Microsoft fined by European Commission over web browser

[Thorsen]

I think he is saying it is not easily removable and is pre-installed the same way some programs come bundled with others even though you don't want them. I don't think anyone wants to get a new computer without a web browser and have to manually download the browser through ftp: How To Download Firefox Without a Web Browser | Matt Silverman


that being said, IE can be either uninstalled or disabled in the Programs and Features. not sure which.

 

[HammerHead]

Straight Forward

I should have the choice to install which ever browser I prefer. It is my right to screw up if I choose to do so. Is that a little more direct?

Thorensen, investigate and tell me how you can uninstall it.

 

[Thorsen]

I don't have my win7 in front of me, but in XP, you go to Add/Remove Programs then Add/Remove Windows Components. Select IE and it will disable it or uninstall it. I am not sure of which. I have not done in some time....

But it looks like it's possible (sort of) in win7:


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/112121-internet-explorer-9-uninstall.html

How do I remove Internet Explorer from Windows as a troubleshooting step?

Windows 7 Lets You Finally Uninstall Internet Explorer (Kinda)

Uninstall, Disable, or Delete Internet Explorer 8 from Windows 7

How to uninstall internet explorer in windows 7



Edit: just so we understand each other, I am not arguing a point. I understand where you are coming from and these steps, disable IE, but due to it being used in different aspects of the OS, it won't be "uninstalled".

Since Internet Explorer's rendering engine is also used throughout Windows and with third-party applications as an embeddable component, it won't completely uninstall—only the executable is actually removed.

 

[whs]

You cannot uninstall the IE. It is an integral part of the system. The only way to get rid of it is to slipstream the installation disc. Now try this on Joe Public.

I think the reason is because you need the IE for certain system operations and MS did not implement the support using other browsers.

 

[HammerHead]

Kinda, Somewhat, Hid Maybe

I agree kinda.

 

[Thorsen]

I agree kinda.

:roflmao:

 

[HammerHead]

Ruh ROh

Sorta

 

[lehnerus2000]

If somebody make a commitment and does not stick to it, do you let them get away with it ??

I agree that making a commitment and then breaking that commitment is what this is about and it is fully justifiable to hold them to it.

I guess my problem with all this is that MS should not have been forced to promote competitor's software in their OS in the first place. When they did agree to it, they should have stuck with it, but it was and is unfair to make them do this in the first place (just my opinion).

Well they did implement the choice screen, but they mysteriously "forgot" that SP1 would break it. :sarc:

I didn't agree with the original ruling, because I knew it wouldn't apply to any other companies.
These type of rulings in the US and Europe are always flawed, because they only apply to one company.
At the very least, it should apply to every commercial company in the same sector (e.g. Apple, Google and Red Hat).

When Intel did, what MS did (in the 90s) they should have been fined a lot more than MS, because Intel couldn't use the excuse that they didn't know it was "illegal".

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
This is another one of those stupid EU regs -- Bashing Ms on this topic IMO doesn't warrant the waste of time and money the EU commission staff and their overpaid lawyers spend on this stuff.

There isn't anything to stop you installing whatever browser you want to. If people can't be bothered or are too lazy to find out if alternatives are available then that's THEIR problem.

Ms has NEVER SHUT people out of developing browsers if they want to. It's just sour grapes -- IMO look at Apple -- the EU has never had a go at them and they probably have the most proprietary and rigidly controlled OS on the planet -- they even had their own unique USB hardware connectors etc.

Anyway if I were Ms I just would have said -- I'm NOT PAYING so Go and make a sexual move with a duck --End of -- what would the EU have done --sent the Bailiff's in.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Layback Bear]

Any body has a choice on which browser or browsers they choose to use. It's never been hard to do. Market share shows that it done quiet often.

I Joe public can choose which browser he wants why can't Microsoft choose which browser to include or not include.

Budweiser doesn't sell a 6 pack with 4 Buds and 2 Millers so you or I could make a choice. We made our choice when we chose the 6 pack.

Ford doesn't make cars and give you a choice of engines from General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota. You made you choice when you chose a Ford car.

The E.U. is telling it's own citizens that they are not capable of making their own decisions on browsers without the governments help. That is a slap in the face of every citizen of the E.U. Next will be choosing toilet paper with the governments help only.
I think the citizens of the E.U. are fully capable of making such choices all by them self. Just like the rest of the world.

