So the rollout has begun and every PC user in Europe running XP, Vista or Windows 7 will shortly see the new browser ballot screen, if they’ve not seen it already. Last night I got my update and along with it, a few surprises.
The first surprise was the apparent optionality of the update. In Windows update Microsoft Browser Choice Screen Update for EEA Users of Windows was unticked. Presumably this would only remain so for a short period of time before it becomes mandatory.
yes. I haven't installed the update. Can't see any reason to as I am happy with Chrome and FF.
I see what you mean though. One would have thought it would be mandatory to satisfy the legal requirement.
Total noobs are not going to understand what this is about.
Well I'm happy with my browser, (opera), and to be honest have this, IE, Firefox, safari, and chrome installed - So I downloaded the KB and installed just to see what would happen - and so far the winner is ......
Nothing has happened.
It does appear that this update will not do anything unless you are actually using IE8 as shipped with win7 :)
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: ChillBlast - Custom to my design OS: Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview] CPU: Ryzen 9 5950X, 3.8 - 5.2 MHz Motherboard: Asus Prime X570-Pro Memory: 64GB [2 x 32GB] DDR4 3200MHz Graphics Card: 4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 Ti Sound Card: On-board SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI [5.1 system] Monitor(s) Displays: 32" UHD 32 Bit HDR Monitor + 43" UHD 4K 32Bit HDR TV Screen Resolution: 2 x 3840 x 2160 @60Hz Keyboard: Logitech Wireless MX Keys & K400 + others Mouse: Logitech Wireless MX Master 3S PSU: NZXT C750 80 PLUS Gold 750W Modular PSU Case: Workstation Case [Matt Black] Cooling: NZXT Kraken X63 280mm CPU Cooler +2x Quiet Case fans Hard Drives: 1TB M2 SSD OS, 500GB Fast Access SSD, 2 x 8TB Data + Various Externals from 1TB to 4TB, 10TB NAS Internet Speed: 920 MB Down 50 MB Up Browser: Chrome (always run latest Non-Beta) Antivirus: BitDefender Total Security Pro Other Info: Also run ...
Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
Samsung 10.2" tablet
Blackview TAB 8 4G Android Tablet c/w Keyboard
Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
Wacom Expresskeys Remote
Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
Shuttle Pro v2 Control
Computer Type: Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Dell XPS 17 10750H OS: Windows 11 Pro x64 Latest RP CPU: Intel I7 10750H 5.0GHz Motherboard: Dell XPS Memory: 32GB [2x16GB] DDR4 2933 MHz Graphics Card: nVidia GTX1650Ti 4 GB GDDR6 Sound Card: Stock [Realtek] 4 Speaker Monitor(s) Displays: 17" IPS UHD+ Infinity Edge Touchscreen Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2400 Keyboard: Backlit + Various Logitech Mouse: Stock Track Pad + Logitech MX Trackball PSU: Stock Case: Stock XPS Aluminium & Carbon Fibre Cooling: Stock - Active Fan Control Hard Drives: 2TB M2 NVMe, 4TB External + various 500GB & 1TB External NVMe (also have access to spinner HDD from Internet Speed: 72 MB Down 18MB Up Browser: Chrome Other Info: Also run ...
Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
10.2" tablet
Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
Wacom Expresskeys Remote
Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
Shuttle Pro v2 Control Pad
10TB NAS
I've received the update, but have not downloaded or installed it and have no intention of doing so. I have set it as hidden as I am quite happy with IE8. Why should the EU dictate what browser I should be using? That is my perogative just as it is everyone elses. The fact that MS include IE in their OSes does not mean that you have to use IE - the choice is already yours.
I wonder if the EU will go after Apple and the MAC for the same reason? After all, they include Safari as their browser. In addition, what about the severely restrictive practice of only allowing the OS to install on specified hardware (and the high prices resulting from this)?
It does appear that this update will not do anything unless you are actually using IE8 as shipped with win7 :)
I can confirm this, at least according to my own experiences.
I've seen the ballot only in systems where IE8 is the default browser. Rigs with another default browser have yet not shown the ballot, although it is installed on all my rigs.
Have not yet tested what happens if I make IE8 default on a rig that has up to now not shown the ballot, where I have another default browser.
Computer Type: Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number: HP ENVY 17-1150eg OS: Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB CPU: 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor Memory: 6 GB Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics Sound Card: Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer Monitor(s) Displays: 17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI Screen Resolution: 1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3) Keyboard: Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth) Mouse: Logitech Performance Mouse MX Cooling: As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad Hard Drives: Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media Internet Speed: 50/10 Mbps VDSL Browser: Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11 Antivirus: Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
yes. I haven't installed the update. Can't see any reason to as I am happy with Chrome and FF.
I see what you mean though. One would have thought it would be mandatory to satisfy the legal requirement.
Total noobs are not going to understand what this is about.
making it mandatory would defeat the entire reason why the eu went after microsoft in the first place, and would make the eu no better than microsoft. the keywords are "users choice".
Well, it is the second time for me i do install this Kb... after all i'm using IE8 and no other browser...the first time i did set IE8 as my browser, did the same two day ago...It was just a pop-up windows, then, when done it was away (till the next kb). I mean here in the EU they did restrictive law to MS...forced him to do that.
I had my Win 7 install fully shipped with machine, Windows Media player and IE8 all integrated, so why i shouldn't play the game.
At least i didn't had to install the w. media player and some other compatibility patches and IE8....That's my choice shared ! EU can't blame me for my choice....it will never be too late for me to change browser or the windows media player...despite their restrictice laws....Am i still a noob or naive? perhaps....
Well, it was never really about any fear of the evil Microsoft "monopoly" anyways...just political correctness and govt. grandstanding gone amuck. In the U.S., in my home state of CT, our esteemed Atty General made great hoopla about going after Microsoft for their evil ways, and how spending <I>millions</I> in state taxpayer money to pursue this case would save all of us unfortunate "victims" all kinds of money...
Unlike the EU, the govt. "findings" and subsequent slap at MS, so that they could proclaim that they accomplished something did not even result in anything as draconian as this! I am still waiting for my govt windfall from the tax money spent pursuing this silly case...not one red cent that I can find...
I am all for anyone using any browser with Windows that they wish, why not? However, i find it incredibly stupid to villanize MS for including their own browser...as mentioned, Apple, rightly so, does the same. I think in today's computing world, with "cloud computing", and the fact that we do almost nothing on our computers that does not directly or indirectly involve Internet access, it is just plain silly to state that a browser is not an integral part of an OS!
Further, for those of us that go back a few years or more, I remember when you had to buy a browser for the world wide web! It was Microsoft's inclusion of IE that changed the paradigm. In fact, a number of "features" that we now expect and take for granted in our OS, be it Windows, OS/10, even Linux, are apps or applets that we once had to purchase separately. Much ado about nothing.
In the interests of Science, i downloaded the browser ballot, and nothing happened (as expected, FF is my default browser) then i set IE as default and restarted, still nothing happened, so obviously its a one shot thing
In the interests of Science, i downloaded the browser ballot, and nothing happened (as expected, FF is my default browser) then i set IE as default and restarted, still nothing happened, so obviously its a one shot thing
Lol, nice idea and thanks for letting us know; and FF here too