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Microsoft Will Ship Windows 7 in Europe With IE Unbundled

jimmi_hendrix was one of several people to note CNET's report that 'Microsoft plans to remove Internet Explorer from the versions of Windows 7 that it ships in Europe, CNET News has learned. Reacting to antitrust concerns expressed by European regulators, Microsoft plans to offer a version in Europe that has the browser removed. Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers, according to a confidential memo that was sent to PC makers and seen by CNET News." There's also a report at Ars Technica.

578 comments

  1. Why are we deprived of this in North America? by TropicalCoder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm jealous - we should be offered the same deal here in good old North America

    1. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by erroneus · · Score: 5, Informative

      You're not! Check the pirate bay after the european release is made. Furthermore, look to those Windows - LITE versions that people put together. They are also quite effective.

      My question is if they are removing the blue E icon or actually removing the rendering engine? My guess is the former. The way things stand, I imagine many apps would be impossible to run without the rendering engine. A simple test would be to open a file browser and then type in a URL to see if an internet web page can be shown. If it's there, you will see it that way.

    2. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by EvanED · · Score: 5, Informative

      A simple test would be to open a file browser and then type in a URL to see if an internet web page can be shown. If it's there, you will see it that way.

      MS got rid of the tie between Windows Explorer and IE with Windows Vista; trying to view a local folder in IE opens Windows explorer, and trying to view an internet URL in Windows Explorer opens your default browser.

      My question is if they are removing the blue E icon or actually removing the rendering engine?

      My reading is that they basically can't remove the rendering engine completely; too much stuff depends on it. HTML is behind the entire Windows Help system for instance, and I can't see them either altering the technology that radically or disabling help. There's also a lot of third party software (e.g. Steam) that uses it.

      I don't know how much IE adds to the rendering engine though. It may be the case that MSHTML (what's used for the help system and such) is actually pretty lightweight and IE adds quite a bit, so this split is actually quite meaningful, but I doubt that's the case.

    3. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by TropicalCoder · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      The way things stand, I imagine many apps would be impossible to run without the rendering engine.

      I certainly hope so - they would likely be apps that a person who prefers an alternative browser wouldn't want to run, anyhow. Furthermore, if it turns out there is no rendering engine (which I doubt), that confirms the wisdom of the EU's vigilance. Whole new markets suddenly open up! Think about it - it would mean lock-in is finally broken! Who would not delight and rejoice in such an outcome?

    4. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Rockoon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The people whos software no longer works would not 'rejoice' at the outcome.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    5. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because I really want Steam to break on me just because you want to be an ass.

    6. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by poetmatt · · Score: 1

      As someone says below, things are way more tied in. They can't just off IE altogether, nor should they have to. If they want to use trident, it's their own call. That's like Gnome vs KDE debates, everyone has a preference. Sadly though, I still don't think they let you remove the browser 100% as they should, unless they're letting you do WGA online without requiring ActiveX.

      Sadly though, I think it's just a "remove the icon" scenario. They don't want to get hit as hard with the antitrust as they know they will be.

      However, you notice how they did this extremely carefully? "Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers, according to a confidential memo that was sent to PC makers and seen by CNET News." That "computer maker option" = windows OS discount. They're just putting off the scandal for another OS to be swept under the rug again. I'm sure they'll have a behind the scenes OEM discount for those who bundle IE, kind of like the netbook thing and what they did to the EEEpc, etc.

    7. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What happens if you make explorer.exe your default web browser?

    8. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by eosp · · Score: 3, Informative

      If I recall correctly, the API:s that expose browser components (e.g. to Windows Help) were designed with the intention of making rendering engines pluggable. Thus, Windows Help could at some point in the future use Mozilla to render if Mozilla wrote a bit of code and Microsoft finishes this API.

    9. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      They always have let you do WGA without ActiveX. It downloads a program to your PC that runs and then generates a code you copy and paste into the confirmation page. If you meant Windows Update, then Vista and higher don't use the browser for that.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
    10. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those people would simply install IE. I, for one, don't normally use IE but I wouldn't deliberately remove it. Even though I don't like it, I would install it anyway in case I needed it for something. This is great news for the zealots who want to remove all traces of it, but hopefully it will ultimately result in multiple browsers becoming standard on a new computer. People might finally learn there is another way to access the internet besides the Blue E.

    11. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Sadly though, I still don't think they let you remove the browser 100% as they should, unless they're letting you do WGA online without requiring ActiveX.

      You already can do WGA without ActiveX, by downloading a program that you then run and copy a value into Firefox or whatever. I forget details since it's been a while, but you definitely can do it.

      At the very worst, they could write a Java applet or a standard browser plugin or something like that which would do it.

      That "computer maker option" = windows OS discount.

      Maybe; they'd probably have to be very careful about it. I'm sure they would want to, but I'm also pretty sure the EU would jump on them basically as hard for that stunt as they have been for IE bundling in the first place.

    12. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      In Windows 7, you can easily uninstall IE (or so I'm told). It still keeps the files around somewhere in the system directory so moran users can reinstall "the internet" when they fuck up.

      At least, this is what I've heard.
      I have yet to use Windows 7 (and I don't know if it's actually in the betas that are out right now).

    13. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Geez, how about just making the help consist of GODDAMN HTML FILES?

      Why this fucking around with APIs and all that bullshit?

    14. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      And you could always download updates manually in XP.

    15. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What exactly is wrong with a folder sitting in Program Files called Internet Explorer again? Why is that such a great injustice?

    16. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Nothing useful as explorer.exe doesn't seem to parse its command line anymore.

    17. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by TropicalCoder · · Score: 1

      The people whos software no longer works would not 'rejoice' at the outcome

      As the AC above me said - those people would simply install IE

    18. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If I recall correctly, the API:s that expose browser components (e.g. to Windows Help) were designed with the intention of making rendering engines pluggable. Thus, Windows Help could at some point in the future use Mozilla to render if Mozilla wrote a bit of code and Microsoft finishes this API.

      The API to host IE is COM-based, so it consists of a bunch of interfaces, all of which are documented. Technically, anyone can reimplement those interfaces to the spec, replace IE's CLSID in the registry with its own, and everything on the system will start using the new code. We do actually have the first part of it done already, though the coverage is not 100%.

      The tricky part is that most applications that host IE also assume IE-specific behavior when rendering pages, running scripts, ability to host ActiveX controls inside, and so on. That's what's hard to duplicate.

    19. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Rockoon · · Score: 2, Funny

      No no.. the producers of the software that requires E.I. cannot "simply install I.E."

      The users wont do that for them .. those users will call tech support.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    20. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by johannesg · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My question is if they are removing the blue E icon or actually removing the rendering engine? My guess is the former. The way things stand, I imagine many apps would be impossible to run without the rendering engine. A simple test would be to open a file browser and then type in a URL to see if an internet web page can be shown. If it's there, you will see it that way.

      Who cares if the rendering engine is still there? The *browser*, the thing that Microsoft uses to leverage one illegal monopoly into another, is gone, and that's what counts. The rendering engine can sit amidst the countless gigabytes of crap that is already there, and serve local help pages, steam, and other crap, and it really doesn't matter at all.

      Arguably this fight is over anyway. Microsoft has already lost the leveraging power it had in that space.

    21. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by lukas84 · · Score: 1

      So, what you want to say is that by removing IE, Microsoft has created new jobs in Europe?

      That's a good thing, isn't it?

    22. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by khellendros1984 · · Score: 2, Informative

      As previously mentioned, the Windows help system is all html-based. Various programs (Steam and most of Red Kawa's products jump to mind) require the Trident engine to display the program's main window. That being said, when you install Wine on a Linux machine, you can install Gecko as the renderer used to display those things, so I don't see why Microsoft couldn't technically allow another browser to provide the rendering engine.

      --
      It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
    23. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 1

      I'd almost be tempted to buy to support that move but I don't want to support MS and buy an OS I wouldn't use.

    24. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by dwiget001 · · Score: 1

      Uh, no.

      The Windows Help system is "Compiled HTML" based, ".chm" files and all that.

      It's not the same thing.

    25. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All of us in support who have to explain to users why their apps no longer work...

    26. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by EvanED · · Score: 5, Informative

      Geez, how about just making the help consist of GODDAMN HTML FILES?

      Um, they basically are. They're zipped together somehow because help usually has multiple pages and they want it in one file, but that's what they are behind the scenes.

      They point is how do you display that HTML? It's that which we are talking about. Right now Windows uses MSHTML to display them. The APIs under discussion would allow Mozilla to hook up Gecko so that it could render your help files (which would maybe allow you to totally remove IE stuff from the system), or someone to hook up Webkit to display help files, etc.

      (Another interpretation of what you say is to just have the web browser itself display help files; this has a number of drawbacks, not the least of which is that without a browser in there by default, you wouldn't be able to read help. And it's exactly that situation which is why I'm postulating that MS isn't going to remove MSHTML.)

    27. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      And you don't think Complied HTML is based on HTML?

      You still need a renderer for HTML. Lose the renderer, no more help until you install IE. Wouldn't that be fun.

    28. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by moon3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Windows Help could at some point in the future use Mozilla to render

      What kind of weed are you smoking there ?

    29. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1
      You're not missing much. All that they do is remove "iexplore.exe" - the engine is still there. It /has/ to be or half the OS breaks. Not to mention the millions of apps that use mshtml.dll or wherever the rendering engine lives.

      Frankly, I think this just a stupid idea. Here, let me sell you this car without a steering wheel. Maybe you can drive to the dealer to get a replacement. (ie, download firefox... without a web browser to get there.)

    30. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by gbarules2999 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, they will. Just insert an error message:

      ERROR: INTERNET EXPLORER 8 NEEDED
      Please click here to download.

      .net applications do it during install, why not IE apps?

    31. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why are we deprived of this in North America?

      Deprived? I want IE. We are lucky not to be deprived of the jewel of Windows. Thankfully for our EU friends, a simple download/install and you're back up. Maybe MS will be able to get away by including IE as part of an essential security update. After all, they said that it cannot "ship with" only.
      They should have a similar ruling against Linux so distributions do not bundle Firefox. IE should be also an option. Too bad MS doesn't make IE for Linux. Despite all their nice words, they are so anal and retarded when it comes to cross compatibility.

    32. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Who cares if the rendering engine is still there? The *browser*, the thing that Microsoft uses to leverage one illegal monopoly into another, is gone, and that's what counts. The rendering engine can sit amidst the countless gigabytes of crap that is already there, and serve local help pages, steam, and other crap, and it really doesn't matter at all.

      It's still sitting there making Windows less secure, because you'll still be able to embed it as a component and feed it data, and get into the system through its gaping security holes, if history is any indication.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    33. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by mirshafie · · Score: 1, Insightful

      (Irony is not hot anymore)

      I think it sucks that they won't package IE, and the EU needs to stop meddling with these things. If they want to support open source software by doing something useful or donating money, that would be great, but to cripple a OS over it is weak. What if they forced everyone to include every alternative software bundled with the product, and what decides which alternative programs will get the special treatment?

      Sure, it would be cool to have a Windows install DVD with a special installer that lets you choose exactly what browser, media player, IM etc you want. Perhaps get the latest install files from the internet automatically. But it seems more like something for The Pirate Bay. :)

    34. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by uassholes · · Score: 1

      Sorry, M$ owns North America.

    35. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by RDW · · Score: 1

      'My question is if they are removing the blue E icon or actually removing the rendering engine? My guess is the former. The way things stand, I imagine many apps would be impossible to run without the rendering engine.'

      The article is now linking to an MS blog:

      http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009/06/11/working-to-fulfill-our-legal-obligations-in-europe-for-windows-7.aspx

      which states:

      'Most importantly, the E versions of Windows 7 will continue to provide all of the underlying platform functionality of the operating system--applications designed for Windows will run just as well on an E version as on other versions of Windows 7.'

    36. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by rliden · · Score: 1

      No thanks. I mostly use Firefox and I certainly don't mind downloading it on install. I do not want Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, or whoever to make my browser decision for me. I don't want their "customized" branded browser.

      I already have sufficient choice now. I install Windows, use IE to download FF and I'm good to go. I like having a known vanilla browser installed by the OS manufacturer.

      --
      Don't think of it as a flame, more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage.
    37. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by spitzak · · Score: 2, Informative

      Doxygen is able to write .chm files, so I think it is sufficiently documented so that another browser could display them.

      I think the complaint is more that Microsoft is not providing any means to call another browser. Assuming the file is adequately documented and actually serves some purpose then the browsers should interpret them.

    38. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by spitzak · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Microsoft did not allow any *other* browser to be installed in OEM copies.

      I think it is Microsoft shenanigans that got it changed to "remove IE". What should be allowed is that an OEM can sell the system preset to use a different browser by default, and remove the 'e' from the desktop and menus. It should not really matter if IE is there.

    39. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by poetmatt · · Score: 1

      its not hard to hide this stuff; people would play stupid on threat of losing ms business etc.

    40. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by andreasg · · Score: 1

      I don't see how your situation would be changed by this. You would just use whatever browser the OEM included to download the one you want to use.

    41. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by MadF0rce · · Score: 1

      As long as they're consistant and strip all other operating systems of their Internet Explorers (Mac OSx of Safari) and have no default browser for Linux and make it a selectable this is fine, otherwise it's stupid.

    42. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Eskarel · · Score: 0, Troll

      And none of the browser makers wanted to be included either. This whole case has always been a fairly petty complaint from Netscape because they were making money out of a product Microsoft turned into a free commodity. Not so great for Netscape, but pretty damned great for consumers.

      It's always been the underlying flaw with the monopoly case against Microsoft, yes Microsoft has the lion's share of the market. Yes it's very difficult for alternatives to compete. Yes Microsoft bought out or wiped out a few competitors along the way. What do you do about it? Consumers have pretty much universally failed to embrace linux, and the primary reason it's difficult to compete with Windows is because no matter how nice your OS is no one's software will run on it.

      Whatever Microsoft did to get here, they're where they are now and no amount of these court cases is going to change that.

    43. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      Download? Whats that? Is that part of that whole internet thing I didnt need, so I opted not to get Internet Explorer with my windows?

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    44. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by moniker127 · · Score: 1

      why mozilla? so that we could wait 15 seconds to load explorer windows from disk? no thanks, webkit please.

    45. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by smoker2 · · Score: 1

      Is Opera open source now ? And if the OS gets crippled by the removal of the browser, it can't be a very good OS.

    46. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Doxygen is able to write .chm files, so I think it is sufficiently documented so that another browser could display them.

      I have no firsthand knowledge of how much is known about CHM's format, but this is a pretty large leap. All that says is that enough of CHM is known to do what Doxygen needs to do; this is a far cry from saying that you can build a reader for arbitrary CHM files.

      I think the complaint is more that Microsoft is not providing any means to call another browser. Assuming the file is adequately documented and actually serves some purpose then the browsers should interpret them.

      Well, sort of. I would say in a narrow sense this debate is on MS shipping their HTML renderer; and while help files are some form of HTML I think this is a non-question. In a broader sense though, yes, being able to substitute other renderers for MSHTML would be nice.

      (Incidentally, it looks like with Vista MS is moving away from CHM files to something called MAML.)

    47. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by pete6677 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Why? You can install any browser you want. You'll never have to touch IE again if you don't want. For some reason, a bunch of whiny Euro-fags can't understand this and are demanding the government fix something they are more than capable of fixing on their own. Then again, that's pretty much been the European way forever.

    48. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think it sucks that they won't package IE

      Your opinion is noted.

      and the EU needs to stop meddling with these things.

      No they don't. The US needs to start enforcing their laws so businesses don't go to the EU to get the same laws actually enforced.

      If they want to support open source software by doing something ...

      They don't this has nothing to do with OSS.

      ...but to cripple a OS over it is weak.

      Is Windows crippled because MS doesn't get to pick which CPU it is run on or which video card it is run on? Why would it be crippled if OEMs pick the browser it runs with?

      What if they forced everyone to include every alternative software bundled with the product, and what decides which alternative programs will get the special treatment?

      What if? What if they stab all blonde people or make fire illegal? Do you even know what this article is about?

    49. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      As long as they're consistant and strip all other operating systems of their Internet Explorers (Mac OSx of Safari)...

      That's like being consistent and throwing everyone who drives a car in prison because you arrested a person for grand theft auto. It makes perfect sense if you think the latter person's crime was "driving" and MS's crime was "bundling a browser with an OS". Mind you, if you think that's what MS is about be convicted of you are probably pretty clueless. Likely you're just a troll.

    50. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by kestasjk · · Score: 1

      Why not take out the part of wordpad that renders rich-text and replace it with open-office's renderer? Because it'd be a complete waste of time. So why try and replace Trident? Will the results be superior?

      --
      // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
    51. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Nothing useful as explorer.exe doesn't seem to parse its command line anymore.

      That's not true. I just did "explorer.exe http://slashdot.org/" in Windows 7, and sure enough, it opened it in my default browser (which is Opera).

      So the original question is still valid. Unless there is a check, it sounds a bit like a Windows fork bomb - and, given how many people still run XP under Administrator, it might be easy to trick people into this (all you need is a .reg file to change the setting).

    52. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      What kind of weed are you smoking there ?

      He's on the closed beta testing program for Microsoft Linux.

    53. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's still sitting there making Windows less secure, because you'll still be able to embed it as a component and feed it data

      Well, it's up to developers to do or not do that, isn't it? And you as a user to affect their choice by those means you have available (namely, your wallet). With QtWebKit available, you may be able to make a strong case.

      And EU actions weren't about security anyway, they were about monopoly abuse.

    54. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Why not take out the part of wordpad that renders rich-text and replace it with open-office's renderer? Because it'd be a complete waste of time. So why try and replace Trident? Will the results be superior?

      I don't think there's a point in doing so ("security!" has long ceased to be a meaningful differentiator between IE and other browsers), but if people want to be able to do that just for the sake of it, I pointed out that it is possible, and where to find the relevant specs if anyone is willing to try...

      In practice, something similar actually has to be done - Wine is one example, ReactOS is another.

    55. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I realize you're modded Insightful and all, and I guess I'm sticking my "excellent" karma up for grabs, but the GP has a point - what does unbundling the browser from the OS really solve? I mean, what problem is being addressed? Is the problem with Microsoft that they bundle the browser they develop with the operating system they develop? People are free to choose their OS, right? So what does it matter what software the vendor chooses to ship with that OS? If the public doesn't like the software choices they can choose a different OS vendor, right? ..right?

      No?

      Here's a question: why aren't people angry that Apple bundles Safari with OSX?

      Allow me to anticipate the answer: because Apple doesn't hold a monopoly on consumer operating systems. This is true, Apple does not hold a monopoly on consumer operating systems, and arguably Microsoft does.

      So why are people fighting to have Microsoft's software unbundled with Microsoft's other software? Why aren't people fighting against the OS monopoly itself, instead of the fringes of the monopoly?

      The problem with MS is that they hold a monopoly on operating systems. Why is it a big deal to fight against their browser? Shouldn't the operating system be the target? No one should care which software a vendor chooses to bundle with their other software (if you don't like it, don't use it), what people should care about is what choice they have in the marketplace. What it sounds like to me is that people *really* want to use Windows, they just don't want to use IE.

      Why is Windows not the target? Why has IE been made the target? What problem does this action really solve?

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    56. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Hach-Que · · Score: 1

      Because IE breaks webpages horribly, Safari doesn't. Removing IE from Windows allows users to select a browser that is at least somewhat standards compliant.

    57. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by koreaman · · Score: 1

      This has literally nothing to do with the issue at hand.

    58. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Runaway1956 · · Score: 1

      I read MSHTML files on Linux using the Gecko engine. There is a package that needs to be installed, so that Gecko can read MSHTML, but it renders just fine. Maybe better than with IE. The other reasons why the core rendering agent is "required" may also be bogus. There ARE alternatives, to almost everything. It isn't required that MS actually "support" those myriad of alternatives, just that they be made available, and that the "default" doesn't preclude those alternatives.

      Now I'm curious, lol. I need to test whether Webkit renders those MSHTML, or if I first need to install yet another package.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    59. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by sFurbo · · Score: 1

      Having a monopoly is not a (legal) problem in and of itself, using it to gain advantages is. MS has a monopoly in the OS market, and they are using it to gain a monopoly on the browser market. Which is bad for the consumer and therefor illegal.

    60. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Serious+Callers+Only · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here's a question: why aren't people angry that Apple bundles Safari with OSX?

      Allow me to anticipate the answer: because Apple doesn't hold a monopoly on consumer operating systems. This is true, Apple does not hold a monopoly on consumer operating systems, and arguably Microsoft does.

      No, it's because Apple has not abused a monopoly to try to enter other markets. When they start to do that (for example in the iTunes space), you can expect the EU start to go after them. Now I'm sure the EU process can be corrupted, and they're far from perfect, but in this case I don't think they have an illegitimate target.

      So why are people fighting to have Microsoft's software unbundled with Microsoft's other software? Why aren't people fighting against the OS monopoly itself, instead of the fringes of the monopoly?

      Having a monopoly is not illegal. Abusing that monopoly to apply leverage to your partners and customers is. Sometimes the radical solution to a monopoly has been to break up the monopolist, however I think fines and sanctions for abusive behaviour are a better remedy, as they set limits on the kind of thing companies think they'll get away with.

      In this case, it seems Microsoft thinks they can do whatever they like, and have decided to thumb their nose at the EU by claiming they'll just unbundle IE from retail versions too (I imagine the focus of the investigation is OEM versions). If instead they decided to stop trying to abuse their monopoly position and just produce better software, this problem (and many others) would go away, but I don't think that's in their corporate DNA.

      I mean, what problem is being addressed? Is the problem with Microsoft that they bundle the browser they develop with the operating system they develop? People are free to choose their OS, right?

      Wrong. Because of past pressure by Microsoft on OEMs and other dirty tricks, all commercial competitors to them in the open OS market have disappeared (OS2,BeOS). The only competitor left is Linux, which for obvious reasons is more difficult to attack, though that hasn't stopped them trying.

      Apple wisely (for now) sticks to producing their own hardware to get round this problem, otherwise I'm sure you'd see Ballmer saying I'm going to fucking kill Apple and putting extreme pressure on the likes of DELL to never bundle Apple products. That would be illegal, but they've done it before, and they'll do it again.

      OEM versions of Windows are the real battle-ground here - people do not choose their OS, they choose a computer, and MS has cleverly shut off almost all alternatives to them in that space. Having done that, they bundle IE so that they can control competitors like Google by controlling access to the web - classic abuse of monopoly status to attack competitors.

      So the problem is not having a monopoly, the problem is abusing it to try to attack competitors - because of Microsoft's track record in that area, and huge existing power, they are not given the benefit of the doubt when bundled software could extend their monopoly in other fields. Forcing them to level the playing field on browsers is a good first step to stop them trying to control the web and tie it to Windows.

    61. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by TheThiefMaster · · Score: 1

      It's because they're using their monopoly in one product (operating systems) to attempt to force a monopoly in another area (internet browsers). This is illegal.

      It's not so much that Windows comes with IE, it's that they were disallowing OEM computer manufacturers from making any other browser the default. I'm not sure if they were even allowed to install another browser.

      Apple sells their own computers, so the "OEM" middleman doesn't exist. An apple computer is entirely their own product, they can sell it however they like. If someone resold Apple computers, they would have to be allowed to change Safari for another browser.

    62. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Hach-Que · · Score: 1

      He's asking why Microsoft and IE should be the target and not, say for example, Apple. I'm giving him one good reason why they should be. If IE was standards compliant, I doubt anyone would be complaining about it's distribution method.

    63. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by metacell · · Score: 1

      What kind of weed are you smoking there ?

      He's on the closed beta testing program for Microsoft Linux.

      Wow! I hear that's good stuff!

    64. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by kholburn · · Score: 1

      Been smoking the Microsoft crack pipe again have we?

    65. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by howlingmadhowie · · Score: 1

      It may be the case that MSHTML (what's used for the help system and such) is actually pretty lightweight and IE adds quite a bit, so this split is actually quite meaningful, but I doubt that's the case.

      welcome to another round of 'guess how that closed-source technology works'. and your starter for 10, what does ie add to the microsoft html rendering engine?

    66. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      No no.. the producers of the software that requires E.I. cannot "simply install I.E."

      Of course they can. Perhaps you're too young to remember the 90s; back in that era, when you put in your CDROM installer, it would include, as well as the app you'd paid for, quite often such things as Internet Explorer, perhaps Adobe Acrobat, etc, etc. Sometimes they were quite insistent in installing these (Application X require Internet Explorer 4 or later, installing now....) and you'd have to spend 10 minutes removing them afterwards if they messed up your system.

    67. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by ais523 · · Score: 1

      It's worth mentioning that WINE plugs Mozilla into the other end of the APIs in question, rather than IE, so it's certainly doable. Of course, I'm not quite sure how well WINE's solution works compared to the native Windows one in this regard; I have seen at least one program work correctly doing this, but that's a long way from saying that every program does.

      --
      (1)DOCOMEFROM!2~.2'~#1WHILE:1<-"'?.1$.2'~'"':1/.1$.2'~#0"$#65535'"$"'"'&.1$.2'~'#0$#65535'"$#0'~#32767$#1"
    68. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by ais523 · · Score: 1

      Umm... except there's a button offered to do it for you, in that example. Computers are perfectly capable of doing downloads without a browser; it's just that the UI is substantially worse than what you're used to. (Windows comes with both ftp and telnet; and copies of wget aren't hard to get hold of on any operating system. None is a browser, yet all can download things from the Internet.) It isn't sensible to insist that people who know what they're doing know how to use ftp to get a browser from the Internet; it is sensible to expect them to be able to click on a button designed to do the download for them (in the absence of a browser), though.

      --
      (1)DOCOMEFROM!2~.2'~#1WHILE:1<-"'?.1$.2'~'"':1/.1$.2'~#0"$#65535'"$"'"'&.1$.2'~'#0$#65535'"$#0'~#32767$#1"
    69. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by ifrag · · Score: 1

      Geez, how about just making the help consist of GODDAMN HTML FILES?

      Or how about just removing local help entirely? Seriously, when was the last time anybody used Windows help and found the answer they were looking for? Maybe for the most basic of problems, but anything that is seriously broke is going to need a lot more detail than the local help has ever offered me. If I actually need Windows help I'm either looking at google.com or msdn.com.

