The European Union antitrust investigation into Microsoft and its bundling of Internet Explorer into every installation of Windows has caused the world's largest software maker to re-tool a special version of Windows 7 for the European market.
Microsoft's original plan to appease the EU was to not bundle Internet Explorer 8 with Windows 7 at all. But just last week, Microsoft proposed a new system whereby users would be presented with a choice upon installation of which browser he or she wishes to use.
"Under our new proposal, among other things, European consumers who buy a new Windows PC with Internet Explorer set as their default browser would be shown a 'ballot screen' from which they could, if they wished, easily install competing browsers from the Web," Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said in a statement in a CNet story.
The European Commission confirmed that it received Microsoft's proposal of having a consumer ballot screen whereby consumers could easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer.
The Commission wrote in a memo, "Under the proposal, Windows 7 would include Internet Explorer, but the proposal recognises the principle that consumers should be given a free and effective choice of web browser, and sets out a means – the ballot screen – by which Microsoft believes that can be achieved. In addition OEMs would be able to install competing web browsers, set those as default and disable Internet Explorer should they so wish. The Commission welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice."
Should this be approved, it would be a positive step for European consumers. Previously, those in the EU were faced with a version of Windows 7 that would have no browser at all. This sparked concerns from the European Commission that, "without measures such as a ballot screen, [Microsoft's removal of IE] would not necessarily have achieved greater consumer choice in practice and would not have been an effective remedy."
QFT
Still, there are a lot more things we should be going after. And, not just with Microsoft, or even OS companies.
IE will still be a part of the OS and therefore will be installed, used by the windows update and other parts of the system... Why bother?
Consumers have there choice to buy Windows, if IE was so offensive the consumer could leave it alone. Any informed consumer can choose the browser at any time. And for christs sake, they're all free. And only a few even make money (e.g. firefox).
To most people it makes no difference which browser they use. One is the same as the others to the average user.
I do think the EU should f' off and do something useful.
First, Apple has nowhere near the market share that MS has but if they had and they used the same dodgy business practices then I would certainly hope they would be slapped down hard.
Second, why do people insist on likening this case to car manufacturers use of whatever kind of stereo? It's completely irrelevent. No car manufacturer to my knowledge has a monopoly or has been convicted of anti competitive behaviour. They probably dont even make the stereos they fit, they are probably sourced from other companies.
For those that appear to have forgotten (or were too young to know) what this all was about in the first place, have a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft
I buy Windows from Microsoft. This is a deal between them and me. Whatever package they put forward I will know before I buy. If I need a different browser, that's my business too. It just seems like an awful waste of resources for such an unimportant, not to mention the completely unnecessary control of a free market. Can you say, "first steps to communism?"
Sorry this is the EU we're talking about. That should read "yet another small step towards communism."
I just don't see how this is any of their business.
Also I must point out this whole affair will NEVER of effected most the people that come to this site, we are not the core demography of computer users. Most people that use a computer don't even know what Firefox is, this is because they get presented with a system that already has an browser on it. This means that anyone else making a browser will have a hard time getting to the core market.
This is why the EU say its not fair trade, not because we, people who know how to find another browser, have to have IE on our operating system, its so that "Joe Public" for lack of a better description, knows that IE is not the only option.
Talwoasc
First, Apple has nowhere near the market share that MS has but if they had and they used the same dodgy business practices then I would certainly hope they would be slapped down hard.
Second, why do people insist on likening this case to car manufacturers use of whatever kind of stereo? It's completely irrelevent. No car manufacturer to my knowledge has a monopoly or has been convicted of anti competitive behaviour. They probably dont even make the stereos they fit, they are probably sourced from other companies.
For those that appear to have forgotten (or were too young to know) what this all was about in the first place, have a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unite [...] _Microsoft"
You have to ask WHY do they have a monopoly? Answer because they make the best product! Fact of the matter is they bundle it because people need the functinoality - look at the fuss that has been created from them REMOVING the browser from their product. What next - they have to bundle a copy of Linux with windows???? Also where does it stop which browsers do they have to include in their list? surely any browser missed is an anti-competitive practice? Is total nonsense
The EU just recently told the our government that holding the DNA of innocent people is illegal and that it has to stop (at present if the police take DNA samples from you for any reason, they keep it forever, regardless of whether or not you're even charged of a crime). Seems like they did us a massive favour to me.
The car analogy would work if after buying the car and replacing the stereo you found that the new stereo was somehow being crippled. Or you couldnt fill your car up with fuel unless you put the original one back in.
To go to the other extreme of what you are saying, why shouldn't MS be able to block any other manufacturers software from running on windows it sees fit to? Why shouldnt they be able to cripple 3rd party software to favour their own?