European Windows 7 buyers getting browser choice after all
It looks as though Microsoft may have conceded defeat in its fight against the European Union’s antitrust charges relating to the bundling of the Internet Explorer Web browser in Windows 7. The EU wasn’t happy with the plans to exclude a browser from the OS completely, so it seems European Windows buyers will now be given a choice via a ballot screen.
The EU has been on Microsoft’s case for a good while now, insisting the company is being anti-competitive in its practices when it comes to bundling extra software in with Windows. These unnecessary extras include Internet Explorer, which comes bundled with every copy of Windows despite their being many alternate Web browsers on the market.
In May it was revealed that the EU was seeking an end to this practice of bundling, and it wanted Microsoft to include some kind of ballot screen during a Windows installation allowing each individual user to select the browser of their choice. The list would include IE8 but also Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and the like.
Microsoft rejected this idea and instead chose to remove Internet Explorer from the European release of Windows 7 completely. This solution did indeed solve the problem but it created others. It means users having to obtain a browser from another source and people buying Windows 7 as an upgrade to Vista having to do a clean install of the operating system.
Regardless, the EU still wasn’t happy and dismissed the proposal. Now, over a month after the Windows 7 sans browser solution seemed to have been set in motion, Microsoft has backtracked and agreed to go with the browser ballot screen instead.
It looks as though Windows 7 E will now come with several browsers available, with the user installing which one they want to. If it’s anything other than Internet Explorer then Microsoft’s own browser will be disabled.
However, this solution prompts me to wonder whether the same rules will be applied to other tech companies. Will Apple now be forced to offer Internet Explorer on its operating system? After all, by the EU’s logic, it’s clearly wrong to foist Safari onto consumers. But for some strange reason, I suspect Jobs and Co. will get away with it.
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July 27th, 2009
“However, this solution prompts me to wonder whether the same rules will be applied to other tech companies.”
Apple et al won’t be in the frame until they consistently display the level of criminality that has been Microsoft’s hallmark for the past thirty years. It’s true that no company is lily-white, but Microsoft is the dirtiest of all, and they are simply reaping what they have consistently sown.
July 27th, 2009
Hugh, are you kidding? Apple’s attitude and behaviour make MS look like saints. The only reason MS got hammered is because of their size.
July 27th, 2009
Microsoft doesn’t make Internet Explorer for the Mac anymore. They quit production years ago.
July 28th, 2009
Hugh is in full bloom with Microsoft Derangement Syndrome, the afflicted are far beyond reason or logic.
Apple’s iPod and iTunes have a massive lead in the media market and are undeniably using that position to kill competition by not allowing devices from rivals to sync with the service, owes a much greater debt to Open Source for OSX and returns almost nothing back to that channel.
This is a stupid move to solve a problem that no longer exists. Microsoft isn’t blocking other browsers from working with Windows. Anyone who actually knows what a browser is and wants to use one other than IE has no problem doing so.
This will just cause confusion for people who are least able to deal with it and artificially inject a possible frustration for literally no benefit.