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Internet Explorer Drops WGA Requirement

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the while-the-getting-is-good dept.

Kelson writes "The Internet Explorer team has updated the installer for IE7. Mostly they've adjusted a few defaults and updated their tutorials, but one change stands out: The installer no longer requires Windows Genuine Advantage validation. Almost a year after its release, IE7 has yet to overtake its predecessor. Was WGA holding back a tide of potential upgrades, or did it just send people over to alternative browsers?"

2 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Market share beats anti-piracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's finally clear where Microsoft's priorities lie. You can pirate until they have a dominant place in the market.

  2. Most people... by MrNemesis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...wouldn't have known it was there. The WGA requirement means that you actively have to log into Windows Update and say "yes, I want IE7" or actively locate an IE7 installer. Your average computer user won't even know which version of IE they're using, much less will have any idea there's a new version out and why they should bother installing it.

    If IE7 doesn't have the WGA thing, then presumably it's going to be automatically installed with the rest of the updates whihc most users have set to automatic (since that's how the computer came configured).

    So yes, expect the installed base to increase significantly, and I imagine a reasonably increase in usage as well - alot of people will find it better than any other browser they're using (stupid, uncustomisable button layout notwithstanding).

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