      --
      Fear is the mind killer.
    70. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by xaxa · · Score: 1

      Isn't it more like "hey, let me sell you a car without a radio. The speakers are still included, and the SatNav still uses them for vocal instructions. You can get a choice of radio from the dealer if you want one."

    71. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      so I don't see why Microsoft couldn't technically allow another browser to provide the rendering engine.

      Probably because by allowing it, they are going to end up with more support calls when things don' work right. At least by including their own, they can be sure everything else on the OS works with it.

    72. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Well, it's up to developers to do or not do that, isn't it?

      Yes: Virus and worm developers.

      Just to spell it out for you since it's already clear that it's necessary, IE has been home to privilege escalation exploits before. And yet, these elements weren't in the browser, but in the engine.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    73. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by flatrock · · Score: 1

      I think is a bad idea for any OS company to rely on a third party app to properly display help files.

      Removing artificial barriers to reasonable competition is one thing. Forcing bad design decisions is another.

      Microsoft should not be prevented from providing a complete set of software that meets what are basically essential customer needs.

      A decade ago it was much more reasonable for the court to say that browsers were not an essential part of the OS, and the fact that it took hours to download a competing browser over the internet did create a barrier to competition.

      Now it is hard to say that a browser is not something people expect to come with their system to provide basic services they expect form it, and it is no longer difficult for consumers to access competing browsers that may add value for consumers.

    74. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by hoooocheymomma · · Score: 1

      MS got rid of the tie between Windows Explorer and IE with Windows Vista

      Eh I'm pretty sure they got rid of the tie with IE 7, not Vista. So if you have IE 7 or greater on XP, you don't have that tie either.

    75. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by pete-classic · · Score: 1

      It's weird. I could swear that someone testified that removing Internet Explorer from Windows was "impossible".

      There must be some geographical factor I haven't considered.

      -Peter

    76. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      When I click the button, it says "unable to connect to the internet." I dont have internet! Thats why I got the version of windows without internet explorer! The button doesnt fix the problem like you imagined it did.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    77. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1

      No. Never try to improve a car analogy. Ever. Hell, it's my fault. I shouldn't have made one in the first place -- because doing so is a guarantee that someone will come along behind and try to improve upon it.

    78. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      palm, meet face.

    79. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Ghost+Hedgehog · · Score: 1

      The EU hasn't decided to remove IE from Windows 7, it is a move by Microsoft. The EU has not yet made a decision on how to deal with the misuse of the Windows monopoly on the browser market. With the Media player verdict of the EU, nothing actually changed and Neelie Kroes will probably come with a solution for the browser market that actually works. By the way, if Microsoft has the opinion that selling an OS without a browser is not an option, they still have the option not to sell Windows 7 in the EU at all.

    80. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      I read MSHTML files on Linux using the Gecko engine. There is a package that needs to be installed, so that Gecko can read MSHTML, but it renders just fine. Maybe better than with IE. The other reasons why the core rendering agent is "required" may also be bogus. There ARE alternatives, to almost everything.

      Read what I said carefully again; I didn't say anything about MS adding support to plug in external HTML renderers.

      All I'm claiming in this thread is that it would be silly to ship Windows without a renderer and unreasonable to require them to ship it with a competitor's or without one, which means MS will and (I assert) should ship with an HTML renderer.

      This is a ways away though from saying either that it should ship with a browser or that the renderer shouldn't be replaceable later.

    81. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is nothing good with it!
      M$ did wrong by tying up IE in Windows XP the way they did. They payed for it and fixed it. This is only because Opera wants M$ to boundle Opera in the Windows distribution.

      I'm kinda Anti Microsoft but this time it plain wrong. Let M$ bundle what ever software they want. As long as they dont hinder others to compeet as they did with IE in XP. All is good.

      But I say ha ha stupid Opera who now wont get their software bundled, and yes they are complaining about it.

      Opera is a good browser but forsing MS to bundle it is plain wrong or any other software for that matter.

    82. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by mangst · · Score: 1

      I don't understand why people think it's a monopoly when Microsoft bundles IE with Windows. Doesn't Apple do the same thing with Safari? Why don't you hear anyone complaining about that??

    83. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      I realize you're modded Insightful and all, and I guess I'm sticking my "excellent" karma up for grabs, but the GP has a point - what does unbundling the browser from the OS really solve?

      What does removing the knife from a stabbing victim solve? It stops the ongoing damage so that remedies can be applied and it can eventually be healed. Further, it enforces the law, the same as it is applied to everyone else.

      I mean, what problem is being addressed?

      The problem is antitrust abuse. Shouldn't you know that already? The market for Web browsers has been undermined and is no longer functioning according to free market economics. This is a violation of the law.

      Is the problem with Microsoft that they bundle the browser they develop with the operating system they develop?

      No, the problem is they undermine the Web browser market. Their bundling the two is the mechanism by which they are breaking the law. There is no law against bundling a browser and an OS.

      Here's an analogy. Bob is arrested for grand theft auto because he got in a car and drove home. Tim also got in a car and drove home, but was not arrested. In this situation no one complains the law is unfair because only one person was punished. That's because people understand the law being broken was against theft, not against driving. Driving was the mechanism by which the law was broken. Tim was, in fact, incapable of breaking the law since he owned the only car in the parking lot. This is analogous to Apple, who doesn't have the ability to break the market for Web browsers because they don't have a monopoly on desktop OS's.

      So why are people fighting to have Microsoft's software unbundled with Microsoft's other software?

      Because it is illegal and undermines the operation of the Web browser market.

      Why aren't people fighting against the OS monopoly itself, instead of the fringes of the monopoly?

      Because gaining a monopoly is not illegal in the general case nor does it undermine a market. Antitrust laws exist to ensure competition so that markets remain innovative and good products are produced at low prices by harnessing the self interest of producers and consumers. You can gain monopoly influence in a market simply by making a product that is much better than everyone else. That's the market working as it should. The economic problem and the crime happens when you use that monopoly to foist off inferior product in another market. Then, people acting in their own best interests are motivated to choose inferior products and the system stops working.

      The problem with MS is that they hold a monopoly on operating systems.

      No, the problem with Microsoft is they abuse a monopoly on desktop operating systems. It may be that the only way to stop these abuses is to remove the monopoly they are abusing, but many companies have monopoly influence in a market but don't undermine free trade in other markets. This is because those companies obey the law.

      No one should care which software a vendor chooses to bundle with their other software...

      No one does, just as no one cares if someone drives a car home. What they do care about is antitrust abuse and theft. Bundling software or anything else is legal in the general case. It's when that is the method used to implement antitrust abuse that the legal system starts to care.

      What problem does this action really solve?

      It stops a major method by which MS is undermining the Web browser market. Combined with other reforms, it can fix the Web browser market so it can move forward again and so the best WEb browsers are the ones that gain the most market share.

    84. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Just to spell it out for you since it's already clear that it's necessary, IE has been home to privilege escalation exploits before. And yet, these elements weren't in the browser, but in the engine.

      You'll have to spell it out in a different way, apparently, since I don't see any privilege escalation exploits for the whole lifetime of IE7.

    85. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by dwiget001 · · Score: 1

      You would have to do some sort of "decompile" of a ".chm" file to get at the HTML based files that are compiled into it.

      The only thing you would then have to do, probably through JavaScript or some browser scripting language, would be to enable a search of terms, create some sort of indexing, etc.

      A ".chm" file is just that, one file, so culling the individual HTML files would leave you with a set of files. Not a big deal really, all just dumped into a folder, which you could move around, copy, etc.

    86. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      Wrong. Because of past pressure by Microsoft on OEMs and other dirty tricks, all commercial competitors to them in the open OS market have disappeared (OS2,BeOS). The only competitor left is Linux, which for obvious reasons is more difficult to attack, though that hasn't stopped them trying.

      That's exactly my point. My question was facetious, consumers do not have a real choice in which OS they purchase, that choice is made for them. That is the issue that needs to be addressed, not what software Microsoft wants to bundle. If consumers had real choice in which OS they purchased, Microsoft would be forced by competition to bundle more software, or risk losing sales. Unbundling IE doesn't really affect Microsoft at all, they're still selling Windows to everyone. That's what I was trying to get at - it seems like the marketplace really, really wants Windows, that's what I don't understand. People have this problem with Microsoft leveraging their monopoly, but they don't address the monopoly itself. The deals with the OEMs that were made to exclude competitors are what need to be fixed, we don't need to dictate to Microsoft what software they're allowed to bundle. Let them bundle what they want, just allow OEMs to sell whatever OS they want also.

      I'm sort of playing the devil's advocate, but I do think the move against IE is a good one, but I'm just saying that as a web developer who cares about standards. It would be nice if fewer people were using deficient browsers, and I'm anxiously watching the IE6 and IE7 numbers fall. Even IE8 is a massive improvement from IE7, I would even say that IE8 is the single most significant update IE has ever had. But I'm not delusional into thinking that unbundling IE from Windows is going to have any effect on the OS monopoly which is the true source of the problem.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    87. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dont bother. These people are known anti-ms trolls. They have departed from logic long ago. You'll never convince them to accept facts and just waste your own time...

    88. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by ais523 · · Score: 1

      Err... on Slashdot of all places, I'd expect you to know that it's possible to connect to the Internet without a browser. Which is what the button would do, in order to download the browser.

      --
      (1)DOCOMEFROM!2~.2'~#1WHILE:1<-"'?.1$.2'~'"':1/.1$.2'~#0"$#65535'"$"'"'&.1$.2'~'#0$#65535'"$#0'~#32767$#1"
    89. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by koreaman · · Score: 1

      And you would be wrong. The issue is not whether IE is a good or a bad browser; the issue is that Microsoft has been accused of illegaly leveraging their desktop OS monopoly to unfairly compete in the browser market.

    90. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Hach-Que · · Score: 1

      That issue only exists because they purposely made their browser incompatible with web standards, breaking a lot of websites.

      To most users, the browser is not an important part of their web usage experience, the only important role it plays is rendering the websites they want access to. If a user wanted more from their browser, then they are likely to seek out and find another web browser, but let's face it. For the average user, IE's features suffice.

      When Microsoft purposely broke web standards however, they were trying to use their monopoly to force others into doing things their way, which in consequence, would only strengthen their monopoly.

    91. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by smitth1276 · · Score: 1

      I'm jealous - we should be offered the same deal here in good old North America

      Yeah.. or at least as many browser choices as we get when we buy Apple's machines. And next, we can go after Microsoft for bundling Windows with Windows Media Player... they shouldn't be allowed to use their monopoly to push their media management and playback software on us! We should get to choose iTunes if we prefer it. And notepad?!? I want Notepad++ bundled with my OS!

      I, for one, won't be happy until Microsoft is forced to remove any and all useful, desirable applications from their OS, so that otherwise uncompetitive companies can get free exposure at Microsoft's expense and have their product presented to us--unsolicited--in hopes that we will install their software without any requirement that they actually earn our "business".

    92. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by koreaman · · Score: 1

      Again, that's simply not true. Even if IE were the most standards-compliant browser in the world, the issue would be exactly the same.

    93. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Eskarel · · Score: 1

      Nope, just reality. Windows has a monopoly because all the software runs on Windows, and all the software runs on Windows because Windows has a monopoly.

      For better or worse, there is no court order that can change this. No judge can tell every software developer they have to produce software for every OS, and if they did it'd affect Open Source as much as it does closed.

      That's not to say that Linux can't win. That's not to say that Microsoft hasn't done some things which were wrong. There's just no magical court order that a judge can give which can actually change anything. The damage is done.

      As to the Netscape thing, I sincerely believe that. IMHO free browsers have been a massive boon to consumers and to the net as a whole. They haven't been particularly great for companies like Netscape which based their business model around selling one(though Opera proves that you can still make money making a browser, at least for the time being). I'm glad that browsers are free, it's provided infinite benefit to me and to millions of others. It has sucked for Netscape employees and stockholders, as well as for employees and stockholders of AOL, they lost money.

      On the other hand without it the netscape code base would never have been open sourced and we wouldn't have Mozilla. You and I wouldn't be able to go and grab 5 different browsers for testing, development, or the pure unadulterated fun of it.

      Browsers being free has been a wonderful thing. Netscape lost the browser war on their own. Microsoft sat on IE for ten years and stifled the web(something I curse every working day of my life), but that's being fixed, both because there are alternatives and because Microsoft is being forced to compete again.

      I'm not a fan of Microsoft, and I'm not a fan of Open Source, both groups have brilliant people in them, both groups have assholes in them. I've not used IE as a primary browser in more than a decade, I've used Windows and Linux for the things they're good at for even longer.

      None of this changes the fact that this court case was always pointless, and that as time went along it's been getting more so. No decision has ever come out of it, because there is no decision which can make any difference. Neither the US nor Europe is going to order Microsoft out of existence, or cripple them so they go bankrupt, not least of all because they don't have that legal power. No fine that will ever be levied or paid will change what happened 20 years ago.

    94. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      I dont have internet. Period.

      No wired. No wireless. No Internet.

      Now what?

      On slashdot of all places, you should know that many computers do not have internet connections on purpose.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    95. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by ais523 · · Score: 1

      Then why would you be trying to connect to it? The error message would be a lot more careful to explain that the problem was a lack of Internet, rather than the lack of a browser. Also, I feel confident in predicting that 100% of people who have posted a comment on Slashdot have, or have had at least once, some method of accessing the Internet. Otherwise, how could they post the comments?

      --
      (1)DOCOMEFROM!2~.2'~#1WHILE:1<-"'?.1$.2'~'"':1/.1$.2'~#0"$#65535'"$"'"'&.1$.2'~'#0$#65535'"$#0'~#32767$#1"
    96. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      Have you been following the discussion? The error message is Could Not Connect To The Internet.

      This is beause the user clicked on the Install Internet Explorer button.

      He did so because XYZ corporations program requires Internet Explorer, even though it does not require Internet.

      XYZ corp requires Internet Explorer because it requires some markup rendering engine and it might as well be one that is ubiquitous.. well it used to be, until the E.U. courts got involved.

      How do slashdotters work into this? THey work for XYZ corporation, and already have products in the wild. XYZ's tech support costs are going to jump through the roof if the E.U. gets its way, and that could cause the company to fail, costing the slashdotter his/her job.

      Think about all the ramifications of such rulings. This sort of thing is only one of them. The myopic "computers are on my basement desk at home and connected to the internet" view doesn't represent the full reality.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    97. Re:Why are we deprived of this in North America? by ais523 · · Score: 1

      IMO, it would be a serious bug in a program to have dependencies, but not install them at the same time as the program. Your argument's as spurious as a program that requires .NET but doesn't come with the .NET installer; no, that won't work either for someone who doesn't have it already. How is the situation different here? Assuming a dependence on IE itself (as opposed to, say, Trident, or just an HTML renderer) is certainly plausible (there are such programs), but they're mostly going to be webapps and thus require the Internet anyway. For ones that don't, you're going to have to install the program somehow; so why not install IE the same way at the same time? (It's not as if it'd be hard to find copies; Microsoft would almost certainly have a copy on their website somewhere, and the company who distributes their IE-requiring software could find it and distribute it at the same time.) I just don't see why you seem to think IE would have a special status in all this; although it may be the most common web browser to use as a dependency, there are many other dependencies that programs have which are far more common, so this problem's been solved time and time again in the context of libraries that aren't web browsers. Incidentally, I don't have Internet access at home, so don't assume I don't know that computers don't need to be connected to the Internet. (Thus Slashdotting at work, lucky me.)

      --
      (1)DOCOMEFROM!2~.2'~#1WHILE:1<-"'?.1$.2'~'"':1/.1$.2'~#0"$#65535'"$"'"'&.1$.2'~'#0$#65535'"$#0'~#32767$#1"
  2. HugeOrNot by alain94040 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is it just me or is this huge?

    We'll finally be able to measure IE's marketshare in a non-biased market.

    1. Re:HugeOrNot by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 5, Insightful

      We'll finally be able to measure IE's marketshare in a non-biased market.

      Not really. Many years of a broken market have created a huge number of Websites and Web applications broken to only work properly with IE. Unless this is remedied, we'll only have a slightly less broken market. Additionally, this applies only to the EU, so any company doing business anyplace outside the EU or Web developers wanting to target customers outside the EU will still be subject to artificial market incentives caused by MS's bundling elsewhere.

    2. Re:HugeOrNot by Toonol · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think it would still be very unusual for a vendor to not include IE on a machine. I use Firefox nearly exclusively, but want IE on my machine for the odd web-page. The only real difference is that it may mean most vendors will ship with both IE AND Firefox... or maybe Opera, if they can score some sort of deal.

    3. Re:HugeOrNot by bonch · · Score: 0, Informative

      Years ago, Microsoft released an unbundled version of Windows like this in the past when the European Commission had an issue with Media Player, called Windows N. It was a sales flop.

    4. Re:HugeOrNot by MozeeToby · · Score: 1

      That depends on what the 'Computer Maker' companies choose to do with this. They very well could assume that people will want what they are used to and ship IE anyway, and in all honesty that is probably a safe bet. The people who don't care already know IE and the people that do care know how to get their alternative. Of the people that don't care, I bet 50% of them would have to call up their family computer wizz because they couldn't find the little 'e' on their desktop.

      IMO, the best result would be a wizard on startup that asks the user which browser they would like to install with a list of the top 5, but leave the default as IE.. Give each company/organization a small space to spell out what they think makes their product preferable and let the user make a choice.

    5. Re:HugeOrNot by mpcooke3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      We'll finally be able to measure IE's marketshare in a non-biased market.

      Now browser market share in Europe will be determined by what kickbacks and/or threats the computer makers receive from the companies behind the major browsers.

      Is that what you meant by non-biased?

    6. Re:HugeOrNot by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 1

      We'll finally be able to measure IE's marketshare in a non-biased market

      Actually, we were able to do that once before. Back in the Win95 days, before a browser was bundled with the OS, both IE and Netscape were available in retail stores such as CompUSA, Computer City, and Egghead, as a boxed product, although few people remember them. According the PC Data retail sales reports at the time, IE handily outsold Netscape.

    7. Re:HugeOrNot by Ohio+Calvinist · · Score: 1

      It might decrease IE adoption if major OEMs decide to opt for Opera or Firefox, but it isn't going to show much much more people like alternatives. It is only going to show that the vast majority of users use whatever it comes with and are ultimately indiferent.

      The only non-geek folks I know that have ever switched browsers for any reason did so because someone told them they should, so they blindly did it; or got what matched at work because thye were too lazy to learn two different pieces of software; or used whatever the ISP install CD set as the default.

      I am just dreading the day when OEMs release their own browsers based (osely on OSS offerings or their own design that are bloated crap like most of their other software pre-loaded, because they know that brand recognition helps drive future sales. "Sorry I only know how to use Dellfox(tm)."

      --
      Forgive my spelling from time to time. I'm often posting during short breaks.
    8. Re:HugeOrNot by sexconker · · Score: 1

      No.
      No first-run wizards, tours, or other such bullshit.

      Please make it as easy as possible to automate all parts of the installation.

    9. Re:HugeOrNot by TropicalCoder · · Score: 1

      They very well could assume that people will want what they are used to and ship IE anyway, and in all honesty that is probably a safe bet.

      If they assume such a thing, then they are not in touch with their market. Firefox users in Europe are in the majority now, and IE only has a minority of less than 36% market share.

    10. Re:HugeOrNot by x2A · · Score: 1

      Huh? My (genuine) version of Win95 (first edition) came with IE2. It just didn't have an icon on the desktop. Think it was the IE3 update that did that, however we just used the browser that came on the CD our first ISP sent us (which was netscape) because that's what opened after we clicked their 'connect' icon that the CD installed. It was several months and some accidental clicking before I found IE, and that was the first time I found there was actually a choice, and as IE opened up in a split of the time that Netscrape did, I used that.

      I'm most annoyed other peoples complaining has meant it's been uncoupled from my shell, I found that really useful, and still do with KDE/Konqueror, but in Windows it's no longer 'allowed'.

      An operating system shipping without a browser in this day 'n age is ridiculous. Yes I know the slashdot think wrt IE, but freedom should go both ways.

      --
      The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia
    11. Re:HugeOrNot by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 1

      Between being able to get browsers for free and ISPs including browsers with their setup disks, I'm not sure why anyone would have bought a browser. I know I certainly never had to

    12. Re:HugeOrNot by inode_buddha · · Score: 1

      How is this different from the current situation in the US?

      --
      C|N>K
    13. Re:HugeOrNot by oldhack · · Score: 1

      "Is that what you meant by non-biased?"

      Yes. Everyone should be able to threaten/bribe in equal measure, at least in theory.

      --
      Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
    14. Re:HugeOrNot by KingMotley · · Score: 3, Informative

      From your own link:

      StatCounter's total scores for Europe put IE marketshare at 48 percent and Firefox at 38 percent.

      That said, it does appear that some IE users are switching to firefox at a slow pace (2% every 1/4 year, or 8% a year). At that rate, in a year and some, firefox may overtake IE share.

    15. Re:HugeOrNot by rliden · · Score: 1

      Nothing is ever non-biased. It would be a bland world if it was all non-biased. There isn't anything wrong with bias at all when you know where someone or some group stands. It's when a person or group hides its bias and tries to present their end as neutral that problems arise.

      --
      Don't think of it as a flame, more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage.
    16. Re:HugeOrNot by Patch86 · · Score: 0, Troll

      That's the free market for you.

      And to be honest, as long as it breaks people's association that the internet = the big blue "e", it'll be worth it. For as long as people think that icon IS the internet, there can be no serious competition. At least once people are aware there are different browsers, they might be easier to sway when it comes to switching to a better product.

    17. Re:HugeOrNot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We'll finally be able to measure IE's marketshare in a non-biased market.

      Hang on there...

      Let me get this straight: These computers are going to ship with *no* web browser and will presumably have an easy way to install Internet Explorer.

      What are you options if you want to install Firefox without installing IE? Command-line ftp client? USB thumbdrive?

      MS needs to include a small app that will let you install any major Windows web browser. Of course, determining what constitutes a "major" web browser is another barrel of monkies, but at least people would get some exposure to alternatives to IE.

    18. Re:HugeOrNot by BZ · · Score: 1

      Note that in some European countries IE already has minority marketshare, biased market or no....

    19. Re:HugeOrNot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its just you dipshit. The result is the same, the OEMs will still bundle IE with the OS.

    20. Re:HugeOrNot by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Note that in some European countries IE already has minority marketshare, biased market or no....

      And note that some murder attempts fail because a bullet proof vest prevents serious injury. Not that either comment really has much to do with whether a crime has been committed or should be prosecuted or much of anything other than evaluating how successful a particular criminal is.

    21. Re:HugeOrNot by BZ · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure what that has to do with what I said. Original claim was "now we will see what happens in an unbiased market". I said that it might look no different than what we have now, in some countries...

    22. Re:HugeOrNot by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure what that has to do with what I said. Original claim was "now we will see what happens in an unbiased market". I said that it might look no different than what we have now, in some countries...

      No, you said they have a minority market share. Minority being 40% or so, which is pretty darn high for what is probably about the worst browser on the market. That MS hasn't done as much damage in that market is just a matter of degree.

    23. Re:HugeOrNot by Solarhands · · Score: 1

      Now browser market share in Europe will be determined by what kickbacks and/or threats the computer makers receive from the companies behind the major browsers.

      Is that what you meant by non-biased?

      1) What you said, and nobody will match Microsoft's incentives. 2) Even if there is no threat/incentive from any browser, most large computer companies will choose to bundle IE, just for the sake of having a similar package to deal with from a tech support standpoint. I really feel like very few companies will not be packaging IE with Windows 7. Those that do not will be primarily the super low-end PCs, electing to go with something less memory intensive, and the high-end PCs targeted at the gaming and programing users, who would prefer a different browser. Even on the high-end, it will likely just end up packaged with both. (The only thing PC manufacturers would prefer to that would be packaging it with a 30-day trial of IE.) The great news here though is that this news should mean that it will be relatively easy to uninstall IE on a Windows 7 machine.

    24. Re:HugeOrNot by nametaken · · Score: 4, Informative

      I've been saying this same thing for a long time now, but the odd part is, I've been using firefox and chrome between work and home and I almost never happen on an obviously broken site anymore.

      To a certain degree I probably have a higher tolerance for things that don't line up, etc., but I'm pretty sure the web is a LOT cleaner than it used to be... in that regard.

    25. Re:HugeOrNot by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      Except such threats or kickbacks are heavily punished in the EU. Notice the recent Intel punishment for a reference noted on slashdot.org, many more local EU companies have been punished for similar behavior. It hasn't stopped this kind of business yet, but there is focus on it, and huge penalities for getting caught.

    26. Re:HugeOrNot by Noctris · · Score: 1

      no.. you won't.. because all the millions of users that have been used to IE and just "use" their computer instead of tinckering with it, just don't give a crap.. the internet for them is used with the blue little E icon on their desktop.. and if it is not their, the nice guy from support will explain them how to install it after their phonecall stating that "the internet" is not on their computer..

    27. Re:HugeOrNot by ildon · · Score: 1

      The real problem is not the internet, but various intranets with internal sites and web based tools that the company doesn't want to fork over the cash to update or correct when IE is completely ubiquitous within the company anyway.

    28. Re:HugeOrNot by polle404 · · Score: 1

      unfortunately, i doubt it.
      No one will buy it, like the XP N version a few years back, without MS Media player in it.
      OEM's are not going to buy an OS with less features than normal, nor are Joe Q. Public.
      Nonetheless, it IS an important thing, as MS have (hopefully) learned that the EU are paying attention, and it is costly to try and 'slip one past them'.

      --

      ~men are from earth. women are from earth. deal with it.~
    29. Re:HugeOrNot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only real difference is that it may mean most vendors will ship with both IE AND Firefox... or maybe Opera.

      Which is a big improvement on the current situation, no?

    30. Re:HugeOrNot by TheLink · · Score: 1

      I'm using firefox and sometimes Slashdot seems to go "broken" for me (get some weird rendering corruption appearing - I guess some pages assume javascript is enabled).

      And if I enable javascript, it takes ages to load up, and looks bad in a different way.

      --
    31. Re:HugeOrNot by Quantumstate · · Score: 1

      It is not the general web which is the problem. It is intranet style things which were put together quickly so nobody bothered messing around making it compatible because there was no need.

