Microsoft agrees to give choice of browsers to Windows

[Joan Archer]

Blimey this thread galloped along some in my absence

Whatever they do I'll be using IE8 and up yours EU

 

[Romulinx2]

Good decision from the big M

 

[Manco]

Europeans are smart enough to know how to download a different browser right? This whole argument of needing to offer the competitors products is a bit lame.

I have been using Firefox and now Chrome and IE7/IE8 only when those two give me problems on a particular website. Almost everyone I know uses Firefox. Now if IE8 prevented me from downloading an alternative browser, then I could see the anti-trust argument.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

correct, they can download anything they want and to do that you need a browser to begin with and MS gives a free goodie to do that (IE).
People will complain that MS provides an OS with no good AVP, but if they did they got sued. Most people probably use the MS defragmentation tool, obviously that hurts all the other vendor's sales somewhat. But would it be be OK to offer an OS with no tools at all and the user needs to buy everything to just keep the PC running?

I don't understand the browser war anyway, they all are free, so where is the loss in revenue? I'm using FF, but keep IE since very few applications and websites require it

Finally MS comes around and the onboard-tools are kidn of acceptable and one can use the PC somewhat without buying anything. Noe, the better they get, the more likely they are to get sued? Don't even get me started on apple how they get away to bundle their Os with more tools and hardware and don't get sued.

I really don't want MS to have the monopoly, and the fact that every PC or laptop comes pre-installed with an MS OS annoys me since people could chose to not pay for MS and use Linux. That I think is the real problem, not the browser (that is free anyway). the fact that office documents are not always usable with different software (especially not Macros), that is a problem. I'm sure MS makes the most money with the OS and Office, not the browsers.

 

[DJG]

View attachment 19794

So, if you click on "Tell me more" on anything other than IE8, you get a message something like "This browser really sucks because bla-bla-bla ...".

I wonder who gets to write the "tell me more" texts?

Edit: I just noticed the typo in the ballot screen: "Intall"

 

[7Dreams]

great news

 

[petrossa]

The EU didn't sign off on this yet. In view the enormous ill will MS ( i.e. Steve Ballmer, he really didn't go down well with his arrogance) created over the years with its shenanigans and knowing the character of Ms Kroes i guess they're in for some more ass whooping before the final word is said.

Microsoft has also made proposals in relation to disclosures of interoperability information that would improve the interoperability between third party products and Windows and Windows Server. Again, these proposals require further investigation before the Commission reaches any conclusion as to the next steps.

 

[Zidane24]

View attachment 19794

I love how Opera goes on and on in that descripition...honetly I could care less about them...IE and Firefox for the win....

 

[CatFish]

This is not good, no sir.

If Linux distros can carry a pile of "crap" software, why can't MS include IE on it's Windows 7 ?

Weird . . .

 

[CatFish]

And when I say a lot, I mean 4 DVD's

Now this is justice . . . Way to go EU .

 

[petrossa]

I'm sure MS makes the most money with the OS and Office, not the browsers.

that last one is also being taken care of:
quote:

Now an old case concerning complaints that Microsoft does not allow rival products to work with its Word and Excel suites has been revived in order to secure an outcome before EU competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, leaves office.

 

[Muad Dib]

Hey there are some guys at the local college that have developed a browser, will MS offer that to the EU as well? :sarc:

How will they decide WHICH browser goes FIRST in the "ballot box" menu? Another lawsuit?

 

[Night Hawk]

Oh yeah...the thread that you and Night Hawk went on for ages...I thought it would never end

Well I'm to see someone appreciated the debate skills both petrossa and myself were able to display there! :roflmao:

 

[jimbo45]

C'mon guys -- its about time to put this thread to bed.

Why is it that people always seem to snipe at anything remotely successful these days -- don't we actually WANT products to be good and succeed - never mind as users just think of the amount of jobs created by hugely successful products.

Whatever you say about Windows it has passed the test of time and it really doesn't take a lot of skill for the average USER to be able to simply switch on and run their application.

Any man and his dog is not prevented from designing and selling an OS if they wanted to -- and actually in such areas as Drivers etc MS is quite helpful. Driver problems usually arise by the devloper trying to be "too clever by half" and bypass the recommended insertion points for their code or fail to write code conforming to the Windows standards.

Open Source is fine in some areas -- but if you are a business you need 100% certainty that your product will be maintained and useable for as long as you want to use it.

For Linux only people like red Hat and Novell can guarantee this and they do this for SERVERS rather than home desktops -- and in any case although a Linux user myself it really isn't a good alternative to Windows for most users.

As for proprietary information Apple IMO commits far more sins than MS does. Just try writing a driver for apple and see how much info you get back.

As for people who don't like MS Office -- (it's not free anyway although you can get it legally for a very small sum indeed by using facilities such as Home Use etc) Open Office is 100% free and works on both Linux and Windows.

I can't in any case understand the Browser fuss --they are all free and literally zillions of people have downloaded and use Firefox without a problem. Surely the EU and their stinking Lawyers have better tasks to do.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[petrossa]

Well I'm to see someone appreciated the debate skills both petrossa and myself were able to display there! :roflmao:

And without any fistfight! Just a stubborn Nighthawk (gnagna) and a wise old man.

 

[petrossa]

Surely the EU and their stinking Lawyers have better tasks to do.

Cheers
jimbo

I'm sure too, it's a pity they have to spend my taxes on getting anti-competitive companies to toe the line.

I'd rather that money was spend elsewhere, more constructive. But still i'm glad my consumer rights are protected.

 

[antt]

I too would like to know how browsers get chosen for inclusion in the ballot. One way could be based on market share; but who decides were the cutoff point is? Say it is made top 3, that would leave Opera (the main proponent) out of it. Surely a good use of the middle finger.

Another way could be inclusion of a huge number. Literally hundreds of browsers, and put them in random order (with IE at the top of course). Also good use of the middle finger.

(Note I am not advocating that IE is better than the rest, I personally prefer Firefox 3.5, I just believe that this whole browser wars has gotten out of hand. I mean its not like MS is continually forcing the use of their own old standards. IE8 is much more standards compliant that previous versions. Hell even Firefox isn't standards compliant according to The Acid3 Test)

 

[Consequences]

I think this entire argument is stupid and a waste of time. The people have always had their choice of browser and it's never been difficult to install a new one if you don't like Internet Explorer. Honestly, what is all the fuss about? People need Microsoft to hold their hand and say "which browser would you like me to install for you?"

 

[Sven]

Bad news, if all these alternative browsers are going to be on the DVD, or even worse, preinstalled along with the OS itself for us "EU-dummies" to select a browser. I don't want my OS to be filled up with all that.

I think I might be sticking to XP. It's in Danish, and it has a working browser when installed. It seems impossible for me to get a danish Windows 7 without all sort of unfinished installations of browsers I never want to use.

Thanks to EU-dictators for NOT letting us have a free choise. You should use our money for something environment improvement instead of stealing from Microsoft.

Sorry Microsoft, I know it is not your fault, but I don't like the "EU packing" of Windows 7, and it seems the only way I can get a Windows 7 in my language. Keep supporting XP, please.

 

[Night Hawk]

And without any fistfight! Just a stubborn Nighthawk (gnagna) and a wise old man.

Without any gloves? The old ones simply wore out and the new ones haven't arriuved mail order yet! :roflmao: