The whole IE thing with the EU started because of a complaint from Opera.
What I find unfair is that all the flak has gone to Microsoft for bundling applications with the OS whereas Apple could probably include a copy of iKitcheSink with their Snow Leopard chargeable service pack and no one says anything.
If the EU is going to dictate what is part of the Operating System then they should at least be consistent
Does this mean IE can not be offered by windows update anymore in europe ?
Interesting point, Nigel.
The EU has already forced MS to remove Media Player from some editions of Windows (the N versions) because others have complained about the unfair advantage MS has with it being included in their OS. True, but nobody is forced to use that - they can download an alternative and use that instead; it is their own choice.
Let's run through this same argument with the inclusion of IE. Again, noone is forced to use IE - there are several other alternatives out there which people can download and use instead. Here lies the crunch, a catch-22 situation. Should the EU force MS to release versions of Windows without IE, just like they have without Media Player (see above), then how do you get online to download an alternative browser?
Interesting point, Nigel.
The EU has already forced MS to remove Media Player from some editions of Windows (the N versions) because others have complained about the unfair advantage MS has with it being included in their OS. True, but nobody is forced to use that - they can download an alternative and use that instead; it is their own choice.
Let's run through this same argument with the inclusion of IE. Again, noone is forced to use IE - there are several other alternatives out there which people can download and use instead. Here lies the crunch, a catch-22 situation. Should the EU force MS to release versions of Windows without IE, just like they have without Media Player (see above), then how do you get online to download an alternative browser?I think they want you to do this. as per Night Hawks post.What this is pointing out is that IE 8 will simply be a separate item manufacturers will have their own option to use or simply toss FireFox, Opera, Chrome, Netscape, Konqueror, or whatever they want on the systems they sell new. The home user that builds their own would download the browser ahead of time to back on removable even before upgrading to 7.
Hi,
the thing is that MS are not going to remove the network stack from Windows 7 just the HTTP port 80 front end that is IE8. All the other network functionality will have to remain, removing this would cripple the OS. As the stack is still there it would be possible for MS to include a link to download the actual IE on demand. This is the same as torrent, FTP, and eMail Etc. which works without IE. Whether they are forced to also include a link to Opera will remain to be seen.
I guess the fat lady hasn't sung yet, time will tell
The interesting thing is of course that MS has preempted the EU on this as the statement comes from MS not the EU, so I think MS may well have a plan in place for this. A simple tick box that ins on by default during install will keep the EU happy and will be left in place by the majority of installers
I can see the prompt Now ....
Enable Internet browsing?this will install Internet Explorer?
Lots of ignorent people here. I wish people would think for they go of and rant...
I bet Apple are loving this , isn't snow leopard out soon as well ? not that I'm going to turn to the dark side as id rather have my genitals removed ( along side IE ) than buy a mac lol
Quote