      I have found that with my schools system which isn't actually a custom built intranet application but it is made by RM which means that it is a pile of complete rubbish. First it detects your browser and will only allow IE so you have to change your user agent. Then you find that they managed to program a javascript redirect (which is not needed in the first place if they had bothered to put their main page in the index file) which only works in IE so you have to view the pages source and manually copy the address. They actually use the WebDAV standard to let you access your files but they successfully did the protocol slightly wrong so it only works in some WebDAV clients (this is after you have actually managed to figure out it is WebDAV since they don't tell you they do some funny windows specific rubbish instead). Also even when you use the system as it was designed with IE6 and Windows Explorer on XP (doesn't work on Vista) then you find that you have to enter your username and password 4 times in a row. Anyway that was slightly off topic but I got a bit annoyed with that system so I thought I would have a bit of a rant. There are advantages to RM systems though since their security features could be considered to be somewhat lacking (they managed to allow write access to C:\Windows but they have blocked read and write access to the temp folder).

    32. Re:HugeOrNot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Firefox and most other alternate browsers can cheat with M$-only websites, effectively masquerading as IE.

      I mean, I can get Opera to load the Windows Update website on my G4 Mac by telling it to identify as IE... O_o;;

    33. Re:HugeOrNot by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 1

      Huh? My (genuine) version of Win95 (first edition) came with IE2

      Windows 95 released: August 1995

      IE 2 released: November 1995

      IE 1 became available a couple weeks before Win 95, but was in Microsoft Plus!, not Win 95 itself. IE 2 became bundled with Win 95 in Win 95 OSR1.

  3. Getting Firefox? by InvisibleClergy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm confused. So if I get a copy of Windows in Europe and do a full reinstall, how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

    1. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Blame Microsoft for not adding wget in the OS-default install :-P

    2. Re:Getting Firefox? by Bacon+Bits · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This is what a governing body demanded. It doesn't have to make sense.

      --
      The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
    3. Re:Getting Firefox? by causality · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm confused. So if I get a copy of Windows in Europe and do a full reinstall, how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

      FTP?

      --
      It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
    4. Re:Getting Firefox? by N3Roaster · · Score: 1

      I'm assuming they still ship an FTP client. Of course, we know how this is really going to work. Nobody will buy the version without IE and system makers will add IE, so your full reinstall will already have IE which you can use to get Firefox without having to learn FTP.

      --
      Remember RFC 873!
    5. Re:Getting Firefox? by InvisibleClergy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So you're saying that they're shipping an FTP client, and instructions to lusers on how to use it?

    6. Re:Getting Firefox? by TropicalCoder · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ...how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

      duh... you didn't have the foresight to stick a copy onto your pen drive? Than I don't think you have the competency to re-install an operating system.

    7. Re:Getting Firefox? by InvisibleClergy · · Score: 1

      Well, I figured I'd code up a basic browser from scratch and then use it to get Firefox, but most people won't know C well enough to do that.

    8. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      try to rtfa before posting.
      there will be no retail version with IE either

    9. Re:Getting Firefox? by snl2587 · · Score: 1

      Instructions? What average users ever follow those?

      I can just see the euros pouring into Microsoft's account from the phone support charges...

    10. Re:Getting Firefox? by vertinox · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm confused. So if I get a copy of Windows in Europe and do a full reinstall, how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

      And thus Microsoft proves it's point to the EU.

      --
      "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
      -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
    11. Re:Getting Firefox? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      I can't speak to Windows 7 since I rendered that unbootable (I was mucking around with the boot sector) and haven't fixed it yet, but Windows has LONG included a command-line FTP client.

      In addition to that, either IE or Windows Explorer supports FTP in a graphical way. I don't know which it is though so I don't know if removing IE removes that option.

      Now, that said, FTP is clearly a non-serious suggestion for most people.

    12. Re:Getting Firefox? by icebike · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wait till the EU finds out they are shipping an FTP client!!!

      Yes, command line ftp has been in every version of windows since 95. Directions? It has directions that are equivalent to the directions shipped with IE. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a microsoft OS ship with Directions? Dos 6.0?

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    13. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      C ?

      Open up Visual Studio.
      Create new C# project -> Windows Form Application.
      Drag'n'drop the webbrowser tool from the toolbox unto your automatically generated windows form.
      set URL to google.
      Press F5.

      voila.

    14. Re:Getting Firefox? by rob1980 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      FTP?

      God help the internet helpdesk people who have to walk 67-year old customers through command line FTP in Windows 7 to get their sparkly new computer online, and the retail people who get yelled at because the computers they sold "don't work", etc.

    15. Re:Getting Firefox? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm confused. So if I get a copy of Windows in Europe and do a full reinstall, how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

      Well if you're compentent enough to do a full re-install surely you're competent enough to make a copy of Firefox on CD/DVD/flash drive before you do it?

    16. Re:Getting Firefox? by bunratty · · Score: 4, Informative
      You don't even need to RTFA. RTFS:

      Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers

      --
      What a fool believes, he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.
    17. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You download the Firefox install before you reinstall and store it along with the backup of your data.

      You do have backup of your data before attempting to do a full reinstall, right?

    18. Re:Getting Firefox? by Volante3192 · · Score: 1

      95 shipped with a user's guide. It was, coincidentally, 95 pages long.

      The Win 3.1 manual was a freakin tome. Ginormous even.

    19. Re:Getting Firefox? by miggyb · · Score: 3, Informative

      My understanding was that windows would ship with a "browser download tool" that would let you select a browser during the OS install. Kind of how they let you choose a search engine for IE now.

      --
      This signature serves no purpose other than to help you see which posts were made by me.
    20. Re:Getting Firefox? by mpcooke3 · · Score: 1

      It's a computer literacy test, if you fail - it's not safe for you to go on the interweb!

    21. Re:Getting Firefox? by VertigoAce · · Score: 2, Informative

      I don't have a Vista box handy right now, but I know the Win7 help text is quite extensive compared to older versions of Windows. Typing FTP in Windows Help provides instructions on how to use Windows Explorer to access ftp sites. Though it's not much more complicated than accessing any other files, you just type the address in the address bar (and to get you started they give ftp.microsoft.com as an example).

    22. Re:Getting Firefox? by 91degrees · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Most people who are confident on how to reinstall an OS will probably be comfortable with using FTP.

      That's assuming the PC manufacturer doesn't include a CD with the browser on it.

    23. Re:Getting Firefox? by je+ne+sais+quoi · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Well what I usually do when I want to install firefox is type "sudo apt-get install firefox" and it automagically installs firefox as long as my internet connection works. If I want something special that isn't available with my default package manager I'll type in "sudo apt-get install lynx" and then "lynx" then followed by "g" and then "http://www.google.com" and then search for what I need. It's pretty easy, but I guess us free software geeks are a little spoiled with our package managers and 18,200 different software packages to choose from.

      --
      Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
    24. Re:Getting Firefox? by ILuvRamen · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      obviously the EU is like Ted Stephens several times over. They hear stupid people bitching about it being unfair and they know nothing about how computers actually work and now they get themselves stuck in a trap like this. I really, really, really hope that computer stores start carrying USB drives with "firefox" on them that really has a rigged, adware spyware plugin infested version of Firefox that they're getting paid by the malware writers to sell. That way it'll blow up in the EU's face even worse.

      --
      Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
    25. Re:Getting Firefox? by Jon-1 · · Score: 1

      Really?

      ftp://ftp.mozilla.org

      (For Windoze users, that's under "My Network Places" or whatever they'll call that in 7.)

    26. Re:Getting Firefox? by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      Don't be confused: in the article submission it is clearly stated that a browser will be included: either IE, another browser, or a number of browsers.

      Glad I could help. All I had to do is read. Where I grew up, we learned reading alongside writing, but I guess you missed some of your classes :D

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    27. Re:Getting Firefox? by Krneki · · Score: 1

      C:\>ftp some.Internet.Browser.server
      get Internet.browser.exe

      Not as easy as the web version, tho.

      --
      Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
    28. Re:Getting Firefox? by moniker127 · · Score: 1

      start > run > cmd
      ftp 63.245.208.138
      anonymous
      123
      hash
      cd /pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/3.0/win32/en-US/
      binary
      lcd c:\
      mget *.exe
      y

    29. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm...I hope that was supposed to be funny. For your sake.

    30. Re:Getting Firefox? by arkhan_jg · · Score: 2, Insightful

      how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

      The same way we did back in the days before bundling; from third party media. Remember when every magazine cover CD and ISP setup CD came with a copy of netscape and IE installers? Or if you're just reinstalling from your custom OEM media/restore partition, you'll get their setup, including browser.

      Of course, it's not like they're actually *removing* IE; they're just flipping the switch in the registry that says to hide the shortcut. Go into control panel and re-enable it, and there it is again.

      I have to admit, it'd be a stroke of genius by microsoft; they can tell the monpolies regulator that IE is off by default, and that it's just coincidence that all OEMs* choose to turn it back on as part of their sysprep image cos it's a lot simpler than explaining to users what opera or firefox are. So nothing changes in the end at all, but it gets Microsoft nicely off the hook of having to actually compete on a level playing field.

      And since no doubt somebody in this thread is getting upmodded for muttering the words 'free market' and it's 'just anti-US bias against microsoft' and 'everyone needs a browser, like KDE or apple supply' I'll take the opportunity to explain - again - why this matters.

      Yes, every user needs a browser, so isn't it convenient if nearly every computer in the world shipped with IE, then third parties don't need to support the standards, they just need to support IE. They write to some extension specific to IE - like say activeX - and that's the same as supporting everyone by an open standard, and it's easier to just write to one specific browser than test it in a bunch of them. Eventually, when so many websites are written this way, it becomes nigh impossible to use the web without using IE - and then microsoft have a new defacto monopoly with IE, because everyone writes to it because everyone uses it. That makes it extremely hard for any browser, or any OS that doesn't ship with IE to compete - because they don't work on the web without IE. So Mirosoft have leveraged a monpoly in one market, windows, into a monopoly in another market, the web, and that just reinforces their original monopoly and makes windows even harder to compete with. We've seen this in actually happen Korea for example, where virtually all banking websites use activex, making IE - and thus windows - a near mandatory requirement.

      The way to break that cycle is to ensure that third party developers can't take the shortcut of assuming that because 95% of users are windows users, that 95% of people will have IE, by taking IE off the desktop by default, and giving the alternatives an equal platform. The only reason firefox has the market share it does is because IE won, and was left to rot for so very long indeed that users and developers switched to a project with a pulse.to get new features. The only reason we have IE8 at all is because of firefox forcing microsoft to have to compete again.

      Without competition, there is no choice in the market, and with no choice in the market consumers lose their own weapon to force improvements of service - to switch to somebody else. When existing monopolies step into new markets, and compete purely on their existing domination rather than any merit, governments are duty bound to protect the long term interests of the public be ensuring competition is kept fair, even if letting the monopoly do what it wants is easier in the short term.

      --
      Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
    31. Re:Getting Firefox? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      The number of tools available in Windows (and DOS / Windows XP Fake DOS) is actually pretty damned large. Most people simply don't know about them because they never have a need, or when they do have a need, simply assume there's no tool for it.

    32. Re:Getting Firefox? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Or you know, just type ftp://ftp.mozilla.org into windows explorer.

      Or in the run box.

      Or, in a command line, run: ftp ftp.mozilla.org

      Fail troll fails.

    33. Re:Getting Firefox? by Dude+McDude · · Score: 1

      Run Windows Update and install IE8.

    34. Re:Getting Firefox? by columbus · · Score: 1

      It can be done. Run this command.

      explorer ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/3.5b99/win32/en-US/Firefox Setup 3.5 Beta 99.exe

      (This works on XP -- I haven't tried it on other versions of windows)

      An OEM could stick this in a batch file on the desktop of a new machine. You know - make it easy for a user so they don't have to learn FTP syntax. Perhaps there could be several such batch files, so a user could choose which browser they wanted to download and install.

      --
      friends don't let friends teleport drunk
    35. Re:Getting Firefox? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Most people who are confident on how to reinstall an OS will probably be comfortable with using FTP.

      I disagree with that statement. Installing an OS nowadays is really not that hard, and it guides you through the process pretty clearly. If it's not clear enough, there's help available there.

      If you're using an FTP client, you have to explicitly know the commands for how to work it. They aren't *hard* to pick up, but how many people actually know them?

      Finally, what do you FTP to? ftp.mozilla.com? mozilla.com? firefox.com? ftp.firefox.com? Guess how many of those actually work?

    36. Re:Getting Firefox? by x2A · · Score: 1

      Lynx?!! W3M man all the way!

      --
      The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia
    37. Re:Getting Firefox? by JamesP · · Score: 1

      I guess the PC manufacturer will preinstall something.

      --
      how long until /. fixes commenting on Chrome?
    38. Re:Getting Firefox? by TropicalCoder · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      In spite of the valued contribution of your well reasoned post, I predict that the Microsoft shills will just go on posting their memes all the way through this discussion as if your post never existed.

      I am really curious as to why some Slasdot participants feel Microsoft needs their support. It is a huge, powerful corporation hardly in need of this constant defence by a cabal of Slashdotters. Why is it so important to them?

      There is a long and noble tradition in journalism of giving more coverage to the underdog - for example - on political issues, where candidates running against a long time incumbent may get more exposure. This is something good for society - that the voice of individuals should get heard and not drowned out the mighty roar of the powerful.

      Slashdot has long been known as a place where such voices can be heard speaking out against perceived injustices perpetrated by the powerful. The defence of Microsoft by some Slashdotters goes directly against the grain here. What bothers me most about these comments by Microsoft's supporters on Slashdot is there subtle nature - not just healthy debate, but rather, as if there was some orchestrated campaign employing techniques such as "Saturate, diffuse, confuse".

      Corporations should not have defenses from the people in the community. They are not equivalent to people, and should not be treated so within that community. The information source was created out of the desire of people who were not paid to share, and injecting thought which is influenced by any monetary bias is by definition sullying a good source of information.

    39. Re:Getting Firefox? by x2A · · Score: 1

      Firefox is SO behind the curve compared to IE8, Safari4 and Chrome, it's not going to be long before everyone's complaining about how much of a pain it is "having to support FF just because people heard it was more secure than IE before they tried adding features to it and now they won't upgrade to a decent browser".

      Reminds me of the end of the Walmart South Park episode, after they burn down Walmart and start shopping at a small shop which then grows and grows until... oops, gonna have to burn that one down. Not gonna make that mistake again! Let's go shop at NewShop3!!!

      People think they're learning from mistakes when actually they're actually reliving them exactly the same, just calling it something else this time.

      --
      The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia
    40. Re:Getting Firefox? by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 1

      Most people buy pre-built computers. Do you honestly think OEMs won't include a browser?

      As for you, well clearly you have internet access. Downloda a browser before installing Win 7.

    41. Re:Getting Firefox? by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 1

      And thus Microsoft proves it's point to the EU.

      That OEMs will include a browser on their computers?

    42. Re:Getting Firefox? by gbarules2999 · · Score: 1

      Reality isn't as funny as the original joke. Be quiet, please.

    43. Re:Getting Firefox? by asdfndsagse · · Score: 1

      Wait till the EU finds out they are shipping an FTP client!!!

      strings c:\windows\system32\ftp.exe

      @(#) Copyright (c) 1983 The Regents of the University of California.
        All rights reserved.

    44. Re:Getting Firefox? by VertigoAce · · Score: 1

      The Win7 E skus don't have iexplore.exe anywhere on them. There isn't an entry in the control panel to re-enable IE. You will have to install an additional package that contains iexplore.exe if you want IE (OEMs may choose to install this package). Regular Win7 skus allow you to enable or disable IE without downloading anything. However, these skus will not be sold in Europe.

    45. Re:Getting Firefox? by Jon-1 · · Score: 1

      I think in the time I saw this parent, a few dozen comments appeared in the parent above coming to the same conclusion.

      Trolls abound!

    46. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm confused. So if I get a copy of Windows in Europe and do a full reinstall, how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

      telnet www.mozilla.org 80

    47. Re:Getting Firefox? by Mattsson · · Score: 1

      You can use FTP.

      In Vista, you can open the "File"-menu in the "Computer"-view of an explorer-window and "Add a Network Location" which points to an ftp-site. I'd wager that Windows 7 has something similar.
      You can also open a standard explorer-window and type ftp://ftp.mozilla.org where you normally see your current directory.
      Or, if you dislike using a GUI-interface to get your Firefox-installation, you can use the ftp DOS utility in a command window.

      What would be nice, though, is if there where something like Aptitude for windows so that you had a central tool where you could simply select which freeware or open source applications you wanted and then have them downloaded, installed and kept up to date automatically.
      The worst part about a new Windows or OSX installation is hunting for, downloading and installing all the damn applications and utilities.

      --
      /.Mattsson - My native language is not English, so please don't whine over linguistic errors. (That's lame anyway...)
    48. Re:Getting Firefox? by Chaos+Incarnate · · Score: 1

      The graphical FTP support in XP is part of IE, not Explorer. I would expect that to have continued in Vista/7, given their efforts towards uncoupling Explorer from IE.

      --
      Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Law: "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
    49. Re:Getting Firefox? by dhavleak · · Score: 1

      And we're supposed to conjure up the address how?

    50. Re:Getting Firefox? by dhavleak · · Score: 1

      You expect that level of competency, but you don't expect people to just download FF if they already have IE? Double-standard, no?

    51. Re:Getting Firefox? by Chaos+Incarnate · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's a potential remedy for bundling violations that was proposed, but Microsoft just yanked the browser entirely instead.

      --
      Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Law: "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
    52. Re:Getting Firefox? by Gay+for+Linux · · Score: 1

      Just because Microsoft's a big company doesn't mean you get to spit on it. Companies are made of people, people make products. The size, scale, and inclination toward profit are not bad things. You sound ridiculous.
      As is the EU's lawsuits to begin with. Its their OS, they should get to bundle their software with it. As long as I can chose to install Firefox, which I do, I couldn't give less of a shit whether IE is on there. Don't want it there, don't install Windows. People have choices.

    53. Re:Getting Firefox? by 1001011010110101 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They don't have to use any standard protocol or client. They can probably ad an icon somewhere that says "Install IE" and get whatever is needed from the network with no further user interaction. I dont think they are expecting naive users to open a client, connect somewhere and getting a file using a FTP client or something to that effect.

    54. Re:Getting Firefox? by Darinbob · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Before web browsers were pre-installed (if the kids remember back that far) you could just pick up a free CD at computer stores that had Netscape, and ISPs would send you a "starter kit" CD that had a browser on it (and other junk). AOL used to even send you several CDs a month whether you wanted them to or not.

      While I think the OEMs will handle the majority of this set up for you. For the retail stores, I suspect there will be a stack of free or nearly free Windows IE8 CDs next to the boxes of Windows 7.

    55. Re:Getting Firefox? by dave420 · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't it just make more sense to leave IE in, and let people use whatever browser they want?

    56. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no, just a reminder for people who still think like it's the 90s.

    57. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's a reason hindsight is 20/20.

    58. Re:Getting Firefox? by Patch86 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If the computer retailer gave you a disk with Windows on it so that you can do a reinstall, smart money is that they also supply a disk with the rest of their bundled software on- including their browser of choice. If you downloaded/bought a copy of Windows yourself, you're probably smart enough to obtain a browser too. And you never know, we might even start seeing "free" browser CDs again, like the AOL days (I could do with some more coasters).

      Not only that, but what's the betting that somewhere in the Euro version of Win7 there will be a big button saying "do you want to download the latest version of IE?". I wouldn't be surprised if they stick it in the "optional" basket on Windows Update and Automatic Updates, so you can grab it whenever.

      Just because they're not bundling it ready-to-go with 100% of their installs anymore doesn't mean they won't still encourage you to use IE.

    59. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NOTE: YOUR COMPUTER DOES NOT HAVE A WEB BROWSER INSTALLED

      To start browsing the Internet, you may do one of the following:

      1) Click the "Install Internet Explorer" button on the desktop, or

      2) Right-click the taskbar and go to Properties

      2a) Click the "Start Menu" tab.

      2b) Click "Customize..."

      2c) Click "enable Run..." and hit OK

      2d) Click on the Start menu and then click "Run..."

      2e) Type in 'cmd' and hit OK

      2f) At the prompt, type in "ftp ftp.mozilla.org" and follow this process:

      User: anonymous
      Password:

      cd pub
      cd firefox
      cd releases
      cd latest
      cd win32
      ls

      2g) At this point, you will see a list abbreviations for the available languages in Firefox. Please select the appropriate language code for your language and location (such as en-US or zh-TW)

      cd
      ls

      2h) Note the Firefox version number in the list

      get "Firefox Setup .exe"

      2i) Now, find the installer, double-click it and you're set! See how easy that was! (If you experience problems with the installer, you may have downloaded the file in ASCII mode. Please contact your computer manufacturer for the difference between ASCII and BINARY modes in the command-line FTP client. We would also like to remind you at this time of the aforementioned first option of double-clicking the "Install Internet Explorer" icon on your desktop.

      If you have any further questions about this process, please consult the brick wall in your back yard. Alternatively, a Microsoft support professional will answer your questions on a per-incident basis at $450 per incident (or whatever currency it is that you crazy Europeans use).

      Additionally, the European Union requires that we mention other alternatives to Internet Explorer. And there are some -- several of them, in fact. One from a prominent North American search engine provider. Another from a company whose CEO's name rhymes with Leave Cobs. There's even one made in Oslo, Norway! Upon request, Microsoft will send you "easy-to-follow" instructions to install any web browser on your new computer. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.

      We at Microsoft always strive to give our customers access to the widest array of available options. Thank you for "choosing" Windows. Goodbye.

    60. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, with Linux there is little choice. Due to it's obscurity and lack of popularity, unless you put all the software in one place it would be pretty difficult to use. Also, the number of packages isn't really something to brag about. First, many of those packages are not full featured software programs. Many are single use command line tools that do little except handle [stdin] and [stdout].

      Second, check out Aminet's collection of Amiga software, a machine that has been dead for awhile. Around 32,000 packages, not including any graphics, music, demo or text files.

      Since you are not a Linux user just how is it you know what is in the Debian repositories? I'd like to see you trot out facts to support your bald-faced assertions, or maybe I should call the assertions what they really are, lies.

      I've been using Debian as my default desktop for 5 years now and I'm still running across software packages that I never knew existed, and you know exactly what's available without ever using it. [sarcasm]You're really some kind of genius.[/sarcasm]
         

    61. Re:Getting Firefox? by drizek · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Ideally, there would be a desktop wizard which would give you links to download one of a variety of browsers. They can have a continuously updated list of the top 5 browsers, which right now would be chrome/safari/opera/ie/firefox. Check the boxes for the browsers you want and it will download/install them automatically and set one of them as your default.

      Likeliness of happening? Not too great, especially considering apple will never let MS distribute safari(how else will they shovel their crapware bundle to consumers if they can't use a variety of misleading checkboxes during the download and install process?). Still, there is no reason why MS can't distribute Firefox, given that it is open source... or maybe Iceweasel.

    62. Re:Getting Firefox? by hotfireball · · Score: 1

      Maybe apt-get install firefox would help? :-)

    63. Re:Getting Firefox? by LurkerXXX · · Score: 1

      You can open a command prompt and ftp it from: ftp://ftp.mozilla.org

      That's how we used to get most things in the old days...

    64. Re:Getting Firefox? by taucross · · Score: 1

      Yes. Windows Vista now comes bundled with Microsoft FTP Explorer 8.0. Incidentally, its HTML support is still better than 7.0...

      --
      "In the absence of the ability to establish the attribute of truth they tried to establish the noble attributes."
    65. Re:Getting Firefox? by Pentium100 · · Score: 1

      The same way you install network card drivers: CD, floppy, flash, RS232...

    66. Re:Getting Firefox? by portalcake625 · · Score: 1

      Scratch that.

      ftp releases.mozilla.org
      anonymous
      (any password)
      hash
      cd /pub
      cd ./mozilla.org
      cd ./firefox
      cd ./releases
      cd ./3.0.11
      cd ./win32
      cd ./en-US
      binary
      lcd (DRIVE)(DESTINATION FOLDER)
      mget *.exe
      y

    67. Re:Getting Firefox? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wouldn't it just make more sense to leave IE in, and let people use whatever browser they want?

      Not if you understand why antitrust abuse is illegal. If you don't understand, find out. I'm tired of explaining it.

    68. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But computer makers are not involved if you buy a shrink-wrapped copy of Windows from a store and do a full reinstall.

    69. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get your facts straight. This is what Microsoft did by themselves, of their own accord. It was their idea, and only theirs.

    70. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hint: Windows doesn't come with Visual Studio.

    71. Re:Getting Firefox? by Solarhands · · Score: 1

      I think we all just assume that they came with no directions, since the first step to setting up your new computer is throwing anything that even slightly resembles directions or a "user guide" in the trash.

    72. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My understanding was that windows would ship with a "browser download tool" that would let you select a browser during the OS install.

       
      Yes, but how will the EU prevent Microsoft gaining a monopoly in browser download tools?

    73. Re:Getting Firefox? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      duh... you didn't have the foresight to stick a copy onto your pen drive? Than I don't think you have the competency to re-install an operating system.

      You do realize that, sometimes, people have to reinstall an OS because it had actually died and cannot be booted into anymore (or, say, networking doesn't work)?

      Cue the "Haha, Linux never does that" replies here...

    74. Re:Getting Firefox? by Kaenneth · · Score: 1

      Only since 95 OSR2.

      I tried to get a web browser on 95 Gold once...

      Oblig. car analogly: An OS without a web browser is like a car without tires. Good luck driving to the tire store.

    75. Re:Getting Firefox? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Presumably a shrink-wrapped copy in the store would have whatever Microsoft decides to put there. The question at hand is whether OEMs are allowed to remove IE from systems they are preparing, and install browser(s) of their choice instead.

    76. Re:Getting Firefox? by nametaken · · Score: 1

      I disagree. I know lots of people who can pop in a disk or press a key on startup and recover their machine in 4 mouse clicks.

      Figuring out how to ftp to get a browser is a different story, especially when you can't look up the address on line because you don't have a web browser.

    77. Re:Getting Firefox? by koreaman · · Score: 1

      Doesn't matter. All you really need is the C# compiler and .NET SDK, which are free.

