those figures?
According to Net Applications it's nowhere near that, at 24.7%.
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=0
Back in the day MS would've just offed the EU... not a bad idea.
When is the EU going to sew Apple for coming with Safari pre-loaded? (Mac, iphone etc.).
Or sue Ford for coming with a ford media player pre loaded.
If someone has a monopoly, get a better product. Don't cry to daddy for help.
@NinjaMonkey
Man oh man, you are a bright fellow aren't you? I wish they removed computers from these homes of the 'clinically confused', or set them to only allow youtube.com.
EU. is not suing M.S. because users complained, they are suing because Operas complained!
We users in EU. know our browsers despite what the government think.
Why aren't they having a go at Apple for bundling Safari? Or, come to think of it, Canonical (Ubuntu) for bundling Firefox?
EU is a joke much like the UN
So when is the EU going to sue apple for only having Safari as the default browser in OS X? Oh wait, I forgot. The rules don't apply to them. Because they've never done taken part in anti-competitive business practices before have they? Oh wait...