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EU Says MS Must Offer Other Browsers; Now What?
Glyn Moody writes "So the European Commission is going to require Microsoft to offer competitors' browsers with Windows. '...Microsoft will be obliged to design Windows in a way that allows users "to choose which competing web browser(s) instead of, or in addition to, Internet Explorer they want to install and which one they want to have as default..." [Microsoft] now has until mid-March to respond to the Commission, and might also ask for a hearing. Brussels will not adopt a final decision until it has received Microsoft's official reply.' But having the option to install Firefox, say, is useless unless people know what it is. The implication is that we need some kind of campaign to ensure that people understand the choices they will have. How can open source best exploit this latest EU decision?"
>>>You don't dare click "don't ask me this again" because you can never get that back again unless you know the magic about:: command on firefox.
False.
Tools--->Options--->Main Tab--->click the "check now" button at bottom, and that will change all your defaults to Firefox. No need to remember text commands.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
The problem isn't bundling. The problem is using an OS monopoly as leverage to foist an inferior Web browser on consumers. This is all to stop development of the Web because it threatens to replace the Win32 API for most applications.
As a Web developer who's wasted hundreds of hours on that inferior browser, I welcome this decision.
Just so you know that I'm not a hypocrite: if Apple were in the same position, of having an OS monopoly and using it for nefarious purposes, I would equally support an EU decision against them.
Remember: the problem isn't bundling, it's leveraging a monopoly in one market to gain one in another. This is particularly important in the case of IE, as it's holding back the an important part in the development of the Web and computing as a whole. It's also still relevant, due to the release of Silverlight and that Microsoft has and will continue to hold back support for competing, open technologies like Javascript and SVG.
What's wrong with the people opposing this, do they want Microsoft to tie-up the Web with their shitty, proprietary cruft al la Silverlight?
The internet is my flash drive. :P
The EC is demanding that Microsoft "redesign" its OS to allow equal competition of browsers on the desktop. This is sort of like the FTC ordering GM to allow a free choice of stereos in its cars, rather than ship cars with only its (former) in-house brand of Delco.
No - it's like ordering GM not to weld their stereos to essential parts of the car in a way that the engine dies if it is ever removed.
Well, obviously, Apple isn't in a monopoly position, and has not been shown to have criminal intent to abuse such a monopoly.
Microsoft, however, has been found in criminal breach of monopoly and other laws.
That's a pretty basic difference, right there.
Leave fanboyism out of it.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
You can't remove Safari ? Because I'm pretty sure I did. Simply drag it from the /Applications to the trash bin and click empty Trash. No one is asking to remove the rendering engine, only the browser. Right now, it is near impossible to make Windows not pop up IEXPLORE.EXE in certain cases, where it should simply use the default browser. No one is asking that MS remove MSHTML.DLL, which is different component all-together.
"Not to mention all the idiots who use words like boxen."
Anonymous Coward on Monday August 04, @06:49PM
I know it is common to get mixed up between the EU and Europe, but you do know that Opera is Norwegian, and Norway is not a part of the EU, right?
He who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.