    78. Re:Getting Firefox? by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      If you're using an FTP client, you have to explicitly know the commands for how to work it.

      Well, the command line client responds to "help". The graphical client in file explorer works the same way as Windows.

      Finally, what do you FTP to? ftp.mozilla.com? mozilla.com? firefox.com? ftp.firefox.com? Guess how many of those actually work?

      True. That is a little harder.

    79. Re:Getting Firefox? by ildon · · Score: 1

      Wrong. The majority of people I know who are even very slightly computer savvy are able to install an OS but likely don't even know ftp.exe exists, much less would be able to adequately navigate it (or even know the domain of the Mozilla ftp server) to download Firefox.

    80. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep! Just fire up IE and downlo....

      Oh.

    81. Re:Getting Firefox? by pyrros · · Score: 1

      You can bet your ass that most shops would be happy to provide you with a free browser CD with every purchase of a retail version of windows.

      The money from the default search provider should easily cover the cost of the disk.

    82. Re:Getting Firefox? by Serious+Callers+Only · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Presumably Microsoft want to get you all worked up about the absurdity of the EU demanding that they unbundle their browser in consumer editions of Windows.

      I doubt the EU is demanding this specifically, and if they are, they've got it wrong.

      Meanwhile, the real battle over which browsers OEMs are allowed to install by Microsoft (enforced by secret OEM contracts) will be forgotten.

    83. Re:Getting Firefox? by Reservoir+Penguin · · Score: 1

      C# compiler is included in standard end-user dotnet distribution shipped with modern Windows.

      --
      US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil
    84. Re:Getting Firefox? by Sky+Cry · · Score: 1

      Why command line? Windows explorer can handle normal FTP pretty well.

    85. Re:Getting Firefox? by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 2, Insightful
      For crying out loud ...

      It is trivial for MS or an OEM to create a BAT file that will run ftp / wget / etc to fetch an installer from a well known URL. Do this for each browser and create a simple GUI with simple controls to allow the user to select a browser. Then the user just points the mousey thing at the buttoney thing on the screeney thing and does a clicky thing.

    86. Re:Getting Firefox? by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 2, Informative
      ... but Microsoft just yanked the browser entirely instead.

      That's what Microsoft have proposed, but I don't expect that the EU will let them get away with it. They are not stupid.

    87. Re:Getting Firefox? by jimicus · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Who wants to bet they'll include some sort of "add/remove Windows components directly from the Microsoft website" (a la virtually any Linux distribution you care to name) tool which will happily install IE?

      And I would not be even remotely surprised if the first thing Windows 7 EU edition does when you first boot it is run this tool and offer to download IE.

    88. Re:Getting Firefox? by jimicus · · Score: 1

      My understanding was that windows would ship with a "browser download tool" that would let you select a browser during the OS install. Kind of how they let you choose a search engine for IE now.

      Hmmm. I wonder what it will default to?

      I also wonder how many steps you'll have to follow if you want to use a non-default option?

    89. Re:Getting Firefox? by houghi · · Score: 1

      Installation or re-installation is the same situation.

      There are two options. The first is that you have a pre-installed system with some browser on it. Then there will be an installation CD or DVD (that you might need to burn yourself first in some cases).
      There will most likely be a browser on that.

      A boxed set or a system without a browser. You will need to get the browser from somewhere else. Either with a USB key or a CD or whatever. Just like in the time when you needed something like Winsock, because it wasn't on 3.1

      But I am sure that pre-installed systems will still have some browser on it. Could just be that it is Firefox or Opera instead of IE.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    90. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, the EU are looking into this decision and are currently of the opinion that this tactic from MS is not right. They argue that the consumer should be given the option of which browser rather than no browser.

    91. Re:Getting Firefox? by ais523 · · Score: 1

      You have Mozilla's IP address memorized, but don't know the URL to their FTP site? Or were you just showing off?

      --
      (1)DOCOMEFROM!2~.2'~#1WHILE:1<-"'?.1$.2'~'"':1/.1$.2'~#0"$#65535'"$"'"'&.1$.2'~'#0$#65535'"$#0'~#32767$#1"
    92. Re:Getting Firefox? by Chaos+Incarnate · · Score: 1

      So the EU can force Microsoft to make a product, not just not make one? I wasn't aware you had descended so far into socialism.

      --
      Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Law: "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
    93. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The question at hand in this subthread *is* about the shrink-wrapped copies. The source of the question being the title of the of story:

      "Microsoft Will Ship Windows 7 in Europe With IE Unbundled"

      Which part of "Microsoft Will Ship" don't you understand?

    94. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The governing body demanded user choice and Microsoft is giving none.
      The strange thing is you still need IE to perform windows updates.

    95. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes, and how are you gonna write that C program again ?

      as far as i know, windows doesnt come with gcc.

    96. Re:Getting Firefox? by TropicalCoder · · Score: 1

      What's the first hit you get on Bing for "Microsoft shill"?
      This is no troll or flame. As of 10:00 am EST, Friday, June 12 2009 it is...

      "Microsoft Education Competencies: Interpersonal Skill"

      Now watch how fast they change it - I took a snapshot of it for anyone who wants it.

    97. Re:Getting Firefox? by prsinghdua · · Score: 1
      Actually, you're supposed to wait for a CD Rom of firefox to ship until 30 days and when you have finally installed firefox, you realize you did not activate your Windows copy with internet explorer's activeX thing so you are doomed and can't use the operating system.

      Wow, thats a lot of epic fail

    98. Re:Getting Firefox? by paazin · · Score: 1

      telnet www.mozilla.org 80

      Sadly, telnet isn't installed by default in windows 7.

    99. Re:Getting Firefox? by stmok · · Score: 1

      Yes, companies consist of people.

      And its also the very people that decide to be complete pricks in order to maintain dominance and control. Control means profit.

      Tell me, when does one have a choice when the majority of the easily purchasable systems out there are bundled with Windows?

      Why do I have to pay for a Windows license when I'm not going to need or use one?

      You talk of choices, but reality says otherwise.

    100. Re:Getting Firefox? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Well, the command line client responds to "help".

      True, but this is a little bit non-standard of a mechanism to get help. Most commands that ship with Windows have a /? option that works like --help often does, but not FTP:

      C:\Documents and Settings\Evan (alt)>ftp /?
      > ftp: connect :Unknown error number
      ftp>

      The graphical client in file explorer works the same way as Windows.

      True.

    101. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't even need to RTFA. RTFS:

      Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers

      So if I get a copy of Windows

      He just said a copy of Windows, rather than a whole new computer

    102. Re:Getting Firefox? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      You are indeed correct, though the title isn't explicit about it (MS can "ship" copies to OEMs, too). However, TFA itself - now that I've read it - says this:

      Microsoft will not offer for distribution in the European territory the Windows 7 product versions that contain IE, which are intended for distribution in the rest of the world," Microsoft said in the memo. "This will apply to both OEM and Retail versions of Windows 7 products."

      My apologies for posting a misguiding comment earlier...

    103. Re:Getting Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've seen the repositories. After using Aminet for years, I'm not impressed. Maybe your life revolves around looking for new FOSS crap to make your life more interesting, but mine doesn't.

    104. Re:Getting Firefox? by Dirtside · · Score: 1

      RTFS:

      Ha ha, yeah right! You must be new here.

      --
      "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
    105. Re:Getting Firefox? by JAlexoi · · Score: 1

      No. Because they are demanding that the END result gives these options. That is OEM's will HAVE to provide those options.

    106. Re:Getting Firefox? by ivucica · · Score: 1

      As is the EU's lawsuits to begin with. Its their OS, they should get to bundle their software with it. As long as I can chose to install Firefox, which I do, I couldn't give less of a shit whether IE is on there. Don't want it there, don't install Windows. People have choices.

      Wrong. Many people depend on Windows, yet they don't depend on IE, and especially not on Windows Media Player. Still, at the same time they ignore all the other products because IE and WMP are, well, there.

      For example, on my Windows installation I'm well informed so I don't use IE, not even IE8. But I use WMP because it's just enough. I don't need more. Yes, it's a memory hog and bloat... but I don't feel like digging through all the music and video players out there.

      And I need the Windows installation, despite spending most of my time in Debian. Sadly I can't do without Windows. I need it for work, for coding games. I need it for university, for programming in God-forsaken Hell of .Net (no, Mono is not suitable, because the class is too VS-and-MSSQL-centric). I also need it for occasional game that doesn't work or works like shit in Wine.

      IE perhaps needs to be bundled so people can download a better browser. It is however silly that it is not optional and that OEMs must install it, no matter what, without ability to opt-out and put Firefox in. It should be OEM's choice: MS can install IE, but OEM should be able to remove it.

      What about WMP? Why the heck does that have to be bundled with the OS, if not to kill off Winamp and friends? Oh yes, I remember: it was an attempt to actually kill MP3 and make people switch to DRMed WMAs only. Because, y'know, by default you can rip your CD music only into WMA, and by default it's DRMed. There's a checkbox, but think about how many people are unknowingly DRM-encumbering music they have ripped from a non-DRMed medium such as CD audio?

      No, it shouldn't be Microsoft's choice. Microsoft should have added a rudimentary "Windows Media Player", and a start menu program group "Get Free Extras" with "Install Windows Media Player Premium".

      And there it is: you're not abusing your position so horribly then, you're just advertising additional products people can choose, or not. It's not forced upon you by default.

      Sadly, IE can no longer be removed from the OS unless you want to break loads of software using its HTML renderer (such as numerous HTML Help .chm files). Unless you can get Mozilla's Gecko to replace it (like Wine guys are doing).

  4. Great opportunities by rumith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers

    So, in other words, the status quo will be preserved: Microsoft will likely enter into agreements with OEMs to put IE back in (while keeping Chrome and Firefox out), which will only result into some additional revenues for European OEMs and tax collectors. Nothing else to see here, move along.

    1. Re:Great opportunities by Deus777 · · Score: 1

      The real question is, will Microsoft bother to put IE CDs at retail next to the Windows 7 boxes? If they do, will the IE CDs be free? Free with purchase of Windows 7? Or will MS charge a nominal fee to cover the cost of pressing and distribution (and small profit for the retailer). I can't imagine they'd charge anything more than that for IE or risk handing over marketshare to competing browsers who might take the opportunity to put their own CDs on retail shelves as cheaply as possible.

    2. Re:Great opportunities by craze+ivan · · Score: 1

      Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers

      So, in other words, the status quo will be preserved: Microsoft will likely enter into agreements with OEMs to put IE back in (while keeping Chrome and Firefox out), which will only result into some additional revenues for European OEMs and tax collectors. Nothing else to see here, move along.

      I was going to mention that, but you beat me too it. Intel was fined for doing something similar with paying companies to use their product and snuff the competition. Intel was fined ALOT more than MS. If they are smart they wouldn't try to pull something like that. I hope they do through :)

    3. Re:Great opportunities by afidel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No, MS will not enter into agreements with OEM's, that's what got them in trouble in the first place! They will have the kit available to OEM's but I really think they will stay far away from an official or unofficial pressure to use it. For consumers they will probably offer it as an optional component in Windows Update which hasn't been tied to IE since Vista launched.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    4. Re:Great opportunities by Gouru · · Score: 1

      Microsoft has already stated that they will provide IE free of charge to any manufacturer that wants to pre-install it. If they were try to enter into any 'exclusivity' agreements, or tieing the requirements to other non-MS software, they would be in direct violation of the prior anti-trust judgements. Just not gonna happen. On the other hand, as a manufacturer, I would be a fool not to include it on any computer I sold mass-market, and whether I included any other browser would depend solely on how it would help my computer sales. For special orders it might make sense to include the option, but I really don't see that supporting multiple browsers out of the box would be a make/break decision in the customers mind.

    5. Re:Great opportunities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MS will enter into agreements with the OEMs because now it's a seperate contract that the EU can tax. The EU doesn't give two shits what browser is being used, as long as they have a route to make money off the deal.

    6. Re:Great opportunities by Thaelon · · Score: 1

      A critical update.

      Added behind the scenes in Windows Update's default mode of download & install.

      --

      Question everything

    7. Re:Great opportunities by JAlexoi · · Score: 1

      Last time I checked, EC disapproved of the step, and said they wanted the options available at the time the person starts Windows for the first time. So unless you are buying a used machine, there had to be an option to install any other browser.

  5. IN OTHER NEWS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    bmw, volvo and renault are marketing cars without steering wheels to the US market in response to anti-trust charges that they unfairly hinder the competition for steering wheels.

    Thank you to /tards and eurotrash, doing their best to marxificate the world, one stupid browser at a time!

    1. Re:IN OTHER NEWS by trickyD1ck · · Score: 0

      Mod parent up.

      I wish MS would just say: "you know what, EU bureaucrats, you don't like our operating system, so we decided, we won't sell our products in your contries". Several days after the UE economy comes to grinding halt, and probably some of them brusselstards lose their jobs, the rest will be more market economy-friendly and come back begging for forgiveness. I know this won't happen, but think of it as of the "year government doesn't mess in things it has nothing to do with" which is as elusive as your "year of linux desktop."

      Disclaimer: i live in Germany and i know how this "for the Common Good(TM)" and "for the Childern(TM)" works, you won't sell it to me.

    2. Re:IN OTHER NEWS by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      You know, some tard is just going to reply to your question with "Apple is not a convicted monopolist" (whatever that means) as if it answers your question.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  6. Streisand Effect for Opera by orin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What we will probably see is a bidding war between brower manufacturers with each OEM to get their browser put on new computers running Windows 7. In terms of deep pockets, you'd have to say that Google is going to fork over to get Chrome on machines, which isn't going to help Opera (or Firefox) one bit. The ultimate outcome of Opera's complaint will most likely be to increase Chrome's market share. Who will pay OEMs to put FireFox on new Windows 7 computers?

    1. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would offer my 2 cents if it was not already used for posting this :)

      (Actually, I would gladly chip in some $$ to Mozilla if they start a new marketing-drive like they did for the FF 1.5 release)

    2. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by Admodieus · · Score: 1

      Actually, I think it'll end up hurting Opera. There's a lot of user dissatisfaction with IE; in fact, there's so much that users will go and actively seek out another browser (hence, why Firefox became popular). Chrome, while still not as fully fleshed out as Firefox, is a better browser for many activities that everyday users care about (email, Youtube, etc.). Users will be more content with Chrome than they would have been with IE, and thus will not seek out Firefox or Opera.

      --
      "It's a reverse vampire...they....they crave the sun!"
    3. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by orin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Browser inclusion will be a bidding war. This means Opera will now have to pay to get its browser on machines initially. Google has deep pockets to get Chrome on new computers and can out-bid Opera. If users already have an alternate browser, they aren't going to bother using Opera or Firefox. The winner in this is Google. The losers will be Opera and Firefox because an alternate browser is going to gain market share and the one that gains the market share is the one that convinces OEMs, though a completely legal bidding process, to include its browser.

    4. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      Actually, this will help Opera. The more people know they have a choice, the more possible Opera users there are. When Chrome was launched, Opera actually reported that downloads increased massively. All the attention alerted even more people to the existence of alternative browsers, and many of them found Opera and Firefox.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    5. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by hkmwbz · · Score: 2, Interesting
      And where does the Streisand Effect enter the picture?

      The more people who know that alternative browsers exists, the better for Opera. In addition to that, Chrome is standards compliant, so if it became the dominant browser, even more sites would be standards compliant, which would be good for Opera. Remember, Opera reported a massive increase in downloads after Chrome was launched because of the renewed interest in alternative browsers.

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      Clever signature text goes here.
    6. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by Eskarel · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't really think that google cares about Chrome's market penetration in and of itself.

      My theory is that google cares about getting fast, reliable, standards compliant javascript rendering a bigger market share. That's why I think they released chrome under a BSD license instead of as GPL(or some other form of copyleft license). If Microsoft and Mozilla steal Chrome's javascript engine, Google wins, if Chrome gains substantial market share, Google wins. Google wins because they're getting very close to needing fast javascript to make their ajaxy web apps work properly and however that happens they win.

    7. Re:Streisand Effect for Opera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with your conclusion, but...that's not the streisand effect.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

  7. Pre Bundle by cuzz · · Score: 1

    I wonder if any of the computer manufacturers will prebundle another browser??? Like FF!

  8. i still dont see the logic by meow27 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If someone wants a new browser they should get it themselves. Can someone explain to me why bundling IE with windows is considered to be a trust? MS doesn't charge any money for it, and it was better than Netscape when it came out, why is it all of the sudden a trust and not a trust 15 years ago?

    1. Re:i still dont see the logic by maxume · · Score: 1

      This is a slap on the wrist with a wet noodle. The point isn't to accomplish anything, it is to publicly disapprove of Microsoft.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    2. Re:i still dont see the logic by Toonol · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We don't like IE, so we invent justifications to pretend including it is illegal. We like arbitrary laws when they can be twisted to our side.

    3. Re:i still dont see the logic by zonky · · Score: 2, Informative

      They *do* charge for it. You have to pay for it whether you use it or not, the price is part of your OS. Those developers are not working for free, and MS doesn't run that business unit out of the good of their heart.

    4. Re:i still dont see the logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Browser developers have developed a huge ego, but the fact of the matter is that most users don't seem to care which browser they use. The only way to increase their share is to become the "default" on the back of some other successful software (OSX, Windows, Ubuntu), or bundle with other software and hope the user misses the default tag (Itunes + Safari).

      Users don't care, so browser devs have to go to the users. This is just another extension of Microsoft vs Google for as much internet revenue as they can get (default search page).

    5. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 4, Informative

      Can someone explain to me why bundling IE with windows is considered to be a trust?

      No, because it isn't considered a trust. You don't even seem to know what a trust is, so one can only assume your ignorance of this topic is extreme. Have you considered a dictionary?

      An antitrust law is a law against undermining the operation of a free market by using overwhelming influence in a market. A trust is a group of companies or organizations that collude to use their market power to this end. A monopoly is a company with enough influence to do it my themselves. MS has been ruled to have such influence in the "PC Operating System" market (differentiating it from the workgroup server OS market.). As such, they are forbidden from using that influence to disrupt other, pre-existing markets. The Web browser market qualifies as such a market.

      MS doesn't charge any money for it

      Irrelevant.

      ... and it was better than Netscape when it came out...

      Irrelevant.

      ...why is it all of the sudden a trust and not a trust 15 years ago?

      They had a monopoly then too, and it was a crime then, the US charged them with it. Since then other countries have tried them for it over the years. The EU finally charged them in response to complaints from their victims.

    6. Re:i still dont see the logic by SCPRedMage · · Score: 0, Redundant

      That argument would only hold water if you could demonstrate that, without IE, the OS would cost less.

      --
      My sig can beat up your sig.
    7. Re:i still dont see the logic by Ironica · · Score: 4, Informative

      If someone wants a new browser they should get it themselves. Can someone explain to me why bundling IE with windows is considered to be a trust? MS doesn't charge any money for it, and it was better than Netscape when it came out, why is it all of the sudden a trust and not a trust 15 years ago?

      It was antitrust 15 years ago. The DOJ found for Netscape. Then we elected Bush, and the enforcement of the ruling went out the window.

      (BTW, it's antitrust because MS leveraged their OS monopoly to gain market share for their browser, after Netscape turned down their purchase offer.)

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
    8. Re:i still dont see the logic by dave562 · · Score: 1
      The Web browser market qualifies as such a market.

      Is there really a "web browser market" when only one of the four major players are actually trying to charge for their product? IE, FF and Chrome are free. The only company out there trying to make money by selling a web browser is Opera. Opera may be a nice web browser. When I was using a WinCE phone, Opera Mobile was absolutely the best browser for that platform. Despite whatever technical merits their browser might have, I think Opera is looking to the government to create a market for them that in a truly free market, wouldn't exist.

    9. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 3, Informative

      Is there really a "web browser market" when only one of the four major players are actually trying to charge for their product?

      Yes. AT&T was forced to stop bundling telephones with their telephone service, despite the fact that no one was selling telephones at the time. Immediately thereafter there was en explosion of innovation including push buttons, autodial, answering machines, wireless sets, etc. Why do you think that is? Why do you think we have antitrust laws?

      IE, FF and Chrome are free.

      IE is Windows only and every time you buy Windows you're paying for it. The cost is bundled into the price of Windows. "Free" is just marketing. The others make money in ways other than directly charging for the browser.

      The only company out there trying to make money by selling a web browser is Opera.

      Opera's regular browser is free too.

      When I was using a WinCE phone, Opera Mobile was absolutely the best browser for that platform.

      Guess what, you paid more for that phone than you should have. The phone maker paid Opera. Opera spent millions working around broken Web pages. Broken Web pages exist because IE is broken and was artificially granted huge market share despite being inferior. MS's actions, thus, cost Opera money and they pass that on to you, which hurts their business by making their product more expensive and less useful because of MS's illegal act.

      Despite whatever technical merits their browser might have, I think Opera is looking to the government to create a market for them that in a truly free market, wouldn't exist.

      Yeah, expecting the government to enforce the laws and MS to obey them the same as everyone else sure is unfair. Let's cut to the chase then. Do you feel antitrust law is wrong in principal or do you feel it should not apply to MS in this case. Why?

    10. Re:i still dont see the logic by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      Actually, this is something Microsoft decided to do, not something the EU ordered them to do. Please pay attention. The punishment from the EC has not yet been handed out.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    11. Re:i still dont see the logic by dave562 · · Score: 1

      Before answering your final question (and it is a good one), I'm just going to comment about Opera on the mobile phone. I downloaded Opera on my own because the bundled version of mobile IE sucked. It was practically unusable. The phone marker didn't give Opera a penny and there wasn't any cost to me to get Opera on the phone.

      I'm all for anti-trust law. In a completely open and free market, monopolies are the natural outcome of human instinct. Humans will form a large, powerful group and then club, undermine or otherwise limit the ability of anyone else to come near the resources controlled by that group. Anti-trust law is a good tool to use to give society as a whole options, and to make sure that innovations continue to be made.

      In the subject of Microsoft and the web browser wars, I think the horse is already out of the barn on this one. As numerous people have already observed, Microsoft fell behind and sat on their laurels with IE6 for too long. They failed to integrate new features, and it was a security nightmare. It came back to bite them in the ass, and created a niche for FireFox and other browsers to fill. Once Microsoft started losing significant market share, they had to step up their game and copy (in most cases) and innovate in new ways to either match or beat what the competition was doing. They did that with IE7 and 8.

      The argument that I give the most weight to from the anti-IE camp is that IE isn't standards compliant. I completely agree. I was futzing around with HTML code in the days of Netscape and IE3. I've never been a programmer, and the idea of having to write two versions of code even back then irked me. I went into networking and system administration rather than beat my head up against standards compliance and vendor specific implementations. I remember when Netscape supported "mouseover" but IE would freak on the same piece of code. Anyway...

      I think at this point we are going to have to take two steps backward to take one forward. Major websites that are rely on IE are going to need to be rewritten. In most cases, companies aren't going to invest the resources to do so, and consumers won't care. Where I work, FF is the default browser, but our bank (Wells Fargo) requires IE for some of their corporate portals so the people in the finance department have an IE icon too.

      I can't really hate Microsoft too much because they gave people the tools that they needed to get the job done. In the case of Wells Fargo, Microsoft technology allowed Wells Fargo to give their customers access to their data. If there was an OSS alternative, do you think that Wells Fargo, a huge bank that thrives on pinching pennies, would have gone the most cost effective route? I can almost guarantee that their backend databases aren't running on Microsoft SQL Server, so it probably wasn't a "Lets stick with Microsoft since they do everything else for us." decision.

      I think Microsoft made some big mistakes. With ActiveX, they got things backward. The trend turned out to be sharing parts of your computer onto the web, not bringing the web onto your computer. However they saw where the trend was going, world wide collaboration and easy access to resources. They just blew the implementation, and made it a huge security hole. That's the problem with Microsoft, they seem to focus on features and functionality before they focus on stability, reliability or security.

      But back to anti-trust law and Microsoft browsers. The market has pressured Microsoft to incorporate better standards compliance into their browser. That's the end goal, right? To make sure that the monopolist supports what the people say that they want.

      There are other companies out there who are making their own browser, and leveraging different ways of doing things (Google specifically). I can picture a time sometime soon when a "web browser" isn't much more than a sandbox for Java or some similar technology to run in and access code from a pre-determined subset of server resources

    12. Re:i still dont see the logic by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      I think it would be hard to argue that a browser has any monetary value. Since I don't think there are any browsers that require you to pay for them (Opera was the last, and quit charging a long time ago), I would think that MS would charge the same amount, with or without the browser, especially if the browser is going to be an optional free download later on. It would make much sense to allow people to pay less for windows, and then just be able to download IE later.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    13. Re:i still dont see the logic by dave420 · · Score: 1

      Hardly any end users give a rat's ass about any of that. It's not as if IE is the only browser you can use in Windows. It's just a tool. Use it or get a different one. This all sounds like a metric ass-tonne of sandy vaginas.

    14. Re:i still dont see the logic by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Actually many people in the US get their phones for "free" too. But it isn't really free, it's subsidized by the phone companies. Which means that the majority of consumers don't go out and buy their own phones and mix and match phones with service providers, because it's a major hassle. This is sort of analogous to web browsers in that it's extra work to get a different browser when you already get one subsidized with the OS.

      On the other hand, this really isn't the same regarding antitrust, since the service providers and phone manufacturers negotiate with each other and there is a lot of competition. However in Europe and some other places it is much more open and customers are more likely to purchase phones separately from the phone service, and as a result of the unlinking the interoperability is higher, international roaming is simple, and you can usually just pop in a new SIM card to change carriers.

    15. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 2, Insightful

      But back to anti-trust law and Microsoft browsers. The market has pressured Microsoft to incorporate better standards compliance into their browser. That's the end goal, right? To make sure that the monopolist supports what the people say that they want.

      The point of antitrust law is to ensure every player in continually pressured by the market to make the best product. Right now MS is feeling pressure to make the worst browser slightly less terrible, but still not as good or better than every other browser out there. Therein lies the problem. Unless the laws are enforced, there is no reason to expect the type of rapid innovation and improvement we see in other markets because the financial incentive is not there. We're a decade behind where we should be already. We need to make sure MS is subject to the same pressures as everyone else. That means when they have absolutely the worst product on the market they don't have 60-70% market share, like they do now. The only think keeping IE in the game is bundling. We don't want that changed because we want IE to fail, but because we want IE to be a decent browser.

