Microsoft to release Windows 7 without IE browser in Europe
Europe isn’t going to get Windows 7. Oh no, we’re special, and are consequently going to get Windows 7 E, a version of the Vista successor without Internet Explorer built-in. Microsoft decided on this course of action to appease EU regulators’ antitrust concerns about IE being bundled with all copies of Microsoft operating systems.
The people in charge of the European Union aren’t big fans of Microsoft. They have, for many years now, been arguing that Microsoft maintains its huge market share on various sectors by trampling over the competition in unfair ways. The bundling of Microsoft’s Internet browser in Microsoft’s operating system is clearly cause for concern where the EU is concerned.
The EU and Microsoft have been heading for a huge battle for some time. The EU has made various attempts at stopping Microsoft from bundling Internet Explorer in with its operating systems. When Microsoft decided not to play ball, the EU then suggested a ‘ballot screen’ option which bundled IE and various other browsers with the OS, a solution which defied logic and which would have surely been unworkable anyway.
Now, Microsoft has made a decision. CNET first reported it before Microsoft officially confirmed and explained it. Windows 7 will be released in Europe at the same time as the rest of the world (Oct. 22) but without Internet Explorer being anywhere in sight. Microsoft recently sent out a memo to PC manufacturers stating:
To ensure that Microsoft is in compliance with European law, Microsoft will be releasing a separate version of Windows 7 for distribution in Europe that will not include Windows Internet Explorer.
PC manufacturers can still include Internet Explorer if they choose but it won’t be part of the Windows 7 operating system. They can also, of course, now strike deals with other companies to include their browsers with Windows 7 either as well as or instead of IE. I sense some will see this as an license to print money, and it’s likely that Google, in an effort to get Chrome in the public domain, will bite.
The bizarre thing about this whole sorry debacle is that this decision has come completely from Microsoft, with no prompting from the EU. Which means it’s entirely possibly the EU could come back and still not be happy with the effort. If this happens then I’d lose the last little piece of respect I have left for the European Union and its leaders.
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June 12th, 2009
Let’s get one thing straight: Internet Explorer sucks. Compared to everything out there pretty much. Its slow and does NOT comply to web standards. There are many superior alternatives.
However, I do not see why they are coming under such close scrutiny by the EU. The crux of the matter seemed to be about the fact that it was anticompetitive, and also that IE8 was part of the operating system which could not be uninstalled, so this should solve that. But it shouldn’t matter at all. Why is Apple not coming under inspection for bundling Safari? I mean, Safari on Mac is miles better than Internet Explorer and few people have reason to switch to different browsers. But it seems to be sour grapes from the EU – they show a significant bias against Microsoft.
And on that note, how about any Linux companies for bundling Firefox as seems to be the norm? Sure its open source, but there should be one set of rules. Internet Explorer is awful, but that’s no reason for Microsoft to be treated differently.
June 17th, 2009
The irony of the browser bundling issue is that IE is rapidly losing market share. Firefox is the major rival, particularly in Europe, but others such as Chrome and the recently updated Safari could well push IE users into the minority.
So it seems that the EU sanction is potentially a solution in search of a problem.