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Microsoft Softens Up On Competition
shaneFalco writes "The BBC is reporting that Microsoft, prompted in part by their recently legal woes in the European Union will allow vendors to set non-Microsoft applications as the default on Windows computers. This initiative is part of a dozen 'tenets to promote competition' that the company is adopting in the face of stiff criticism of business tactics in Europe. Other tents include not retaliating against businesses that promote non-MS software, and a relaxing of restrictions on licensing Windows-related patents." From the article: "The principles might mean that some manufacturers will promote search engines other than Microsoft's own, Mr Smith said - an apparent reference to Google, which has looked to be on a collision course with Microsoft over search engines. 'There are certain steps we can't take that would have been permitted a decade ago,' the executive added." We touched on this announcement yesterday, but details on the '12 tenets' were less clear at that point.
Sure, YOU can, but until now most OEMs were contractually obligated not to change the defaults to non-MS alternatives.
Having OEMs ship with non-MS defaults is big, because the vast majority of users will pretty much stick with default settings in most cases.
OEMs have been able to change the defaults since the settlement of the US Antitrust case. Which is obvious if you've seen a Dell from the last few years.