      Just because MS has monopolized the desktop OS market that doesn't mean they should be given a free pass to push crap on us in other markets. Every time in history that has happened we see innovation in that second market slow to a crawl. That's one of the big reasons we passed those laws. MS is breaking those laws.

      You write, "I'm all for anti-trust law." Okay, but you don't think it should be enforced in this instance for some reason? Why? What they're doing is illegal. Are you proposing we change the laws and if so, what changes do you propose that would make what MS is doing legal, but not make antitrust law ineffective?

      So the batteground will evolve, and it will come down to what vendor gives the developers the tools that they need to construct the applications that do what the users want to do.

      But the battleground hasn't been evolving. We're still trying to present Web pages using half implemented decade old standards because we haven't been able to move forward with anything new because MS uses their illegally gained dominance in the Web browser market to stop it. Further, other companies have no financial incentive to move forward either, since they know IE won;t implement anything new so Web developers won't target anything new they create.

      IE 7 and 8 are far too little far too late and offer no promises for the future. Putting MS in the same position as everyone else, where if their browser sucks they rapidly lose market share, does offer that guarantee. That's a big part of the reason we have such a strong capitalist component to our economy. Rather than trust MS will keep improving, what's you objection to giving them direct financial incentive to keep improving at the same time as enforcing our current laws and giving every other browser developer a fair shake?

    16. Re:i still dont see the logic by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      Before answering your final question (and it is a good one), I'm just going to comment about Opera on the mobile phone. I downloaded Opera on my own because the bundled version of mobile IE sucked. It was practically unusable. The phone marker didn't give Opera a penny and there wasn't any cost to me to get Opera on the phone.

      So? Your point being? Are you trying to claim that Opera can't be making money because you didn't pay for it?

      Guess what, they can. Apparently the most popular site in Opera Mini is Google. Every time you use the Google search in Opera or Opera Mobile/Mini, Opera makes money. In addition to that, Opera gets paid for letting companies bundle their browser with their phones and devices.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    17. Re:i still dont see the logic by dave562 · · Score: 1

      I have to admit a bias because of my own narrow way of thinking about computers. Everything that I have ever needed to do with a computer, I was able to do with a Microsoft product. Microsoft won the desktop war, despite there being alternatives. It is only natural that the company that controls ~90% of the desktop space is going to influence what the users of those desktops can do when they get online.

      Let me ask you a question. What is it that you want to do, right now, that you can't do because Microsoft is bundling IE with their OS? Is there some killer app that you want to write, but can't because Microsoft is limiting you? Is there an awesome service that you could provide, if only it weren't for that darn IE and its lack-luster feature set and sub-par standards implementations?

      The fact of the matter is that computers are complex. Operating systems are extremely complex, multi-faceted bundles of inter-operating code. Back in the 1990s, Microsoft (along with other companies) saw that technology was moving toward a web centric world and they jumped in both feet. Even in the 1990s, there were alternatives. My first web browsing experience was on a BSD box running X-windows and Netscape. It's not like there weren't other alternatives out there.

      The "problem" if you will is that Microsoft is such a behemoth. They control the entire stack. Pretty much anything that you'd want to do with a computer can be done with Microsoft software. There are always new markets emerging. Just the other day, there was the talk of Google Wave, and the need for organizations to have multiple people working on the same document. Microsoft filing locking sucks. Trying to make concurrent changes to live documents absolutely blows. There is a niche there, and odds are the same thing will happen there as everywhere else... someone else will come up with a solution, then Microsoft will copy it and offer it to their customers.

      Like I said, I'm biased. I don't think that their "illegal" behavior is harming me. There are alternatives out there if I want to pursue them. I use a mix of Windows, OSX and Linux at my job. You can go meta, and talk about how Microsoft is harming us collectively, in that their software is exploitable, and spam spewing zombie bots make the internet less nice than it could be. I'd agree with that.

      In my mind, it all revolves around the question of, "What can't I do with a computer because Microsoft is preventing it." For me, the answer is "nothing" but I will use the caveat that my field of vision is pretty narrow. I'm just an IT guy who currently serves a user base of a little over a hundred. As a consultant, I had a user base of a couple thousand spread across just about every industry imaginable. In fifteen years, I've only come across two real complaints against Microsoft in the real world.

      1.) The Windows/Microsoft software does X, but we need it to do X+Y and do Z slightly differently. In that case, you need access to the source code and with the Windows and other third party APIs, the code isn't there to be had.

      2.) The Windows/Microsoft software costs more than we want to pay for it. I agree, and that is why I think competition is a good thing. The more alternatives that there are, the more affordable Microsoft has to price their software to compete.

      In my mind, the difficulty in beating Microsoft with the anti-trust club has to do with the newness of the internet and computers as tools in society. It's not like Microsoft is the phone company, and they control the lines and make you rent your telephone from them. It's not like they the railroads controlling inter-contental travel, or Standard Oil with a lock on the commodities market. You can plug an Apple box into the internet just as easily as a Windows box. You can buy a white box computer and put Linux on it just as easily as you can Windows. Microsoft didn't implement TCP/IP, in fact they were late into the game... they were running their own POS network protocol for the lo

    18. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      It is only natural that the company that controls ~90% of the desktop space is going to influence what the users of those desktops can do when they get online.

      Sure, but it should be in the same way Nvidie influences what you can do online, or Samsung or any other component supplier for computer systems.

      Let me ask you a question. What is it that you want to do, right now, that you can't do because Microsoft is bundling IE with their OS?

      I can't go to a Website and get vector graphics that are smaller and scale well. This is because IE won't support the standard so Web developers can use it. We don't even know what other technologies would have come to the Web by now if not for their interference. Proper video and audio support, 3D objects, 3D video, client side databases, probably a lot more.

      Is there an awesome service that you could provide, if only it weren't for that darn IE and its lack-luster feature set and sub-par standards implementations?

      Yes, many of them. I've personally wasted hundreds of hours working around MS's broken implementations, let alone all the things I didn't even attempt.

      The "problem" if you will is that Microsoft is such a behemoth. They control the entire stack.

      That's illegal. They are only supposed to control the components they are winning the market for independently. Anything else undermines the market

      e I said, I'm biased. I don't think that their "illegal" behavior is harming me.

      So. It's illegal. Companies who are the victims say it is hurting them. I don't see where this is getting ambiguous.

      In my mind, it all revolves around the question of, "What can't I do with a computer because Microsoft is preventing it." For me, the answer is "nothing"...

      And 40 years ago if you asked people what they couldn't do with their phones because of AT&T 90% of them would not have come up with anything either, certainly not autodial or push buttons. We'll never know what might have been, but we do know the general trends. There would almost certainly have been a great deal more innovation and useful improvements if the market were functioning.

      In my mind, the difficulty in beating Microsoft with the anti-trust club has to do with the newness of the internet and computers as tools in society.

      Why? How is this any different than any other markets when it comes to the economics of capitalism?

      It's not like Microsoft is the phone company, and they control the lines and make you rent your telephone from them.

      No they monopolize the desktop OS, and control enough of the Web browser market so that no one can implement anything new they don't sanction. And since they don't want to lose their desktop OS monopoly, anything that makes said monopoly less important (like technologies that allow for Web applications and useful Web services) present MS with a direct financial interest in preventing.

      They didn't invent HTML or Java or CSS or any of the other commonly used web components.

      No, they were late to the game and responded by trying to catch up and then trying to sue their existing monopoly to cripple the Web. Remember "embrace, extend, extinguish". That's what MS executives said their plan for the Web was. They were convicted of harming the Web browser market and intentionally crippling Java and trying to kill it. If MS had seen the Web coming, they would have created their own, completely closed technologies to prevent it from going anywhere out of their control. We got lucky.

      I'm all for forcing Microsoft to allow people to install alternate browsers. Then we can put this argument to rest, and people can realize that the web is the web, and it doesn't matter what browser you look at it with.

      It does matter t

    19. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Actually many people in the US get their phones for "free" too. But it isn't really free, it's subsidized by the phone companies.

      Right, for cell phones, but not for LAN lines. This is because in a given area there are many cell phone providers, but usually only one LAN line provider granted a geographical monopoly. They are banned from bundling by the same law that bans MS from bundling their monopoly on desktop OS's with a Web browser.

    20. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Hardly any end users give a rat's ass about any of that.

      Why should I care? Most people don't know what an OS is or for that matter what an antitrust law is.

      It's not as if IE is the only browser you can use in Windows.

      Which doesn't solve the problem and isn't really relevant.

      This all sounds like a metric ass-tonne of sandy vaginas.

      I don't care what minerals you stuff in your orifices. Your hobbies aren't relevant either. Do you have anything useful or relevant to say or can you answer any of the questions I posed?

    21. Re:i still dont see the logic by HermMunster · · Score: 1

      If they hadn't been given the opportunity to become a monopoly and damage the industry as they have then they most likely would not have won the war. But as they have been found guilty of criminal monopolistic predatory practices they won the position they are in by committing crimes.

      I can't see how you could even remotely consider them a winner when they did much of this through criminal activities.

      --
      You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.
    22. Re:i still dont see the logic by dave562 · · Score: 1

      What I'm saying is that the horse is out of the barn at this point. What they have done in the past WAS illegal. I was a staunch Netscape user up until I didn't have a choice and had to start using IE6. Unfortunately that is all water under the bridge at this point. The EU is attempting to right a wrong that has already gone so wrong that it is unable to be fixed at this point.

      I try to be as pragmatic as possible. With Windows in its current incarnation, a user can download an alternate browser and there isn't anything to keep it from functioning. That being said, Microsoft is still doing dirty things. For example, with IE as my default browser I can click Start > Run and type in a www. prefixed URL and it will launch the browser. If FF is my default browser and I type in a www. prefixed URL, it throws up an error message, then launches FF. There are little annoyances like that, and it does raise suspicions. Maybe the FF dev team hasn't hooked the right API, and MS is doing them a favor by throwing the error before launching their browser... Anyway...

      Whether or not Windows 7 comes with alternate browsers available from the get-go doesn't fix the problem that you've identified. The problem is that a large portion of the net is coded at IE6, and Microsoft's bastardization of the standards. In my view of the world, it isn't the job of the government to step in an make Microsoft offer alternate browsers. What I think should happen is that webmasters should grow a pair and write standards compliant code. To go back to my Wells Fargo example... the CFO at my organization is an OSS geek, he hates Microsoft. But when I told him that we had to use IE to access the Wells Fargo sites, he saw the logic. I can assure you, if it was reversed and we had to use FF to access a business critical site, it would happen.

      Businesses drive technology and innovation. As soon as a business comes up with a killer app that only works in FF, there will be adoption. It's just like how how many people are using VMWare, running a custom Linux kernel, to virtualize Windows server instances. When the business need arises to use an alternative, people will go that way. No government intervention necessary.

      To sum it up more clearly, I don't think anti-trust law should be used in this instance because doing so won't fix the underlying issue. At this point (in the present time, right now, 2009) Microsoft isn't doing anything different than Apple or Red Hat. They are providing an OS with a pre-packaged browser that can be uninstalled and replaced by a half dozen other alternatives. I think it's perfectly fine that they are being forced to present the user with alternatives. The alternative isn't going to do the user any good when they point Opera at Jane's Online Knitting Shop that was written with FrontPage 2003 and it fails to render. If you have some thoughts about how to fix that clusterfuck, I'm all ears.

      What do you think about this... in 15 years this conversation is going to be mostly irrelevant. There are so many free and nearly free alternatives coming up that companies being formed now, without the overhead of Microsoft licenses, are going to be at a competitive advantage when competing against companies who are spending tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in Microsoft tax. The market place will decide if the advantages offered by proprietary tools offset their cost.

    23. Re:i still dont see the logic by dave562 · · Score: 1

      They are the winner because they own the lion share of the browser market. They got there through dirty, underhanded and illegal tactics, but they came out on top. That battle has been fought and is in the past. The real question is how does bundling other browsers fix the underlying issue, and that issue is that a large portion of the net isn't coded to a consistent standard? You can point Safari, FF and Chrome at the same webpage and get different results... even if the page is written to the most current HTML standard.

      How do you fix the fact that 95% of computer users don't care what browser they use, and they just want to access "the internet"? What do you do when Jane installs Opera and her brother John installs Chrome and one of them can use the latest stupid Facebook widget, and the other can't?

      At this point I'm just trying to get people to see the next step. Getting rid of IE isn't going to suddenly make everything on the web peachy keen. Just like changing from Windows to OSX doesn't suddenly making using a computer a gotcha free experience. There are just a different set of challenges to overcome, and a different way to accomplish the same task.

    24. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      What I'm saying is that the horse is out of the barn at this point. What they have done in the past WAS illegal.

      They haven't stopped doing it. It is still illegal. What do you think has changed that makes their action no longer illegal?

      Unfortunately that is all water under the bridge at this point. The EU is attempting to right a wrong that has already gone so wrong that it is unable to be fixed at this point.

      So your answer to abusive monopolies that have run amuck is to let them continue? Luckily most antitrust regulators move to stronger measures instead of giving up. For example, breaking up Microsoft would neatly solve the problem. Or forcing MS to bundle other browsers with their OS and forcing a certain level of compliance with Web standards. How is giving up helpful to anyone other than MS? How will it not encourage them to break the law more?

      try to be as pragmatic as possible. With Windows in its current incarnation, a user can download an alternate browser and there isn't anything to keep it from functioning.

      Yes there is. MS embraced and extended Web technologies. That alternate browser often can't read a particular Web page or use a particular Web application and that is the intentional result of MS's crime.

      Whether or not Windows 7 comes with alternate browsers available from the get-go doesn't fix the problem that you've identified. The problem is that a large portion of the net is coded at IE6, and Microsoft's bastardization of the standards.

      There are multiple parts to any solution to said problem, but including alternate browsers does help to solve it. For example, if Web developers know Firefox will ship with every copy of Windows as well as IE, then they can confidently target Firefox with Web sites they develop and tell people visiting with IE how to launch Firefox. This means IE has to compete for the attention of Web developers which motivates MS to make IE better and standards compliant so users will use it to get to sites coded to work with Firefox and other standards compliant browsers.

      In my view of the world, it isn't the job of the government to step in an[sic] make Microsoft offer alternate browsers.

      Is it the job of the government to tell people to sign over ownership of their house to another person and then force that first person to live in a small room for several years?

      You seem to be missing this is the EU punishing MS for committing crimes and forcing them to make restitution to those they've hurt. It is absolutely the government's job to step in and punish MS when they break the law.

      What I think should happen is that webmasters should grow a pair and write standards compliant code.

      Yeah and we should all become socialists and work hard to make life better for everyone and share everything we have. Except it doesn't work. Capitalism works because it harnesses greed to a positive result, that being better products and lower prices. You can't expect Web developers to do anything but act in their own best financial interests. When the market is functioning, that is enough. The EU's job is to enforce the law so those best interests work within free market capitalism so we all benefit. MS is the one who broke the law and made that no longer the case and they're the one who needs to be punished and whose behaviors need to change to fix it, even if that means breaking MS up.

      Businesses drive technology and innovation.

      The capitalist free market drives innovation, until someone breaks the law to undermine it.

      To sum it up more clearly, I don't think anti-trust law should be used in this instance because doing so won't fix the underlying issue.

      So you're advocating letting criminals break the law because you don't think the law will effectively punish them enough? And

    25. Re:i still dont see the logic by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      They are the winner because they own the lion share of the browser market. They got there through dirty, underhanded and illegal tactics, but they came out on top. That battle has been fought and is in the past.

      I thought I'd address this too. You don't "win" in a free market in any permanent sense. Who won the market for automobiles? Should we all be driving Fords because Ford had more than half of the car market at one point in history? Obviously not because they weren't allowed to break the law to prevent others from competing going forward. Everyone has to constantly make the best product and constantly try to lower costs. That's how the capitalist free market works when a monopolist is not breaking the law.

      How do you fix the fact that 95% of computer users don't care what browser they use, and they just want to access "the internet"?

      Why would you need to fix that? 95% of car drivers don't care what drive train their car uses and they just want to drive around. The free market, when it is allowed to work, allows car makers to pick the best suited one based upon its merits. The free market should be repaired so computer makers can pick the best suited browser based upon its merits as well.

      What do you do when Jane installs Opera and her brother John installs Chrome and one of them can use the latest stupid Facebook widget, and the other can't?

      Nothing, because the free market fixes it. Each browser maker is motivated to solve the problem and adhere to standards and if they fail OEMs and users are motivated to use a different browser. The free market makes micromanaging unnecessary.

      At this point I'm just trying to get people to see the next step. Getting rid of IE isn't going to suddenly make everything on the web peachy keen.

      Actually, if you could get rid of IE entirely, the market would solve the problem within a year and within three years we'd be seeing some really cool innovation in Web browsers and Web technologies as well as increased adherence to standards. That's not practical though. A remedy that works well will have to have several parts. MS is trying to avoid having to comply with a remedy by voluntarily shipping Win 7 without IE in the EU, but hopefully the EU will not go for it.

    26. Re:i still dont see the logic by mgblst · · Score: 0, Troll

      You are a fucking moron, seriously, you are a fucking moron. If you can't see what has happened, after all the 100s of articles about this exact same subject, if you can't see the importance of controlling the browser yet, then the only possible reason is that you are a fucking moron.

      Mod me down all you want, this had to be said. Anyone coming here, running around asking this stupid questions, deserves to be shot down.

    27. Re:i still dont see the logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What the fuck does Bush have to do with it?

      The browser market has moved way faster than the courts. The entire case is now completely irrelevant but they still insist on seeing it through for some reason. Netscape doesn't even fucking exist anymore. The EU's decision is idiotic. A minimal web browser is now required to operate a standard, internet-connected desktop computer, the same way a file browser is. Why isn't there some big anti-trust case over explorer.exe? Because there wasn't some big company trying to sell a graphical file browser for $30 15 years ago? It's fucking asinine. As soon as Firefox, Opera, and now Chrome took off, the case should have been dismissed.

    28. Re:i still dont see the logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can only assume you're joking here.

      IE version 1 was significantly worse than Netscape. I seem to remember that the original version of IE was based upon Mosaic which was the browser written by the Netscape guys before they started on Netscape.

      With respect to IE not being charged for. I think that's very much a matter of looking at any part of the OS and questioning if it's being charge for. MS is not a charity. Is Notepad free? Is Outlook free? Is the task bar free? If the answer to any of those is no, then why do you think IE is free. At best IE is a loss leader but in reality you are paying for it by virtue of the fact that you are paying for Windows.

  9. Wait... by rosvall · · Score: 1

    How are we going to download a more politically correct browser then?

    1. Re:Wait... by Saija · · Score: 1
      Maybe this is too "geek centered", but what about:
      1. windows button
      2. run
      3. type in cmd
      4. ftp ftp.mozilla.org
      5. when asked by user name type in anonymous
      6. when asked by password just hit the enter key
      7. type in dir
      8. type in 'cd pub', without the quotes
      9. type in 'cd firefox'
      10. type in 'cd releases'
      11. type in 'cd latest'
      12. type in 'cd win32', i suppose you're in windows...
      13. type in 'cd en-US', again, i suppose you want the english US version
      14. type in 'get Firefox Setup 3.0.10.exe', thats the actual version, might differ

      i know, average joe sixpack can not even try this, but they always had his nephew/son/relative/bro' "Johnny Mc Nerdy" to type in all that "tech stuff"...

      --
      Slashdot ya no es que lo era! ;)
    2. Re:Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      got a better one for you.

      - open my computer.
      - copy paste : ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/3.0.9/win32/en-US/
      - drag'n'drop the setup exe on your desktop and run.

      you don't need cmdline in 2009 people.

    3. Re:Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and then you have a 10 meg text file, or at least a binary file with every 'line ending' converted for you.

      Typing 'bin' is a must. I learned my lesson after doing the same thing too many times with early windows (before IE was pre-packaged). It sucks to download Netscape 3.04gold on a 14.4k modem and then find out that you forgot to tell the ftp client to send the file in binary mode.

    4. Re:Wait... by Saija · · Score: 1

      Right, i forget that you can use ftp features inside explorer(not ie), mybad, also there's a flaw in my previous post as the other AC commented: that "bin" thingie you must set before getting binary files from the net...
      ps: Where can i hand out my amateur geek card? heh!

      --
      Slashdot ya no es que lo era! ;)
  10. wake me when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... it is more than just iexplore.exe that is removed.

    1. Re:wake me when... by jones_supa · · Score: 1

      Why should it be more? I presume removing iexplore.exe effectively prevents the browser from starting. Sure the IE core engine is still left there but that doesn't matter in this case.

    2. Re:wake me when... by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      The rest of it is Trident, which is to IE what Gecko is to Firefox. They are removing IE, but not Trident. Of course, you'll insist that isn't enough anyway, regardless that you can't remove WebKit from Mac OS or KHTML from KDE.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  11. Choice = Money = Costs money = Choice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We've had Windows Vista Business N, just like that but without the Media Player... and there was no way to install the player.
    It's a good thing the OS comes without a browser, Apple should be forced to deliver the Mac without Safari too.

    Of course parties should be free to give a second CD with the browser to install it, but at least people will know they install it in that case, and have a choice to install another one.
    Will it cost money? Sure. But choice always does, doesn't it?

  12. Doubt this will affect much by MLS100 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Any OEM with any brains at all will re-add IE to their system images, lest they field a mass of tech support calls claiming their computer doesn't have 'the internet' because they don't see the big blue E on the desktop.

    This will only affect people buying at retail who likely already know how to install and configure an alternative browser, but now have to download via FTP or flash drive.

    1. Re:Doubt this will affect much by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can't the OEM put an extra large button labeled "TEH INTERNETZ" on the desktop that starts Firefox (or whatever) so the ignorant user doesn't get too confused?

    2. Re:Doubt this will affect much by Le_Papet · · Score: 1

      They could but why bother? What does an OEM gain by bundling say Firefox instead of IE? It's easier for the OEMs to maintain the status quo.

  13. Damage is already done. by space_jake · · Score: 1

    Include all popular web browsers and the uninformed are just going to click the internet explorer link. Include any other single web browser and it'll be just like a monopoly all over again. Include no web browser and hilarity ensues.

    1. Re:Damage is already done. by icebike · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Include all popular web browsers and the uninformed are just going to click the internet explorer link.

      By uninformed you mean people who disagree with you.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    2. Re:Damage is already done. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually you could bundle the computers with FF without having problems with antitrust laws. The whole reason why MS is being watched is that they are using their monopoly in the OS market to dominate the browser market. The point is that you can't use your monopoly in one market to further your market share in another.

    3. Re:Damage is already done. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uninformed people clicking the e doesn't preclude informed ones from doing so as well.

    4. Re:Damage is already done. by space_jake · · Score: 1

      By uninformed I mean people that couldn't tell you what a web browser is let alone how to switch to another one if they were so inclined.

  14. This will be hell by Useful+Wheat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm going to guess that this statement applies to most of the people on slashdot.

    "I provide tech support to my friends and family."

    Doesn't it chill your blood to imagine that you could very suddenly be in a situation where every single person you know who gets a new computer is going to need you to set it up? They will be totally and completely helpless without Internet explorer, they won't be able to burn it to a CD or put it on a flash drive without your detailed instructions.

    And then it won't work. And it won't be what they're used to be because FireFox/chrome/IE 8 isn't IE 6. And then you'll have to come over again to explain that the download manager isn't stealing their awful FWD: jokes.

    This isn't progress, this is a punishment to each and every one of us.

    1. Re:This will be hell by ACMENEWSLLC · · Score: 1

      I can't image this would be the case. Either there will be an option right on the desktop or upon first run where the user selects between Opera, Safari, or IE (I doubt Firefox or Chrome.) OR there will be an easy way to add/remove programs and add IE. And you can probably still teach them to add the address bar to explorer and type in a web address, watching explorer magically turn into Internet Explorer.

      This doesn't affect anyone outside the EU so it doesn't affect me.

    2. Re:This will be hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Helpless people won't be buying computers without operating system. When manufacturers install Windows, they will also install browser to those computers.

    3. Re:This will be hell by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Doesn't it chill your blood to imagine that you could very suddenly be in a situation where every single person you know who gets a new computer is going to need you to set it up?

      RTFA idiot! This applies to copies of Windows shipped by MS. It has nothing to do with whether or not a browser will be installed on computers sold to the public.

    4. Re:This will be hell by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 2, Interesting

      be in a situation where every single person you know who gets a new computer is going to need you to set it up

      I don't support people, family or not, if I didn't setup their computer and if they don't abide by my rules.

    5. Re:This will be hell by cyber-vandal · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeh yeh because an OEM is going to provide a PC without a web browser. God dammit why does this ludicrously moronic argument come up time and again. I pity the people who rely on you for tech support.

    6. Re:This will be hell by Draek · · Score: 1

      Doesn't it chill your blood to imagine that you could very suddenly be in a situation where every single person you know who gets a new computer is going to need you to set it up?

      Not really. My bank account could *certainly* use the extra boost ;)

      Too bad, then, that OEMs will do that work for me as well, as per RTFS.

      --
      No problem is insoluble in all conceivable circumstances.
    7. Re:This will be hell by glitch23 · · Score: 1

      Doesn't it chill your blood to imagine that you could very suddenly be in a situation where every single person you know who gets a new computer is going to need you to set it up? They will be totally and completely helpless without Internet explorer, they won't be able to burn it to a CD or put it on a flash drive without your detailed instructions. And then it won't work. And it won't be what they're used to be because FireFox/chrome/IE 8 isn't IE 6.

      Maybe you should start getting every single person you know familiar with FireFox/chrome (yes, I left off IE 8) now? In fact, why haven't you already?

      --
      this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
    8. Re:This will be hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Did you even read the summary? As has been mentioned in countless other posts.

      "Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers"

    9. Re:This will be hell by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 2, Interesting

      ``This isn't progress, this is a punishment to each and every one of us.''

      If we choose to support Windows, that is.

      I stopped doing that years ago, because I saw it as a sort of punishment in and of itself. The thing is, ideological arguments aside, I use Debian because it requires very little time for maintenance. Supporting any sort of other operating system besides is going to increase the maintenance burden, and that is particularly true if maintenance requires a lot of manual actions or even physical access (which I have needed only once with Debian - and even that was once too often for my taste).

