Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Windows 7 Lets You Uninstall IE8

Posted by samzenpus on from the if-thy-browser-offend-thee-pluck-it-out dept.

CWmike writes "A just-leaked build of Windows 7 lets users remove Internet Explorer, the first time that Microsoft has offered the option since it integrated the browser with Windows in 1997, two bloggers reported today. The move might have been prompted by recent charges by the European Union that Microsoft has stifled browser competition by bundling IE with its operating system, the bloggers speculated. One solution under consideration by the EU would require Microsoft to disable IE if the user decided to install a different browser, such as Mozilla's Firefox or Google's Chrome. Microsoft had no comment when asked to confirm whether Windows 7 will let users dump IE8 or whether the option was in reaction to the EU charges."

2 of 474 comments (clear)

  1. Server core by saleenS281 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Server core already has no IE and works just fine.

  2. Open to terrible abuse by Glass+Goldfish · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Most people want a default browser. They just want to surf the Internet and their last computer had IE. They don't want to learn another user interface. IE may have its issues, but it's not that bad and you can easily replace it for free with the world class browser of your choice. Even an inept user will be offered Google Chrome whenever they go to www.google.com. Firefox has an OK share of the market. And there are a lot of people who've downloaded Firefox and decided to keep using IE.

    It's likely that PC vendors will be paid money to include a company's browser with the system. As part of the agreement, it may even lockout other browsers. So you could be stuck with a worthless browser because a few dollars were passed the vendor's way.

    Imagine a scenario in which Opera wants to charge users for their browser. So the PC vendor offers you two options: $30 for an Opera browser (the only one they offer and it's locked in, so you can't change it) or a free ad supported version of the Opera browser (again you can't change it).

    I know I'm supposed to hate Microsoft and I don't like a lot of the things they do. But when I get something for free (included in the price) and I can change it for free, it's hard to bitch. The only people who are hurt by the inclusion of IE are market losers trying to screw consumers out of money and anti-Microsoft ideologues.