Non-mobile web browser statistics on Wikimedia




Chrome  
37.20%
Internet Explorer  
26.17%
Firefox  
23.18%
Safari  
6.79%
Opera  
3.72%
Others

 

[z3r010]

The E.U. is telling it's own citizens that they are not capable of making their own decisions on browsers without the governments help. That is a slap in the face of every citizen of the E.U. Next will be choosing toilet paper with the governments help only.

No, it's much worse than that - Will porn be banned in Europe? EU set to vote on internet crackdown | Mail Online

 

[Layback Bear]

I do wonder what government agency employees get to watch all the films to decide whether it is porn or not.

It does make me a little confused though.
People don't want the government monitoring the internet to try and catch terrorist but yet want the government to monitor the internet to see who is watching a little naughty movie. I'm at a complete loss. I do not understand.

This might help. My definition of a Liberal.
* You can do anything you want. Say any thing you want and watch anything you want as long as they agree.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Crapware

Non-mobile web browser statistics on Wikimedia

Chrome  
37.20%
Internet Explorer  
26.17%
Firefox  
23.18%
Safari  
6.79%
Opera  
3.72%
Others

How many of those Chrome installs were accidental (i.e. included as crapware in other downloads)?

As per your thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/277464-okay-i-tested-cnet-download-results.html

This might help. My definition of a Liberal.
* You can do anything you want. Say any thing you want and watch anything you want as long as they agree.

I'd replace "Liberal" with "Politician" and/or "Corporate Executive"

 

[bonesy]

Should have banned all Microsoft products for a number of years!

 

[z3r010]

Should have banned all Microsoft products for a number of years!

Oh yeah that would be a great move, Europe is on it's arse as it is banning Microsoft products would drive it's remaining industries back to the stone age.

 

[bonesy]

And just maybe it would encourage fair trading practices

 

[whs]

This whole discussion went on a tangent.

Let me remind you that MS got fined because they did not stick to their commitments. They had plenty of lawyers that were involved with the original negotiations and if they thought they had good arguments, they should have brought them forward right there.

But dropping dead on a commitment is not something we should let them get away with.

 

[Layback Bear]

I understand that Microsoft dropped their commitment.
Their is a good chance that they made that commitment knowing they would break that commitment and have to pay the fine.
The fine would be less money than the years the E.U. would drag it through the courts.
The fines would be attached to breaking the commitment instead of the browsers options installed with Windows operating system.
Microsoft has lots of money but nothing compared to the tax dollars the E.U. can at it's beckon call would spend on this legal case.
The people who start these types of legal dog and pony shows want things for them self's. They want their beliefs and or desires made into law while they are putting tax dollars in there pockets. It would not surprise me if the competitors of I.E. didn't slip a little under the table money in the pie also.
I think the point that people seem to turn their back on is the Government, (E.U.) is telling it's citizens that they are not capable of making simple decision as to what browser to use without the Governments help.
That attitude of a Government is a insult to the citizens of the E.U.

If the E.U. really wanted to give the citizens a choice they would authorize the tax money to develop a E.U. operating system and give it to the tax payers who paid for it with their tax money.
A small problem would arise.
The E.U. would have to take the E.U. to court when some self proclaimed do good-er didn't like something about the E.U. operating system.

 

[lehnerus2000]

The trouble is ...

I think the point that people seem to turn their back on is the Government, (E.U.) is telling it's citizens that they are not capable of making simple decision as to what browser to use without the Governments help.
That attitude of a Government is a insult to the citizens of the E.U.

The trouble is that a percentage of people do seem to be morons (e.g. walking into posts, because they were too busy "yakking" or texting on their phones, to pay attention to where they were going).


I take it you never saw the film clip of a reporter out on the streets of a US city (NY?) who asked people, "What is the Internet?"
A significant number said, "the blue e on the desktop."

Note:
I accept that the clip was probably edited to eliminate the knowledgeable people.

If the E.U. really wanted to give the citizens a choice they would authorize the tax money to develop a E.U. operating system and give it to the tax payers who paid for it with their tax money.
A small problem would arise.
The E.U. would have to take the E.U. to court when some self proclaimed do good-er didn't like something about the E.U. operating system.

They could fund some of the Linux distro developers.

 

[HammerHead]

Man

Lehenrus, the average man is below average.