      Nowadays, I just tell people "Sorry, I don't know how to deal with Windows and I have no desire to learn." They turn to somebody who actually likes supporting Windows, and everybody is happy.

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    10. Re:This will be hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh please. First of all, OEM will put a browser in there. And if they are good enough to set up a net connection by themselves, then getting firefox from a memory stick isn't that hard.

      And as for the rest of them, it's business as usual. Only interesting thing about this is whether Microsoft will try to force IE on every install anyway..

    11. Re:This will be hell by Sky+Cry · · Score: 1

      Tell them to buy Windows 7 with Firefox bundled by OEM. There. Problem solved.

    12. Re:This will be hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The OEMs can include other browsers in there. RTFS. Now you can elect to charge for your support, even just pizza (order large to discourage future calls) and beer, or get on the phone and tell them to click on FF icon and say, Welcome to 21st century browsing.

      Could be win-win imho. So pop quiz, What do you do? What do you do?

    13. Re:This will be hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL. A problem? Not for me. All my friends and family have been moved to Linux. Why would I leave them suffering with Windows?

    14. Re:This will be hell by skeeto · · Score: 1

      Stop helping these people, then. Helping then only hurts them in the long run and perpetuates all sorts of problems. "Give a man a fish ..."

    15. Re:This will be hell by pwilli · · Score: 1

      This isn't progress, this is a punishment to each and every one of us.

      Some other words for progress: "develop in a positive way", "advance", "a movement forward"

      IE 6 ---replaced by---> FireFox/chrome/Opera/IE 8 = Progress

      I'd rather help all my relatives/friends to advance to a recent browser instead of getting called every time when "the website doesn't work", because the browser is ancient and doesn't support the neccessary plugins, Javascript commands or HTML and CSS codes anymore. Not having to clean up the mess after virus contaminations because of over 5 year old security holes is a bonus.

    16. Re:This will be hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you support so many friends/family that this is a chore, then there is a simple solution. Create a CD with an autorun BAT file that installs a bunch of useful free software. If they can turn the computer on, then surely they can stretch to putting a CD in the drive, (and maybe click on "run this software" depending on how Win7 handles auto-run CDs). Now you can set up the computer without even having to see it. Alternatively you could charge for doing the support, or maybe even just say no.

  15. MS Updates by Wowsers · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Now how will anyone go to Microsoft WindowsUpdate for updates, it barely works with Firefox but has no problem with IE.

    --
    Take Nobody's Word For It.
    1. Re:MS Updates by zonky · · Score: 5, Informative

      Updates in Vista uses a seperate contral panel applet, presumably its the same in 7.

    2. Re:MS Updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WIndows Update hasnt required IE for a long time. newsflash: it's not 2002 anymore.

    3. Re:MS Updates by johnncyber · · Score: 1

      Updates in Vista uses a seperate contral panel applet, presumably its the same in 7.

      You are correct updates appear in a "Windows Update" control panel.

    4. Re:MS Updates by buchner.johannes · · Score: 2, Informative

      afaik Windows 7 Updates works with a seperate program, not via the browser.

      --
      NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
    5. Re:MS Updates by gparent · · Score: 1

      Damn, you must have a pretty nice house under that rock if you've stayed there that long.

    6. Re:MS Updates by ropiku · · Score: 1

      Now how will anyone go to Microsoft WindowsUpdate for updates, it barely works with Firefox but has no problem with IE.

      You don't need to browse to Windows Updates. With Vista and Windows 7 the updates are integrated into Control Panel, you can also select which updates you want to install.

    7. Re:MS Updates by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 2, Informative

      What year is it in your little world, 2000? Critical updates have been delivered via control panel applet/service since, what, Windows 2000 at least. Non-critical ones can be easily downloaded using Firefox, or any browser you'd like to name.

      Vista (and possibly XP; I haven't had XP in awhile) even let you select the non-critical ones from the same control panel as the critical ones, so there's absolutely zero reason to use IE to get updates. Not that there has been one in ages, anyway.

    8. Re:MS Updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, this is the same bullshit that goes on when people who know nothing Linux keep on trying to contribute to discussions about Linux. All you hear is the same old bullshit, most of which, if it ever was true, was true several years ago and hasn't been true a long time.

    9. Re:MS Updates by Phroggy · · Score: 1

      Updates in Vista uses a seperate contral panel applet, presumably its the same in 7.

      It is. Not much has changed in 7 from a user's perspective, other than the new taskbar, which is awesome (for Windows).

      --
      $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
      $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
  16. Mac ships with Safari and Ubuntu ships with FF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Make them stop that practice too.

    I'm no fanboy of any software, but if Mac and Ubuntu (or any other distro) can ship with a browser of their choice, Microsoft should be able to ship with a browser of their choice.

    They should, however, make it possible to uninstall their browser or have the option to not install it during OS install. Then the computer manufacturer can configure the PC as they see fit.

    1. Re:Mac ships with Safari and Ubuntu ships with FF by zonky · · Score: 1, Troll

      If they were convicted monopolists, go ahead!

    2. Re:Mac ships with Safari and Ubuntu ships with FF by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Mac ships with Safari and Ubuntu ships with FF Make them stop that practice too.

      You're misunderstanding what is illegal. There is no law against bundling an OS and a Web browser. But then there's no law against throwing a toaster. That doesn't mean you can't be guilty of antitrust abuse for the former and murder for the latter.

  17. Only Half the Story by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article submitter fails to note the EU is not necessarily on board with this as they've been circulating a survey asking PC companies about how many and what browsers should be pre-installed as well as asking questions about if MS is pressuring them on the issue.

    1. Re:Only Half the Story by Slothrup · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It would be hard for the EU to make a case that Microsoft's proposed remedy doesn't address the complaint. After all, if they're no longer bundling the browser with the OS, it can't be considered "illegal tying of a different product to a monopoly." It shifts that part of the regulatory burden onto the OEMs, who aren't nearly the kind of deep-pockets attractive target for a fine that Microsoft is.

      It's not hard to see why MS would prefer to ship "no browser" than a competitor's browser.

      --
      The difference between theory and practice is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
    2. Re:Only Half the Story by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It would be hard for the EU to make a case that Microsoft's proposed remedy doesn't address the complaint. After all, if they're no longer bundling the browser with the OS, it can't be considered "illegal tying of a different product to a monopoly."

      If you stop extorting money from the guy down the street it's hard to argue your stopping didn't address the complaint. That doesn't mean they don't toss your butt in jail for a few years then garnish your wages until the money is repaid. MS committed a criminal offense. Stopping committing that offense doesn't get you off the hook, especially when there are still damages to others that have not been remedied.

      It shifts that part of the regulatory burden onto the OEMs, who aren't nearly the kind of deep-pockets attractive target for a fine that Microsoft is.

      OEMs can do whatever they want because none of them has monopoly influence to abuse. It doesn't matter how much money they have since they are incapable of committing this crime if they wanted to (well unless they band together and form a trust).

      t's not hard to see why MS would prefer to ship "no browser" than a competitor's browser.

      True. It remains to be seen if the EU will let it go at that and a fine or if they'll continue to push for a more significant remedy that will do more to reverse the damage to the market. MS is a repeat offender here and as of yesterday the EU was in talks with PC makers about a different remedy.

    3. Re:Only Half the Story by Gouru · · Score: 1

      My guess is that the argument would be that this move does not make up for the past violations. Sure, they will not be able to stop Windows 7 shipping due to it not having a browser, but they could still attempt to have Microsoft 'pay' for the earlier violations. This could be by fine, or by ordering them to include other browsers as a startup option in current and future OSes. One way or another, it does not end the EU's action.

  18. Oh, so MS lied then by ScooterComputer · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Wasn't one of the core arguments that Microsoft made during the US Antitrust trial was that IE could NOT be separated from Windows without fundamentally breaking the OS?

    Sooooo...guess, uh, they lied.

    --
    Scott
    "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
    1. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by rob1980 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      When was that, 10 years ago? It's been a long time since Windows 98...

    2. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by MSFanBoi2 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Um, just when was the US Antitrust trial?

      How many versions of Windows have been released since then?
      This isn't 1998 anymore..

    3. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The core of the engine will still be available for 3rd party apps.

      This is again only removing the big blue icon from the desktop and everywhere else on the computer.

    4. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would argue that it does break the OS in the current OS market. What OS does NOT come with a web browser?

    5. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by anonymousNR · · Score: 1

      No you got it wrong this means they are agreeing in public that they fundamentally broke the OS

      --
      -- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -- Aristotle
    6. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this still 2:Insightful?

      I have some insightful comments.

      "Windows bluescreens constantly"
      "Linux is useless in a personal environment"
      "Apple will soon be bankrupt"
      "Y2k will kill us all!"

      or, is it not 1998 anymore?

    7. Re:Oh, so MS lied then by zonky · · Score: 1

      The current market has been distorted because Microsoft charged you for the browser in the OS purchase fee and bundled it, there by killing the paid-for browser market.

  19. The cynicism is laughable by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Reacting to antitrust concerns expressed by European regulators, Microsoft plans to offer a version in Europe that has the browser removed.

    But the rest of you people are totally fucked and will have to deal with what MS deigns to grant you.

    Nice.

    RS

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
    1. Re:The cynicism is laughable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, I didn't read TFA, but to offer a version [...] that has the browser removed sounds to me like the Windows XP N bullcrap. It translates to: Which would you like to buy, the full version or the one with stuff removed and of course people buy what they believe is the more complete version. (I'd be curious to see the actual XP N sales but not astonished if they were ridiculously low.)

      "Offering a version" just doesn't cut it IMO, the browser needs to go, period. Just have a dialog box pop up asking 'which browser would you like?' when somebody first wants to access 'the Internet'.

    2. Re:The cynicism is laughable by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      OK, I didn't read TFA, but to offer a version [...] that has the browser removed sounds to me like the Windows XP N bullcrap.

      Maybe next time you SHOULD RTFA then. They claim they are offering the OEM version in the EU without IE 8 and not selling a version in the EU to OEMs tat includes it.

      "Offering a version" just doesn't cut it IMO, the browser needs to go, period. Just have a dialog box pop up asking 'which browser would you like?' when somebody first wants to access 'the Internet'.

      That's what the EU commission seems to be favoring. This is MS's attempt to get away with less.

  20. Re:What next EU: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple and every flavor of linux can't be hit with anti-trust charges... because they don't have a virtual monopoly on the desktop.

    And I'd also go ahead and point out that there was a time when web browsers were sold seperate from the OS. At that point there was competition to IE - Netscape. Then MS bundled IE with windows so that you *had* to buy IE even if you also bought Netscape, and Netscape died overnight. And then we went 7 years without a new version of IE.

    So yea, I'd certainly include "bundling IE" as one of MS's more egregious business practices.

    Wordpad/Notepad? Probably staying bundled. But Word and Office? You'll note that they were never bundled, but if they had been I'm sure undoing that would be part of this deal as well.

  21. Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I realize we are supposed to hate MS here, and at the same time ooh and aah over everything Apple does... but how is Apple's bundle of OSX and Safari not different than Microsoft's bundle of Windows/IE?

    1. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by oberondarksoul · · Score: 1, Informative

      Apple does not have a monopoly, nor abuses its monopoly position with its operating system to gain web browser market share. Different rules apply.

      --
      And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
    2. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      Microsoft has announced that it will ship a special version of Vista's successor in Europe, titled Windows 7 E, without Internet Explorer 8. The browser-less version, a reaction to an antitrust investigation by the EU into whether Microsoft is abusing its dominant position with Windows and Internet Explorer, will be distributed in all member nations of the European Economic Area as well as Croatia and Switzerland.

      The EU antitrust crew aren't investigating Apple for abusing their dominant position with OS X and Safari. (Though they did previously investigate iTMS/DRM music).

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    3. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by Ironica · · Score: 1

      Because the market share of Mac OS is not large enough to constitute an exploitable monopoly position.

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
    4. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple had a monopoly on powerPC computers. They used it to keep other OS's off PowerPc. Now they moved to x86. Google has a monopoly on Search, and HAVE used this power to push others out of the market, and to become a monopoly in other online markets. Soon Google will pay for their evil ways.

    5. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by oberondarksoul · · Score: 0

      Apple had a monopoly on powerPC computers.

      Not true. The Sam440, Pegasos, and all of the current generation of games consoles would disagree with you here. Non-Apple.

      They used it to keep other OS's off PowerPc

      Not true. Yellow Dog Linux will happily run on PowerPC Macs, and there are other PPC operating systems available such as AmigaOS, or even Windows NT!

      Google has a monopoly on Search

      Debatable. They may have a majority, but there are plenty of other search engines out there, such as Yahoo, or even a certain one from Microsoft that's been getting a lot of press lately...

      --
      And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
    6. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      Monopolies aren't illegal. Abusing one's monopoly to undermine the market is.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    7. Re:Next Step: No Safari in Snow Leopard??? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Apple had a monopoly on powerPC computers.

      That's not a relevant market unless something prevents the average consumer from choosing a x86 computer as an alternative. Is there some reason why Dell and Apple aren't competing for the same customers?

      Google has a monopoly on Search, and HAVE used this power to push others out of the market, and to become a monopoly in other online markets.

      Google has a lot of market share in online search. What market do you believe they've leveraged this influence against?

  22. Re:What next EU: by int69h · · Score: 5, Informative

    Big difference that you seem to be willfully ignoring. Neither Apple or any Linux vendor strong armed OEMs into exclusively installing their browser.

  23. Well, I hope it comes with lynx then by gringofrijolero · · Score: 1

    so I can download a copy of IE...

    This is so stupid. Why couldn't they have just told MS not to break third party software? And so what if they do anyway? Who says you HAVE to use a windows machine? A better solution would be to revoke some of their copyrights so others could compete more effectively.

    --
    Todos mis movimientos están friamente calculados
  24. My ass M$ is unbiased... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    until I can choose from a list of usable browsers in the default install, I don't see the point of this. M$ will still go into agreements with OEMs to ship ie by default.
    I want to see a list that includes the following: firefox, chrome, opera, and internet explorer.

    1. Re:My ass M$ is unbiased... by idamaybrown · · Score: 1

      Can we have this for Apple also?

  25. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is it just me, but how I gonna download firefox or opera, or ie if I really want it WITHOUT a preinstalled browser?

    1. Re:Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not just you, there are other stupid people here too.

  26. Dollars and Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You'll still pay for it whether you use it or not.

  27. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 1

    There is no such thing as free trade.

    Not even in the US....

  28. Why would you buy an OS with no browser? by Hackysack · · Score: 1

    No doubt MS's tactics during the height of the v4 browser wars were low, but...

    A web browser is an integral part of the operating system of any modern user-based computer.

    Sure, ship Windows without IE. Ship it without any browser, or for that matter http tool. The Microsoft implementation of the ftp command line tool should probably be removed too.

    IE bites, but a browser *is* an integral part of an operating system. (I won't buy a cell phone without one!)

    I just wish anti-virus was too.

    1. Re:Why would you buy an OS with no browser? by hkmwbz · · Score: 1
      To quote someone else:

      You really need a display to get a browser too, should it be bundled with the OS? You really need a CPU to use an OS, should it be bundled with the OS? If Microsoft were to come out with their own brand of CPU tomorrow and required all PC makers to buy a bundle of Windows with their CPU, instead of just Windows would you support that? After all, a OS won't work without a CPU. And PC makers can always throw away the MS brand CPU and buy one from Intel or AMD right? And if you wanted to run Windows on a PC you were building you could just throw away the CPU too right? And just because MS pays to create that CPU and deliver it does not mean the price of Windows was raised to include it, does it? After all, it comes "free" with the OS.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
  29. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by tjstork · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not even in the US....

    That's very true. Our agricultural protectionism is something my right wing friends tend to overlook as they ballyhoo free trade.

    --
    This is my sig.
  30. Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari... by argent · · Score: 0

    First, Microsoft has NOT REMOVED IE. I;ll get back to that.

    Second, Safari is not bound into the Finder and Software Update and System Preferences and so on so that you can't replace Safari with another browser.

    Third, Safari is not bound into the Finder and Software Update and System Preferences and so on so that attackers can use cross-zone exploits to launch ActiveX controls with full local user privileges.

    Safari is just another application. I use Camino on my Mac Mini and Safari never pops up unrequested, the way Internet Explorer does no matter how hard I try and avoid it on Windows.

    Internet Explorer is not just another application, it's a deeply embedded part of the OS. Microsoft has not removed it from Windows, all they've done is hide it from a few of the places it comes into play. It's still there, as part of Windows Explorer and the Control Panel and Windows Update and Windows Media Player.

  31. Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 0, Troll

    The EU is ridiculous. I sure hope they are at the very least fair with their insanity, and force Apple to remove Safari from OSX. They might as well force MS and Apple to remove their desktop search features, Instant messengers, and programming APIs.

    Hell why not force Microsoft to unbundle NTFS and to use non Microsoft file systems.

    Why even let microsoft even write an OS at all? Some one else may want to one day and MS stands in the way.

    sigh.

    Fucking EU is ridiculous sometimes.

    1. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 0, Troll

      The EU is ridiculous.

      You're ignorant.

      I sure hope they are at the very least fair with their insanity, and force Apple to remove Safari from OSX.

      That makes a lot of sense if you fundamentally misunderstand what MS is guilty of. It's like saying everyone should be arrested for driving cars because one person was arrested for grand theft auto after driving a car that did not belong to them... and we have to be fair.

      Hell why not force Microsoft to unbundle NTFS and to use non Microsoft file systems.

      Hell, why not read what antitrust abuse is so you can answer your own questions? Or you could just shut up about crap if you don't want to bother informing yourself.

      Fucking EU is ridiculous sometimes.

      Fucking ignorant twats like Jackie_Chan_Fan (730745) are ridiculous sometimes. How can you still be ignorant after so many discussions of this where you've posted?

    2. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 1

      Hell why not force Microsoft to unbundle NTFS and to use non Microsoft file systems.

      That would be great! Imagine that Microsoft supported ext3 out of the box. Dual-boot would become seamless.

    3. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 0, Troll

      blah blah, you dont know shit and you're trying to sound like you do by saying nothing.

      Whats the big Anti trust issue with IE? It comes installed with the OS? The HTML engine is integrated into their OS? Well SO IS NTFS, so are the APIs that make win32 and win64 possible... Directx... etc... blah blah

      Microsoft made it, you dont like it, dont buy it.

      No one is stopping you from running another browser. Thats a FACT.

      Most cars come with OEM parts from the manufacturer. You dont get a choice of fucking tire brands. It comes as is. Next you're going to tell me that air bag brands are anti trust violations.

      Mod yourself as troll and finishing swallowing your fathers load. I'm done with you.

    4. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 1

      hehe Oh i'm sure there are plenty of people would love that but the point is i think people take things too far just to get back at MS.

      MS has done some evil things and they should be kept in check... but whats next and when is it just going to far?

    5. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by int69h · · Score: 1

      The anti-trust issue is that MS has already been found guilty of using it's OS monopoly to shut out competing browsers by strong arming OEMs.

    6. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 1

      Oh, I got your point.... However, the comparison to Apple is not fair in the sense that Apple is not a convicted monopolist. Just for the record, I'm not an Apple fanboy. Getting rid of IE is a godsend.

    7. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 0, Troll

      Most cars come with OEM parts from the manufacturer. You dont get a choice of fucking tire brands. It comes as is. Next you're going to tell me that air bag brands are anti trust violations.

      Did you get dropped on your head or something? It' called "antitrust law". It doesn't take a genius to find out what a trust is, especially after I've already pointed out your ignorance. At this point, it is just willful ignorance. It doesn't matter how many examples of non-trusts not violating laws you point out, it doesn't do anything to mitigate a trust breaking the law.

    8. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      You didn't answer his question, though. Why are you reposting the same questions even though you have received a reply to them before?

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    9. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      The EU is ridiculous. I sure hope they are at the very least fair with their insanity, and force Apple to remove Safari from OSX.

      No but they should be forced to remove it (and quicktime) from Itunes as they are doing the same thing as MS in trying to leverage Itunes market advantage to boost the market share of Safari and Quicktime

      Fucking EU is ridiculous sometimes.

      ' No it isn't. The EU is about the only organisation doing something in the name of consumers, now I know that a government working in the interests of its people may seem like a foreign concept in the US but it does happen. The EU ruling says that IE needs to be removable so that OEM's and consumers can choose their own browser. It's Microsoft not the EU that is removing IE from the word go, I also wager that MS will simply pay* the OEM's more to favour IE.

      * by pay I mean with hold discounts for OEM's that dont fall into line.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    10. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      No but they should be forced to remove it (and quicktime) from Itunes as they are doing the same thing as MS in trying to leverage Itunes market advantage to boost the market share of Safari and Quicktime

      You're confusing the iTunes application with the iTunes music store service. This is understandable as the former is used to access the latter, but it is incorrect because they are separate markets as evidenced by competitors that supply only one of them. If either constitutes monopoly influence it would be the service, so a potential remedy would be forcing Apple to open up the interface to their store to other applications.

    11. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      You're confusing the iTunes application with the iTunes music store service. This is understandable as the former is used to access the latter, but it is incorrect because they are separate markets as evidenced by competitors that supply only one of them. If either constitutes monopoly influence it would be the service, so a potential remedy would be forcing Apple to open up the interface to their store to other applications.

      Quicktime and Safari are installed at the same time as Itunes.

      Itunes is required for Ipods, and the ITMS. Apple are using Itunes's popularity and requirement for Ipods and ITMS to increase the install base of Safari and Quicktime by installing them when they aren't actually needed. This is the exact same type of piggybacking that lands Microsoft in such hot water.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    12. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      You're confusing the iTunes application with the iTunes music store service. This is understandable as the former is used to access the latter, but it is incorrect because they are separate markets as evidenced by competitors that supply only one of them. If either constitutes monopoly influence it would be the service, so a potential remedy would be forcing Apple to open up the interface to their store to other applications.

      Quicktime and Safari are installed at the same time as Itunes. Itunes is required for Ipods, and the ITMS. Apple are using Itunes's popularity and requirement for Ipods and ITMS to increase the install base of Safari and Quicktime by installing them when they aren't actually needed. This is the exact same type of piggybacking that lands Microsoft in such hot water.

      So your claim is Apple is leveraging the iTunes application to increase installations of Safari and Quicktime. But Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the relevant market for the iTunes application. It isn't even the majority music player as WMP is installed bundled with all Windows machines. What Apple has to be careful about are the iTMS and the iPod since they have a lot of market share in both of those markets. So far the EU has ruled Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the relevant market for iPods because in the EU consumers consider cell phones that play media as an alternative, so Apple's market share is too small to constitute monopoly influence. For the iTMS the EU has not ruled on it directly, but have ruled that the RIAA cartel has engaged in price fixing using Apple's iTMS, but with Apple not being the guilty party.

      So assuming Apple's iTMS constitutes monopoly influence on music download services, it is tied illegally to the iTunes application which is, in turn tied to Safari and Quicktime. The likely remedy then would be to break the tie between iTMS and the iTunes application (opening up the interface to other applications). severing the link between the iTunes application Safari and Quicktime would not solve the theoretical antitrust issue.

    13. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      The only difference between MS bundling IE with Windows and Apple bundling Safari with itunes is that Apple does not constitute a monopoly on MP3 players.

      Personally I don't like this kind of cross promotion and it should not be permitted, at the very least an option must be given not to install the optional software (Safari in this case). The Itunes installer does not give you this option. BTW, this is also the condition I make with MS bundling IE with Windows, I don't want it removed in so far as I want it completely removable.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    14. Re:Will Apple be forced to unbundle Safari? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      The only difference between MS bundling IE with Windows and Apple bundling Safari with itunes is that Apple does not constitute a monopoly on MP3 players.

      Actually, the difference would be between MS bundling IE with Windows and Apple bundling the iTunes application with iPods. Safari is more loosely tied to iTunes via their software update mechanism , but no court with any sense would address Safari and Quicktime and the iTMS, when all they need to address for a remedy is the iTunes application.

      Personally I don't like this kind of cross promotion and it should not be permitted...

      You may not like it, but we don't pass laws banning things based upon your dislike. You need to present a real case of why the public is being harmed and the rights of people to take an action should be curtailed.

      ...at the very least an option must be given not to install the optional software (Safari in this case). The Itunes installer does not give you this option.

      Umm, you don't have the option to not install Safari when installing iTunes? Since when?

      BTW, this is also the condition I make with MS bundling IE with Windows, I don't want it removed in so far as I want it completely removable.

      Bundling a product from one market with a product from another market does demonstrable harm. We banned this a hundred years ago because our economy was being destroyed and pretty much every nation on the planet has passed similar laws. It is a fundamental and well understood and absurdly well supported economic theory.

      Some countries (and the EU) do place lesser limitations on companies with significant market share (but not enough to constitute monopoly influence). For the most part though, bundling is not a problem. So long as there is no monopoly involved bundling that hurts consumers just drives those consumers to competitors and the market corrects. Mind you monopolies that have not been checked and government granted monopolies run amuck (e.g. improper patents) can make the market unable to effectively do this.

  32. It is still there. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even if IE is 'uninstalled' on Windows 7 wouldn't you still be able to go into something like My Computer and type any web address in the bar and get to where you want to go?

    1. Re:It is still there. by sexconker · · Score: 0

      nnnnnoooooootttttt iiiiiinnnnnn aaaaa pppooooosssttttt xxxxxpppppp wwwooooorrrrllllddd

      ssshhiiiiitttt mmmyyyy kkkkeeeeeyyybbbboooaaarrrrrddddd

  33. Microsoft is NOT removing IE by argent · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Microsoft is not removing anything, they are hiding one of the shell applications around the HTML control. All the same dangerous and insecure code will still be there, as part of Windows Explorer and Control Panel and Windows Media Player and Windows Update. Stil rendering websites for you, still displaying untrusted content.

    1. Re:Microsoft is NOT removing IE by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 0

      That's because so many first-party and third-party applications rely on it. Steam, Valve's game download service, makes extensive use of it, for example. The Windows Sidebar does, as well.

      In any case, IE isn't nearly as dangerous in Vista or Windows 7 because of the sandbox environment it runs in. Your big worry, as it has been since IE7/Vista combination came out, is insecure plug-ins like Flash or Java providing an open freeway for viruses to get on your computer.

    2. Re:Microsoft is NOT removing IE by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      That would be removing IE then. Since the control you are talking about is called Trident, which is Microsoft's version of Gecko or WebKit.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  34. new browser? by neptune612 · · Score: 1

    So, if IE won't be bundled with Win7 then, how are they gonna download the browser that they DO want to use? sorry, if noob question, but don't you need a browser to translate the web?

    1. Re:new browser? by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      So, if IE won't be bundled with Win7 then, how are they gonna download the browser that they DO want to use?

      I imagine using one of their thousands of computers they use now and which already have browsers installed. This is about what Microsoft ships to Dell, not what Dell ships to Bestbuy.

    2. Re:new browser? by dave420 · · Score: 1

      Which will be IE, so they don't have to update their support. Nothing will change.

  35. Downloadability by Ohio+Calvinist · · Score: 0

    The nicest thing about having a bundled browser is that you could out-of-the-box download whatever one you wanted. Windows doesn't have anything like wget to download the packages over the internet, so if you don't have a browser, you're going to have a hard time getting one. When I was working with NT 3.51 (past its intended lifespan) trying to get drivers off the internet on a clean install sucked pretty bad, as I had to install a browser first to get anywhere.

    The biggest problem I see is that IE was non-removable, which does present an issue. Amost all OS packages include a browser these days (FF/Iceweasel in *nix, Safari on Mac, IE on Windows), but the difference is that IE was unremovable.

    I'm with them in that MS would not be able to stop OEMs from including other browsers. I think it is going a step-to-far to force MS to not include a browser as a part of it's OS offering given almost all their competitors do. No matter how much you love FF or hate all things Microsoft it seems extremely unreasonable. It also sets a bad precident in that now someone can complain and get other builtin software removed because of the competition issue... think WinZIP, WS_FTP, util you've stripped down the OS (Windows or otherwise) that does next to nothing out of the box and won't lower Windows' cost.

    I love Linux, but it seems its' get-adoptors-by-being-free-as-in-beer is exactly what pissed Netscape off when MS started giving IE away, and if Linux ever does get a foothold, regulators could start demanding what packages end up in the "default" install rather than the market, which really sucks.

    --
    Forgive my spelling from time to time. I'm often posting during short breaks.
    1. Re:Downloadability by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I think it is going a step-to-far to force MS to not include a browser as a part of it's OS offering given almost all their competitors do.

      Do you think it is going to far to stop James Wenneker von Brunn from shooting guns at people given that the US Olympic shooting team fires guns all the time? Maybe your first step should be understanding what law it was MS has violated and why that law exists. There's no law that says you can't bundle an OS and a browser. There's a law that says you can't undermine the free market by leveraging monopoly influence on another market.

      No matter how much you love FF or hate all things Microsoft it seems extremely unreasonable.

      It only seems unreasonable if you're ignorant of what antitrust law is all about. Is it too much to ask that you educate yourself before burdening us with your opinions?

      It also sets a bad precident[sic]...

      Okay, assuming for the sake of argument antitrust law is all wrong and fundamentally flawed, you think it sets a bad precedent to enforce the law instead of letting MS get away with breaking it while enforcing it against everyone else? How does this make sense? Even if the laws were completely wrong, MS as a corporation should obey them while trying to get them changed, just like everyone else.

      now someone can complain and get other builtin software removed because of the competition issue... think WinZIP, WS_FTP, util you've stripped down the OS (Windows or otherwise) that does next to nothing out of the box and won't lower Windows' cost.

      Yes, they could get some other software removed, but we have only your assertion it won't lower costs. As for doing nothing out of the box, it does nothing out of the box now because MS doesn't bundle it with a CPU and hard drive and display. That's why we have OEMs, to assemble components into sellable products.

      ...and if Linux ever does get a foothold, regulators could start demanding what packages end up in the "default" install rather than the market, which really sucks.

      Again, this shows your complete failure to understand antitrust law. Please, find out what the laws say before making absurd assertions like this.

    2. Re:Downloadability by EvanED · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Windows doesn't have anything like wget to download the packages over the internet...

      Does FTP not count as "something like wget"? Hell, you'd have your choice of CLI or GUI FTP client.

    3. Re:Downloadability by selven · · Score: 1

      Except even if Linux magically got a 96% market share there is no way any single organization could cause as much harm to anyone as Microsoft can and did. Even if Ubuntu started to have backdoors/malware/whatever everywhere, everyone would just leave it and join opensuse.

    4. Re:Downloadability by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 1

      The biggest problem I see is that IE was non-removable, which does present an issue. Amost all OS packages include a browser these days (FF/Iceweasel in *nix, Safari on Mac, IE on Windows), but the difference is that IE was unremovable.

      Please give detailed instructions on uninstalling the latest version of Safari from a Mac.

      --
      There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
  36. Re:What next EU: by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 0, Troll

    Thank you, another wise person who is marked as Troll.

    You're right. This singles out Microsoft and lets Apple and Linux off the hook.

    OSX only runs on "apple hardware" which to me screams more injustice than IE coming with windows. We all know Apple's hardware is the same shit in all of our windows pcs.

    Safari is bundled...

    Itunes is bundled...

    Search Light is bundled...

    The EU doesnt seem to care about them. Why? The answer is the REAL injustice.

  37. so... by n30na · · Score: 1

    Will they also ship with a wget equivelant and/or a lynx-style browser? If it comes with nothing, how will we download firefox?

    1. Re:so... by Alioth · · Score: 1

      It wouldn't exactly be rocket science to provide a tool to allow the user to choose a browser, download it, and install it.

    2. Re:so... by n30na · · Score: 1

      Would it say "(Recommended)" next to IE? ;P

  38. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 1

    Glad you're open-minded enough to understand my point.

  39. What will happens on "patch Tuesday" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Windows update (as it exists on XP ... I don't know about newer things) depends on IE and a mass of ActiveX to ensure that I'm updating a genuinely licensed copy of Windows. Will Windows 7 E have some other update mechanism to get and install the monthly deluge of bug fixes?

  40. Let the end customer decide... by Eggplant62 · · Score: 1

    Which browser will be on the machine and tell the vendors to stay the bloody hell out of it. You know they'll kowtow to MS and put IE back on it anyway.

  41. Safari/Mac = IE/Win ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry if this is a noob question but does Safari come pre-installed on all Mac's? If so, how is this different than IE and Windows?

    1. Re:Safari/Mac = IE/Win ? by theeddie55 · · Score: 1

      the difference is that the mac is only made by apple, why would apple need to be forced to be given the choice of installing a different browser.

      I hope that makes sense, though i'm not overly optimistic that it does.

    2. Re:Safari/Mac = IE/Win ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only the fact that Windows has over 50% of the market share. That's the definition of fair- if you succeed beyond a certain point, you have to follow more strict rules. If you fail enough to stay below 50%, it's fine for you to continue bundling your browser of choice when you send your OS to the manufacturer.

      It would be ridiculous to have standardized rules that apply to all competitors. It's much more fair to punish only the most successful company. Y'know, because you're required to buy their product or continue using their pre-installed browser.

  42. This is a *good* thing! by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 1

    For one, a percentage of users too busy to worry about security will end up with Opera, Chrome, or FFox (or Safari :) instead of Exploder. Whether on their own volition, or by support of some of the more knowledgeable IT friends.
    This means less zombie machines out there sending spam to all of us.

    I don't think google or mozilla should have any problem printing CDs and giving them for free on news stands or wherever else.

    If I were a windows user, you'd better believe I'd be torrenting this baby so I can easily have an Exploder free version of the OS.

    Kudos to EU, and kudos to MS for trying to play hardball.

    --
    If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
    1. Re:This is a *good* thing! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think google or mozilla should have any problem printing CDs and giving them for free on news stands or wherever else.

      Oh dear Lord, please take that back.

  43. Choices... by Ironica · · Score: 1

    Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers, according to a confidential memo that was sent to PC makers and seen by CNET News."

    But they wouldn't have the option of shipping the computer without any web browser installed at all? ;-)

    --
    Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
  44. I don't understand you guys... by Ecuador · · Score: 0

    I mean I really don't understand you... Why is this a good thing? How would a version of Windows that lacks a Firefox Downloader benefit anyone? The fact that you need a browser in order to get a browser (no, a bundled wget would certainly not do for Windows users), for me means that the browser should be part of the operating system. As long as that basic browser is able to download something like Firefox, I really don't care about how crappy it is. You might say that - hey - the OEM's should bundle other browsers. However isn't the fact that you REALLY need to bundle a browser an indication that it should be part of the OS?
    Perhaps we should have Apple remove Safari next. The DO have a monopoly on pretentious/cool-wannabe devices, don't they? ;)

    --
    Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    1. Re:I don't understand you guys... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I mean I really don't understand you...

      Yup, that's pretty obvious.

      Why is this a good thing?

      It helps to restore the free market so we can have innovation in Web technologies.

      The fact that you need a browser in order to get a browser (no, a bundled wget would certainly not do for Windows users), for me means that the browser should be part of the operating system... However isn't the fact that you REALLY need to bundle a browser an indication that it should be part of the OS?

      You really need a display to get a browser too, should it be bundled with the OS? You really need a CPU to use an OS, should it be bundled with the OS? If Microsoft were to come out with their own brand of CPU tomorrow and required all PC makers to buy a bundle of Windows with their CPU, instead of just Windows would you support that? After all, a OS won't work without a CPU. And PC makers can always throw away the MS brand CPU and buy one from Intel or AMD right? And if you wanted to run Windows on a PC you were building you could just throw away the CPU too right? And just because MS pays to create that CPU and deliver it does not mean the price of Windows was raised to include it, does it? After all, it comes "free" with the OS.

      Perhaps we should have Apple remove Safari next. The DO have a monopoly on pretentious/cool-wannabe devices, don't they? ;)

      They don't have a monopoly on desktop OS's or on Web browsers, so it does not undermine the market. MS does have an effective monopoly on desktop OS's so anything they bundle with it does undermine the free market.

    2. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 2, Informative

      allright,
      although this has been mentioned on slash about a million times before, here it goes:

      -there are other ways to install a browser, you can have a downloader supplied, you can do it via FTP, or you can simply pick up a CD.
      -IE is insecure, and simply having it on your system is a risk. someone may accidentally use it, other programs with vulns can invoke it etc.
      -apple does not have a monopoly on the consumer OS. And even if they did, they're not abusing it.

      Microsoft was not found guilty of being a monopoly. They were found guilty of abusing it.
      Welcome to slashdot.

      --
      If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
    3. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Ecuador · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      You really need a display to get a browser too, should it be bundled with the OS? You really need a CPU to use an OS, should it be bundled with the OS? If Microsoft were to come out with their own brand of CPU tomorrow and required all PC makers to buy a bundle of Windows with their CPU, instead of just Windows would you support that? After all, a OS won't work without a CPU. And PC makers can always throw away the MS brand CPU and buy one from Intel or AMD right? And if you wanted to run Windows on a PC you were building you could just throw away the CPU too right? And just because MS pays to create that CPU and deliver it does not mean the price of Windows was raised to include it, does it? After all, it comes "free" with the OS.

      Oh, come on, of all the arguments you could use you resort to cheap sophism? I can't seriously respond to this, perhaps I could revert to humor... but...

      They don't have a monopoly on desktop OS's or on Web browsers, so it does not undermine the market. MS does have an effective monopoly on desktop OS's so anything they bundle with it does undermine the free market.

      Hmm, no sense of humor either? Perhaps I shouldn't have tried to respond...

      --
      Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    4. Re:I don't understand you guys... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You really need a display to get a browser too, should it be bundled with the OS? You really need a CPU to use an OS, should it be bundled with the OS? If Microsoft were to come out with their own brand of CPU tomorrow and required all PC makers to buy a bundle of Windows with their CPU, instead of just Windows would you support that? After all, a OS won't work without a CPU. And PC makers can always throw away the MS brand CPU and buy one from Intel or AMD right? And if you wanted to run Windows on a PC you were building you could just throw away the CPU too right? And just because MS pays to create that CPU and deliver it does not mean the price of Windows was raised to include it, does it? After all, it comes "free" with the OS.

      Oh, come on, of all the arguments you could use you resort to cheap sophism? I can't seriously respond to this, perhaps I could revert to humor... but...

      This isn't sophism, it is how antitrust law works. Answer the question. Should MS be able to bundle a CPU with their OS? If not, how is a CPU qualitatively different from a browser? Either action is the same in terms of effect upon the market and both are illegal under the same antitrust law.

      I have no doubt you can't respond to this, but not because it is not a serious argument. It's because you;re completely wrong in principal.

    5. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Ecuador · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Wow, you are serious with that CPU example? I will dare answer, although I doubt I will get through...
      First of all, you are completely disregarding what an OS means. Let's take the Wikipedia definition: "an interface between hardware and user". An OS is definitely not hardware, so I would say bundling CPU's would be an obvious attempt at abusing your market position in OS's. However, a browser is indeed an interface between hardware (the network) and the user. You could compare it to a telnet program, an ftp program or more loosely to firewall software, file managers, image viewers etc. A question is where is the line drawn between OS and applications (I trust we have now moved past your silly CPU example). I would say that the OS should enable the very basic functionality that a modern user would expect. I would say that viewing an image, writing a text file, accessing the internet are examples of very basic functionality. "Accessing the internet" right now means a browser. Would it be ok if MS only bundled an FTP client? They would still be "destroying" the "FTP client market", however right now a browser is the most basic internet application and that is what should be included in an OS. I don't expect to have to find a CD to install a browser, IE is fine for downloading a decent browser. Ok, you can say then that it is a security risk and that browsing porn on an unpatched IE could get you into trouble, but I would counter that people who get hit that way, are also vulnerable to the countless other attack vectors available to malware writers for Windows systems.
      In the end, removing IE from Windows adds an inconvenience to Windows, and I think that is the main reason that this is considered "good news" here. Yeah, I have my nice SUSE desktop and I don't care whether Windows users can surf out of the box or not, however I that is no reason for finding this good.

      --
      Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    6. Re:I don't understand you guys... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Wow, you are serious with that CPU example? I will dare answer, although I doubt I will get through...

      You're right it won't because you don't even answer the question. You don't provide any quality that makes the Web browser market different from the CPU market and then explain why that makes a difference in term of either antitrust law or economics.

      ...question is where is the line drawn between OS and applications...

      Not really, because it doesn't matter. Is a telephone part of a telephone network? It didn't matter in the AT&T case because it isn't relevant. What matters is if it is a separate, preexisting market, both in the eyes of the law and in terms of economics. No one writes antitrust laws about browsers and OS's or phones and phone servic because it isn't relevant, just as we don't write murder laws about murder with a waffle iron while wearing a sweater.

      In the end, removing IE from Windows adds an inconvenience to Windows...

      This is the logical fallacy, appeal to consequences.

      You fail all around.

    7. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Noctris · · Score: 1

      Sorry but that is a load of crap.. Your windows version will not be cheaper because all of the suddon, IE is not there anymore ( probably will still have the option to install during setup right?) So will we start to sue car companies because they put 'wheels' on cars ? of because they have an integrated stereo in the car which is "bundled" ? ( and those things are harder to replace then a browser)

      In the and, the commision is messing with things they have too little knowledge of.. When i install ubuntu, evolution, Firefox, etc.. is bundled too.. i can uninstall ( just like IE).

      And in the end: Yes.. you DO have the option to switch to Firefox, opera , chrome.. etc.. so why make the choice for the end user ? Let them decide theirselfs.. so users who are not as familiar with computers as us "geeks" can just do their thing, and people that want to change can..

      The only thing that really makes the market "free" is choice.. and that we already have...

    8. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple should be let off just because its "illeagal" for one company to do it dosent mean that Apple should its special coze its cool and trendy.

      One rule for all is only fair.

      TBH I'd be happy if they didnt try and force safari on windows users everytime they issue an update for Itunes, Quicktime, etc.

    9. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Ecuador · · Score: 1

      Last attempt. Let me try a car analogy since everything else has failed. And it doesn't even have to be a far-fetched analogy.
      So, if you are right and I am simply not getting it, please phrase it in terms of a car analogy.
      Anyway, say that originally cars did not have windshield wipers (true). Then some University develops them and various shops start building them and adding them to cars (most for free - but I think that is irrelevant). Then, all automakers start installing their own windshield wipers by default. However, one automaker (Microsoft Motors) has most of the market. Are they the only ones not allowed to pre-install their windshield wipers, even though you can't seriously expect a modern car not to come with wipers?
      Note that in this example the CPU is not represented by the engine of the car (since the whole car is the OS), there isn't a good analogy but it would be something like roads, gasoline etc, i.e. something not all cars come with (like a CPU does not come with any OS and is not expected to).
      A further question so that I can understand fully. Why are we allowing windows to come with firewall, image viewer, wordpad, email client etc? Aren't they destroying the markets of all these (Firewalls, email clients etc existed as a market before MS added them).

      --
      Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    10. Re:I don't understand you guys... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Then, all automakers start installing their own windshield wipers by default. However, one automaker (Microsoft Motors) has most of the market.

      All automakers? There basically aren't any other automakers. MS has about 98% of the relevant market. If there were one car company normal people could buy from (not specialty shops that sell only to the military for example and which are not part of this market as Apple is not) then yes, the MS car company would be banned from creating their own windshield wipers and bundling them thus destroying the livelihoods of the innovators who invented and started installing them.

      Your main problem is you're mostly ignoring the whole "monopoly" thing. This is understandable since monopolies are uncommon and regulated in our society. Analogies with cars are always going to be awkward because none of us has ever lived in a society where cars were a monopolized market. Try an analogy with a monopoly, like the power distribution monopoly to your house. Imagine if they were not bound by antitrust law and could just start bundling things with the service they provide while at the same time increasing your bill. Do you see how that would undermine the market for whatever they bundled and why we have laws preventing suchlike?

      A further question so that I can understand fully. Why are we allowing windows to come with firewall, image viewer, wordpad, email client etc? Aren't they destroying the markets of all these (Firewalls, email clients etc existed as a market before MS added them).

      The criteria is if the product constituted a separate pre-existing market at the time of the monopoly. So for most of the items you list, yes they are undermining the markets for those items. If it ever goes to court, MS will probably lose. Any normal company would have taken measures to separate their application and OS divisions and been careful to market both separately to OEMs to avoid any possibility of antitrust issues. MS chose instead to ignore the laws over and over again and they are slowly being convicted over and over again. This is 100% their own fault. They have more lawyers than Disney and certainly can't claim they don't know what the law is. They just made a business decision that breaking the law would be more profitable. They bet the courts are ineffective and slow and bribable and they've been right for the most part.

      What saddens be is that 90% of people here don't understand what laws MS is breaking or why those laws exist, but they feel they should voice their opinion that whatever laws they are they must be wrong.

      I might mention, you STILL haven't answered my original questions. Should MS be allowed to bundle CPUs with their OS? If not, what quality differentiates CPUs and browsers and how would you write a law that makes bundling one legal and the other illegal while still applying to the general case?

    11. Re:I don't understand you guys... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      Sorry but that is a load of crap.

      What a persuasive argument.

      Your windows version will not be cheaper because all of the suddon, IE is not there anymore...

      In a free market it is.

      o will we start to sue car companies because they put 'wheels' on cars ?

      If one car company gained a monopoly on cars before they started adding wheels to them, yes we would. Don't you think you should know what is illegal before you try making these analogies?

      In the and, the commision is messing with things they have too little knowledge of.

      The EU is enforcing the fricking law. It's been the law for a hundred years in the US and applies to everyone and all markets. It applies to the oil industry and the telephone market and to the wheat market and the browser market.

      When i install ubuntu, evolution, Firefox, etc.. is bundled too..

      So? When I go to the range and target practice I'm not arrested for murder. Does that mean it is always legal to fire a handgun regardless of the circumstances?

      You don't even understand what's illegal or why it is illegal. Please educate yourself before babbling on and on.

    12. Re:I don't understand you guys... by Ecuador · · Score: 1

      I have answered again and again. A CPU is not part of the OS, while the browser is. As simple as that. I consider the browser as part of the OS, as windshield wipers are part of the car, merely a required enhancement.
      And you didn't tell me. If MS should not be bundling IE, how about the other OS's? Can they bundle their own browsers? Because that would seem to me that would mean giving them an edge and I assume the law would just prevent abuse of monopoly, not give competitive advantages to small players.

      --
      Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    13. Re:I don't understand you guys... by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      I have answered again and again. A CPU is not part of the OS, while the browser is.

      So you think laws should be written that specifically deal with browsers OS's and CPU's?!? A browser and an OS and a CPU are all parts of a computer system I buy at Walmart. So if the difference if it is part of "something" then your definition fails spectacularly.

      Antitrust law is not about undefined "somethings". It's about economics and specifically about markets. It doesn't matter if a browser is part of an OS or if an OS is part of a computer system. What matters is if their is a separate, preexisting MARKET for both OS's and browsers or CPUs and browsers or CPUs and computer systems.

      s simple as that. I consider the browser as part of the OS, as windshield wipers are part of the car, merely a required enhancement.

      So how do you write an antitrust law that defines these "somethings" into which you are grouping items? Why is an OS a something but a computer system is not? How do you write a law that makes it legal for MS to bundle browsers and their monopolized OS's but doesn't make it legal for them to bundle CPUs and their monopolized OS or make it legal for AT&T to bundle telephones and landline service... without going around and defining every single thing in the world as part of arbitrary "somethings"?

      If MS should not be bundling IE, how about the other OS's? Can they bundle their own browsers?

      Yes they can. Doing so for them is not breaking any law and does not undermine free trade.

      Because that would seem to me that would mean giving them an edge and I assume the law would just prevent abuse of monopoly, not give competitive advantages to small players.

      What competitive advantage do you think is being conferred? Is Apple gaining an advantage by bundling Safari with OS X with Macs and selling them? How so? Dell can sell Latitudes with Windows and IE. How is Apple gaining a market advantage and what market are they gaining an advantage in? Is Redhat gaining an advantage over Micrososft because they are selling a bundle of Linux and Firefox to Asus while Microsoft has to sell them Windows and IE separately? How is that an advantage to Redhat? Redhat has to be answerable to their customers because they don't have a monopoly on anything. If Asus wants just Linux or just Firefox market pressures force Redhat to give Asus what they want or they can go with another vendor. Only Microsoft is in a position to ignore Asus's desires. For most of their computers, Windows is the only viable option so if Asus needs Windows for a market MS can force them to take IE as well. That's a crime because it breaks competition in the Web browser market.

      So please get back to me here. First, describe to me your idea of antitrust law if we're throwing away the concept of markets and defining things in terms of "somethings". Second, how does another vendor bundling a browser and OS give them an advantage in any market and undermine the operation of said market?

  45. Ecological Disaster? by Rockoon · · Score: 0, Troll

    Anybody familiar enough with the basics to estimate the environmental impact of seperate browser CD's?

    They need to be manufactured: raw materials -> CD pressing factory
    They need to make their way to retailers: factory -> retailers
    They need to make their way to customers: retailers -> customers
    They need to make their way to landfill/recycler: customers -> waste disposal

    I would think that 100,000,000 units in europe would be a conservative estimate over a 10 year period.

    --
    "His name was James Damore."
    1. Re:Ecological Disaster? by lukas84 · · Score: 1

      You actually believes anyone with decision making power cares for the big picture?

    2. Re:Ecological Disaster? by dimeglio · · Score: 2, Funny

      WTF are CDs?

      --
      Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author.
    3. Re:Ecological Disaster? by tepples · · Score: 1

      A CD is an optical storage medium for small (< 700 MB) digital archives that's still significantly cheaper than a USB or SD memory card of the same capacity. It's useful for sneakernet, or the distribution of software without needing a high-speed WAN link.

      I take it your joke is that high-speed WAN links are ubiquitous.

    4. Re:Ecological Disaster? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      WTF are CDs?

      They're like 5.25" floppies without the envelope, only reflective and shiny. And you can fit - imagine that - a whopping 700 MB on one!

  46. Does that mean I can install ANY browser I want? by Klistvud · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've heard of this fast, sleek, free browser called IceWeasel. Apparently, it gets installed in mere minutes, including all its accompanying dll's and stuff (the bundle is called Debian Lenny or something like that). And, purely as a bonus, it makes your system seem twice as fast!

    --
    Intellectual Property: an immaterial non-entity, most fiercely contended by those with no proper intellect to speak of.
  47. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    lol

  48. Deal with OEM ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is to keep MS out from making deals with OEM, like offering discounts on Windows 7 if they install IE, or just don't install other browsers?
    It isn't very Microsoft'ish to just let things go the way they don't want..

  49. IE Already Uncoupled by losthought · · Score: 1

    It should be noted that this is not some crazy technological feat. Internet Explorer is already uninstallable via the Control Panel in Windows 7. To comply with this all they have to do is not have it installed by default. I would imagine that they could even leave it in as an optional component to be installed later (like IIS or any other module). So all of you folks worrying about not having your massive Firefox download kit shouldn't.

    Some others have also wondered how manual updates would be performed without Internet Explorer. Starting in Windows Vista this functionality was moved to a Control Panel applet. It was the same in Windows Server 2008 and is the same in Windows 7. So, no need for IE at all.

    cheers, lost

  50. And with what Pc makers will ship it with ? by unity100 · · Score: 1

    ie of course. since they are selling to distribution outlets which are generally ms vendors, or have connections to ms vendors, they will prefer ie. why not bundle it with firefox, while shipping a ms os ?

    no. not good enough.

    1. Re:And with what Pc makers will ship it with ? by lamadude · · Score: 1

      Exactly, all the manufacturers will have the "choice" continue to sell windows 7 with IE. They have connections with microsoft or worry that not shipping would increase the user complaints and after sales problems.

  51. windows update by theeddie55 · · Score: 1

    Having taken Internet Explorer out of windows, are microsoft going to let us use the windows update site in firefox, or am i just being optimistic.

    1. Re:windows update by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      Christ, this is the second post. It's not 1998 anymore. You can get updates using a control panel since at least Windows 2000 (and I'm pretty sure Windows 98 had that feature as well.) Please update your anti-Microsoft FUD for the current decade, thank you.

    2. Re:windows update by Shados · · Score: 1

      Since Vista, you can't even USE a browser -at all- to use windows update (that is, the actual windows update service. Obviously you can download the updates through the website if you want, but its not the automated stuff).

      The browser version of Windows Update's last supported version is XP.

  52. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    Internet Explorer is not just another application, it's a deeply embedded part of the OS. Microsoft has not removed it from Windows, all they've done is hide it from a few of the places it comes into play. It's still there, as part of Windows Explorer and the Control Panel and Windows Update and Windows Media Player.

    The application is called "Internet Explorer". It's what Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome etc are competing against, and what the EU antitrust investigation has problems with. This was removed.

    The application uses a rendering engine, generally known as "Trident" or simply "MSHTML", to render HTML. This wasn't removed, but it's not really an issue, because it by itself does not unfairly compete with Firefox and other browsers. Simply put, user's choice of web browser is not hindered or affected by Trident libraries present on the system.

  53. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

    Microsoft has not removed it from Windows, all they've done is hide it from a few of the places it comes into play. It's still there, as part of Windows Explorer and the Control Panel and Windows Update and Windows Media Player

    Citation please? I thought Vista did just that.

    Safari is just another application. I use Camino on my Mac Mini and Safari never pops up unrequested, the way Internet Explorer does no matter how hard I try and avoid it on Windows.

    Never had IE pop up unless I asked it to. How does it happen to you.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  54. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's time to raise tariffs on the EU, and put to bed this foolish free trade thing once and for all.

    You mean like cotton trades to bankrupt Africa and make sure American cotton is protected? That protectionism doesn't count?

    Reference: See the movie "Let's make money" (2008)

  55. B..bb...but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how will we download firefox when we first install windows?

    1. Re:B..bb...but... by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 1

      Asked and answered

  56. Everybody knows the Internet doesn't exist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everybody knows the Internet doesn't exist if you don't have a browser.

    I mean, that little client app Apple has run on first boot for the past decade which phones home for registration and patches uses the "ether", not the "net", which is useless without a "browser".

    Back in the day, I sent my bytes individually, by hand.

    Now get off my lawn.

  57. Re:What next EU: by trickyD1ck · · Score: 0

    Hey, go away whith your logic, we are having groupthink here!

  58. Kids today! Learn FTP dagnabbit! :) by bADlOGIN · · Score: 1

    Microsoft still hasn't removed FTP. That's how I did my last install of Firefox on a system with XP re-installed because
    I refused to run that IE garbageware for any reason if I can help it.

    --
    *** Sigs are a stupid waste of bandwidth.
  59. Here we go again by hkmwbz · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Cue hundreds of comments like "why can Apple bundle a browser but not Microsoft" (Apple is not in the same dominant position, and didn't break the law), "EU is a bunch of commie bastards" (ignoring the fact that the US has the exact same antitrust laws as well), and so on. It's the same old drivel every single time. It's as if there is a legion of Microsoft shills just waiting in line to post the same fallacies over and over again every time someone posts about the EU antitrust case. I can't believe that some people still don't get the basic facts of this case.

    Sigh.

    --
    Clever signature text goes here.
    1. Re:Here we go again by GF678 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I can't believe that some people still don't get the basic facts of this case.

      If my readings on Neowin are anything, I think it's a bit simpler than that:

      * People either don't KNOW about Microsoft's history with the law, or
      * People don't care, or don't see it as being particularly important

      The first is simple ignorance. Keep in mind a lot of younger folk won't remember or will have heard about past issues with MS. Furthermore, Slashdot seems to be the only site that has a fixation about Microsoft's anti-trust issues, and since we keep going on about it in comments, people from the outside see us as IRRATIONAL Microsoft haters instead of wondering WHY.

      The second is simple - unless it affects them, people don't care about what Microsoft does. The EU are seen as money-grabbing corrupt bastards, and everyone's trying to get a piece of the Microsoft pie. Poor Microsoft.

      So don't act surprised.

    2. Re:Here we go again by Richthofen80 · · Score: 1

      If Apple ever gained the dominant position in the market, would you support forcing them to remove their browser in their OS?

      --
      Reason, free market capitalism, and individualism
    3. Re:Here we go again by hkmwbz · · Score: 1
      If their bundling broke the law, certainly.

      However, there are some differences here. For example, Safari is actually one of the most standards compliant browsers. It can also be removed from the OS. And so on. There are many such differences from the Microsoft case, so it is not absolutely certain that Apple would be forced to unbundle if they were dominant. Conclusion: I just don't know. Depends on the circumsances.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    4. Re:Here we go again by jonaskoelker · · Score: 1

      The EU are seen as money-grabbing corrupt bastards

      Of course! "The EU", in the shape you hear about it, consists of politicians.

      When I hear about "Denmark", or "Germany", or "Italy", I think of a geographical area, a people, a language, customs, culture, cuisine that all differ between one another.

      When I hear about "Colorado", "California", "Texas" or "Massachussetts", I think of the USA, one people, one language, one set of customs, culture and cuisine. ... And I think I'm right in doing so. When I hear about "The EU", I think of what politicians do in Bruxelles. The rest of what goes on in Europe goes on in a particular country (in my mind), not so much "The EU".

      (I'm from Denmark, FWIW. we're an EU member, but we take exception to a few things; the common currency, for one).

    5. Re:Here we go again by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

      If Apple ever gained the dominant position in the market, would you support forcing them to remove their browser in their OS?

      What market are you talking about? Since Apple doesn't sell a desktop OS it would be pretty hard for them to gain a dominant position. They do sell computer systems though, so if Apple were ever to achieve dominance in the computer system market, then yes I would 100% absolutely support forcing them to unbundle their OS from their hardware and, if relevant, their browser from their OS.

  60. Re:It's About OEMs Idiot by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1

    What is it with people like you? Do you feel so inferior that you simply must insult others to convince yourself of how great you are?

    Anyway -- nothing requires OEMs to install a browser. Especially those small PC-building shops who will grab OEM windows and install it. If they're not paying attention, they're going to have some supremely peeved customers.

  61. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by EvanED · · Score: 1

    Internet Explorer is not just another application, it's a deeply embedded part of the OS.

    *cough*bullshit*cough*

    It's still there, as part of Windows Explorer and the Control Panel and Windows Update and Windows Media Player.

    Windows Explorer: Not true, starting with Vista.

    Control Panel: Huh? Not true; that's just standard Windows Explorer.

    Windows Update: Not true, starting with Vista.

    WMP: I can't speak to that.

    About the only "fundamental" part of Windows where their HTML rendering engine is used that I know of at this point is the help system.

    Basically, you are part of a group of people who spout as much FUD about MS and Windows as anyone does about Linux.

  62. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 4, Informative

    You do know that MS was found guilty in the US don't you? You also know that the EU has imposed huge fines on EU based companies too don't you?

  63. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

    You seem to conveniently skip the fact that the US has competition laws as well, and that Microsoft was convicted there in the late 90s. But hey, I guess it's only bad if the EU enforces its own laws, eh?

    --
    Clever signature text goes here.
  64. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're correct that you can stop using Safari in Mac OS X, but as of Mac OS X 10.4 you can't stop using WebKit. It is embedded into the OS as a part of the platform with an open API that other applications can, and do, utilize. When those applications render HTML, they're using WebKit, and nothing you can do changes that, not changing the default browser nor "uninstalling" Safari.

    Mac OS X is exactly the same as Windows in this regard. The browser itself is a simple user-level application that wraps a rendering engine that was promoted to a fundamental component of the platform.

  65. 98 is still being supported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, none.

  66. WebKit would make PC 8 times faster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If a European computer maker were to install Safari 4 instead of Internet Explorer 8, that would speed up Web browsing for that user by 7.8 times. It would also make the PC compatible with the HTML5 of the mobile Web, soon to be known as The Web. And Safari is so much easier to use. The UI is made to be easy and approachable for everyone. Removing IE 8 also makes Windows safer, because you remove some very popular attack vectors.

    The reason WebKit is so fast is that since the beginning of the project, they've had a rule where if you add a patch, the browser has to continue to be as fast as it was or faster afterwards. No matter how important the patch, if it slows the browser down, they pull it and rework it until it doesn't affect the speed. That's part of why WebKit is on all the smart phones now. It's fast enough that you can run it on an ARM 400MHz with 128MB of RAM that is also running a phone and email in the background, and the browser is usable.

    When you consider that people are buying a whole new system to get one that is maybe 2 times faster, the computer vendor could really add to customer satisfaction by just swapping the browser. They could even do a showdown with their competitor's PC that comes with IE 8 and show how much faster their systems are.

    If the PC is a small notebook that is somewhat underpowered and will be used primarily for Web browsing, removing IE 8 and adding Safari 4 could dramatically change the user experience. For example, a netbook with Safari 4 is likely a faster Web browser than a full-size PC with IE 8.

    If there is going to be a generic PC market, the generic PC makers are going to have to start noticing that software exists. Pretty soon, a generic PC is just going to be one chip from Intel and maybe one from NVIDIA.

  67. thanks a lot by bitt3n · · Score: 3, Funny

    great, now I have to go find IE6 and download it myself. thanks a lot jerks

  68. I can see the commercials now. by Deathlizard · · Score: 3, Funny

    MAC: Hello, I'm A Mac
    PC: And I'm a PC (PC is holding up a chicken statue in one hand and an Egg, in another)
    MAC: Say, you should see my new picture collection of my trip to Cupertino that I posted on Facebook using IPhoto? They came out great.
    PC: (stares intently at the chicken and egg.) You don't say. I'd love to but I can't until I figure this out
    MAC: Figure what out?
    PC: Well, since Windows 7 doesn't ship with a browser anymore, I can't look at webpages, and since I can't look at webpages anymore I can't get a browser. It's so philosophical.
    MAC: I see. well, Macs come with Safari, the worlds fastest web browser, so you can browse the internet out of the box.
    PC: Must be nice.
    MAC, Well, since you can't look at my page, how would you like to listen to my new MP3 Mix tape I made using Garageband. It sounds awesome.
    PC: Well.....
    (Show picture of IMac with the Mac Background)

    1. Re:I can see the commercials now. by murphyd311 · · Score: 1
      It's amazing how people don't even read the summary. PC makers will ship Windows with a browser. It might not necessarily be IE.

      "Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in, ship another browser or ship multiple browsers, according to a confidential memo that was sent to PC makers and seen by CNET News."

  69. Ridiculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My calculator, notepad, and command prompt applications are at a competitive disadvantage due to Microsoft's practice of bundling commonly desired and useful applications with their operating system.

    Can I sue to have them removed?

    1. Re:Ridiculous by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Can I sue to have them removed?

      Of course you can. As long as you've got the filing fee.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  70. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Right wing?? Who are you calling right wing? They're leftists I tell you.
    And quit making funny comments about the hat.

    Democrats: Tax and spend.
    Republicans: Borrow and spend. .... where the HECK is the NO SPEND party?

  71. This misses the point. by maxxard · · Score: 1

    I can see software sellers in the EU using it as an excuse to bundle a version of IE with their software. Quite a lot of software requires a minimum version of IE. It will quickly become different versions of IE, and they won't miss the opportunity to customise it with their own crapware too. Don't be surprised if MS offer IE for bundling with other apps as well, some of which might end up installed as trial versions on new PCs. Then there will be the shady accounting practises from the PC sellers, suggesting that the income they get from the crapware covers the cost of the MS licence, and look, nothing has changed. If the EU wanted to get serious, they should insist that all PCs are sold with the OS as an optional item in the package - an option you don't have to pay for if you don't want it. I think MS have diverted their attention from this aspect of PC sales quite successfully with the fallout from the browser wars last century. Perhaps that was what it was all about from the start.

  72. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're about seven years out of date... IE has not been part of any of those components since XP.

  73. Re:What next EU: by Mattsson · · Score: 1

    Big difference that you seem to be willfully ignoring. Neither Apple or any Linux vendor strong armed OEMs into exclusively installing their browser.

    Ahem... Not to be nit picking, but the only OEM that produces OSX-compatible hardware exclusively install Safari and I don't think the creators of Safari would allow that OEM to install anything else. =)

    --
    /.Mattsson - My native language is not English, so please don't whine over linguistic errors. (That's lame anyway...)
  74. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I take it you've never used Windows Vista or Windows 7. Internet Explorer has not been part of explorer or windows update for years. In windows 7 you can uninstall IE, leaving behind only the rendering engine for applications that require it. If you set another broswer to be your default, you will never see IE in Vista and 7.

  75. Re:What next EU: by idamaybrown · · Score: 1

    So what OEM does install something other than Safari on an Apple?

  76. How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by spitzak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't know if it is stupidity or Microsoft shills.

    However if you read the fa, or even if you think a little bit:

    NOBODY IS GOING TO SELL A COMPUTER WITHOUT A BROWSER!

    The machine the end user gets will have a browser. Likely more than one. Probably the blue E and the firefox will be on the desktop. The user can click on either one.

    This is what Microsoft did not allow before and what they have been forced to allow.

    They are still up to the same shit, saying "IE is missing" without saying exactly what they were forced to do.

    1. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by dhavleak · · Score: 1

      How many idiots are here on /. you ask? Well, I'm replying to one right now.

      I don't know if it is stupidity or Microsoft shills.

      ...

      However if you read the fa, or even if you think a little bit:
      NOBODY IS GOING TO SELL A COMPUTER WITHOUT A BROWSER!

      What about retail box sales of Windows genius? Novice users do clean installs / upgrades too.

      The machine the end user gets will have a browser. Likely more than one. Probably the blue E and the firefox will be on the desktop. The user can click on either one.

      I repeat - what about retail sales, genius? Or let me guess -- you think it's ok because only about 10 to 15 percent of sales will be retail sales.

      This is what Microsoft did not allow before and what they have been forced to allow.

      Bullshit. The EU is still in the process of querying OEMS -- they themselves do not have evidence of MS disallowing this or using any strong-arm tactics -- so what evidence do you have?

      They are still up to the same shit, saying "IE is missing" without saying exactly what they were forced to do.

      And now you're just rambling. What is your point? How does it make a difference to you if the trident engine is present on the machine (for .cmh files etc. to work) if you cannot launch IE once you have uninstalled it?

      And finally, since you appear to have such a well-thought out stance on this (yes, I'm being sarcastic), answer this:
      1) What qualifies a browser to be pre-installed on a machine by an OEM - customer demand? features? security? compatibility? reliability? standards compliance?
      2) What makes you think you, or the EU, or the OEM is in the best position to make that decision for consumers?
      4) Who will bear the cost of automating the install, doing compatibility testing, etc. (possibly on multiple browsers)?

      I suspect, the OEMs were perfectly happy with not having to get involved in this thus far. It's one less hassle, and one less customization cost for them on the machines they sell. And users were always free to go download a different browser if they so desired. For that matter, OEMs themselves were free to take the hassle/cost of installing a different browser if they so desired.

      Guess what - nobody cared. For all the rhetoric around the issue, it's just a freaking browser in the end, the EU doesn't give a damn about user's convenience, and it's just making another ATM withdrawal.

    2. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by spitzak · · Score: 1

      Oh my god, you are really getting desperate, huh?

      1. Retail boxes of Windows from Microsoft will still contain IE. What this is doing is allowing OEM's to put different arrangements of browsers on a retail machine.

      2. Yes, one allowed arrangement is "no IE", although that is very unlikely. A far more likely arrangement is "IE and Firefox", something that Microsoft did not allow before or the OEM would lose their volume discount. Note that there are TWO (count em) browsers, although in your fantasy astroturf world the ONLY thing that counts is "IE is removed", despite the fact that you and I both know that nobody is going to do that.

      For that matter, OEMs themselves were free to take the hassle/cost of installing a different browser if they so desired.

      You blew it there. That is a LIE.

    3. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2, Insightful

      For that matter, OEMs themselves were free to take the hassle/cost of installing a different browser if they so desired.

      You blew it there. That is a LIE.

      I've seen people argue both for and against it several times on /. - i.e., that OEMs are strong-armed into leaving IE in place (some even say that agreements they sign legally require that, some say it's just behind-the-scene), or that OEMs are free to do whatever they want. However, neither side has so far produced any references backing up their claims. I would be curious to see either.

      Note however that I'm talking about the present-day situation, not what was going on 10 years ago...

    4. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by dhavleak · · Score: 1

      Oh my god, you are really getting desperate, huh?

      No, you're just ingorant. I'll demonstrate in the next line.

      1. Retail boxes of Windows from Microsoft will still contain IE. What this is doing is allowing OEM's to put different arrangements of browsers on a retail machine.

      From TFA: "This will apply to both OEM and Retail versions of Windows 7 products." - next time you want to start calling people idiots/shills and display strong but ingorant views, I suggest reading the article first.

      2. Yes, one allowed arrangement is "no IE", although that is very unlikely. A far more likely arrangement is "IE and Firefox", something that Microsoft did not allow before or the OEM would lose their volume discount. Note that there are TWO (count em) browsers, although in your fantasy astroturf world the ONLY thing that counts is "IE is removed", despite the fact that you and I both know that nobody is going to do that.

      You're still lacking any citation for your claim about the OEM losing volume licensing if they bundle a different browser. Take your time searching for one and then reply back.

      For that matter, OEMs themselves were free to take the hassle/cost of installing a different browser if they so desired.

      You blew it there. That is a LIE.

      I repeat - you need a citation to back up your rhetoric.

    5. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by Mr_Silver · · Score: 1

      The machine the end user gets will have a browser. Likely more than one. Probably the blue E and the firefox will be on the desktop. The user can click on either one.

      Unless the Mozilla Foundation (or Opera) will pay Dell/HP/etc to bundled their browser then I'd expect to see IE installed instead.

      After all, if the OEM isn't going to get any more money out of bundling a different browser, they might as well save costs on people phoning their helpdesk because they can't get "onto the internet" by including IE.

      In short, unless we see some serious money being coughed up - nothing is going to change from what it is now.

      --
      Avantslash - View Slashdot cleanly on your mobile phone.
    6. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      This has been discussed to death. If you RTFA, you will see that Microsoft will supply free browser CDs. In addition, new PCs will have a browser bundled by the OEM. And so on. There are lots of solutions. Including an "app store" like interface to easily select between browsers. Linux distributions can do this, so why can't Microsoft?

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    7. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by spitzak · · Score: 1

      It's very cute how you carefully word all your sentences to imply that IE will be unavailable. Some of the keywords are "instead" in the first sentence, and all your implication that people who don't know how to do anything other than click the 'e' will somehow be unable to click it because of the presence of Firefox.

      OEMs will include Firefox if Microsoft allowed them to because "users may have heard of and prefer it, and now they can run it IF THEY WANT without installing it. And we still provide Microsoft's Internet Explorer for users that are familiar with and prefer it."

      Of course you are going to keep tying stuff implying that IE will be removed from the machines or that somehow it is impossible or incredibly complicated for an OEM to include Firefox without somehow magically making it impossible for people to see the 'e'. You sir are living in a fantasy world, I guess a fantasy that is from being paid to write your bullshit.

    8. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I had mod points, I'd mod you up, sir.

    9. Re:How many idiots are there here on Slashdot? by dhavleak · · Score: 1

      Linux distributions can do this, so why can't Microsoft?

      Linux distributions can bundle a browser, so why can't Micsosoft?
      OS-X can bundle a browser, so why can't Microsoft?

      Further - what's to prevent the EU from going after MS for providing free CDs of IE (and only IE) with Win7? They haven't showed much logic in this particular witch-hunt/ATM-withdrawal.

  77. How so? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    Computer makers would then have the option to add the browser back in,

    How is it an "option" when one of your primary suppliers has your nuts in a vice?

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  78. WINE : Gecko by DrYak · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Meanwhile, WINE is happily working without any IE code at all.
    The trick is, WINE uses another HTML engine (Gecko in this case) whenever a software expects to use MSHTML. (And I'm ready to bet that ReactOS does a similar trick).

    In theory you could completely remove IE, as long as you replace the rendering engine with some other, and provide the necessary bindings so all the softwares using HTML can still function.

    But currently, beside WINE & ReactOS' Gecko-based implementations, I don't know if there are that much replacement to help people run softwares requiring an HTML engine.

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
    1. Re:WINE : Gecko by EvanED · · Score: 1

      In theory you could completely remove IE, as long as you replace the rendering engine with some other, and provide the necessary bindings so all the softwares using HTML can still function.

      Oh, sure. I didn't mean to claim otherwise. I was just saying that shipping Windows without any HTML rendering engine would be foolhardy on MS's part and stupid on the part of any regulators to require. And requiring MS to ship competitors' renderers opens a whole can of worms and, I think, would be entirely unreasonable. Put these too together and you'll see why I said that I don't see Windows shipping without MSHTML.

    2. Re:WINE : Gecko by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      fsck Wine.

    3. Re:WINE : Gecko by kholburn · · Score: 1
      Rubbish. You could ship it with a skeleton html renderer, enough to do basics or you could ship it without on and bring up a dialog to download or activate one.

      "You have asked to use a non-Microsoft rendering engine for windows. Not all help pages may be completely readable if you choose this option.

      Are you really, really, really, really sure you want to do this? (y/N)."

    4. Re:WINE : Gecko by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Rubbish. You could ship it with a skeleton html renderer...

      So now you want to require MS to maintain two HTML renderers for... what benefit exactly? ...or you could ship it without on and bring up a dialog to download or activate one.

      What if the help topic the user is trying to look up is "how do I get online?"

  79. Re:What next EU: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What horseshit.

    Apple has what? 10-15% of the desktop market? [sarcasm]Yeah, they are really capable of making all other desktops follow their lead and creating a situation where their browser dominates how the web is configured/coded.[/sarcasm]

    As for Linux, I run Debian. Iceweasel and Epiphany are both installed by default in the Gnome desktop. If I install the KDE desktop too Konqueror is also installed by default. That's 3 different browsers installed by default. Plus, I can also install Galeon and Lynx from the Debian repositories. That's 5 browsers available from Debian repositories.

    How many are available from MS? One. Oh, there's different versions, but only one browser, and they have used that one browser to create incompatibilities for everyone else. IOW's, the bully-on-the-block needs to be told they must play fair, while everyone else is playing fair by default.

  80. Re:What next EU: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple has OEMs?

  81. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by tjstork · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's just excuses. If Microsoft were a European company, there would be no fine. Of that, there is no doubt. You guys just want European PC makers that are selling Windows to bundle them with European browsers. It's just protectionism to benefit Opera.

    --
    This is my sig.
  82. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by tjstork · · Score: 1

    But hey, I guess it's only bad if the EU enforces its own laws, eh?

    The laws are usually enforced to the detriment of American products. That's fine by me. Frankly, I think free trade is a fraud and I would prefer if the Europeans had their own products for their own markets and kept their crap out of the USA.

    --
    This is my sig.
  83. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by tjstork · · Score: 1

    For my web site, I'm working on a plan to cut the US Federal budget to 1 trillion dollars, abolish the income tax for both individuals and corporations, and fund it entirely with increased tariffs and something like a VAT.

    --
    This is my sig.
  84. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by tjstork · · Score: 1

    When I say that, though, keep in mind that I'm not necessarily being "anti-European". I think both the USA and the EU should have their own manufacturing base, and their own IT industries. Diversity is the spice of life and globalism undermines it. I rather like the European-ness of KDE, for example, and I would rather Windows become, well, more American.

    --
    This is my sig.
  85. Can't give it away for free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hate internet explorer just as much as the next guy, but do we have to go so far as make it illegal for someone to give away free software?

  86. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    suck my fucking dick

  87. Opera is a parasite by xslive · · Score: 1

    Its plain & simple, Opera is a parasite... And EU must not allow a parasite who wants to cling on to Microsoft because it can not sell products otherwise

    1. Re:Opera is a parasite by hkmwbz · · Score: 1
      So anyone who reports a crime to the authorities is a parasite? Interesting logic.

      Opera can sell its products just fine. It's the dominant mobile browser, after all. The company is doing very well. But Microsoft is still a pain the ass because Opera needs to keep emulating IE bugs because sites are designed for IE instead of open standards.

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
  88. How about Ubuntu? by hotfireball · · Score: 1

    Is there any plans for Ubuntu to do not include a Firefox while shipping in EU?

    1. Re:How about Ubuntu? by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 1
      Chalk and cheese.

      1) Ubuntu distros include other web browsers. You can choose to install or (fully!) uninstall Firefox and other browsers at any time, including the time you do your initial system install. (Actually, that's not strictly true. You cannot install any version of IE on Ubuntu ... because MS won't port it. I wonder why that might be?)

      2) Canonical is not using Firefox as a means of illegally stiffling competition in the browser or other markets. Or as a means to lock users into using Ubuntu distros.

  89. Re:What next EU: by mjwx · · Score: 1

    OSX only runs on "apple hardware" which to me screams more injustice than IE coming with windows.

    Apple does not have 90% of the market. Being a non-abusive monopoly is not illegal, being an abusive non-monopoly is not illegal. Apple is an abusive non-monopoly, they do not inhibit competitors and thus is not a valid target for regulators.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  90. Re:What next EU: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple has never been found guilty of abusing their (currently non-existant) position as a monopoly.

  91. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by jt2377 · · Score: 0

    Are you retarded? The IE's rendering engine got shit to do with competing with Firefox or other browser. It's a fucking library. It got shit to do with the issue at hand. You're the reason why Slashdot is becoming a shit place for serious discussion.

  92. Re:What next EU: by Kalriath · · Score: 1

    No, actually, I'd consider "charging for a fucking web browser in the first place" as the egregious business practice. I'm GLAD they crushed Netscape and their $39.95 USD browser. And Opera and their $29.99 USD browser.

    --
    For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  93. Re:What next EU: by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 1

    oh so it matters how much % of the market you have? How convenient!

    I thought it was about integrating features within an OS that restrict competition.

    OK so by your logic (and the poster before you)... It's ok to stifle competition as long as you're "not popular".

    Whats good for the goose... is good for the goose.

    Lets face it, everyone just hates microsoft and wants to needle them at every turn.

    Microsoft sucks in many ways, but this is not one of them. This is just misdirected hate, that some hope will hurt Microsoft just in spite of the real bad things they do.... like writing terrible performing operating systems, or infecting the world with DRM'd os etc.

    Of course its also just good to hate the king and i think a lot of that bleeds into things like this.

    I could careless about the html engine being intergrated into the explorer. I never use the dam thing.

  94. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by portalcake625 · · Score: 1

    WMP: Look at the windows where you can find album info.
    fai.musicmetadataservices.microsoft.com(idk if that's the exact subdomain)

  95. It will not by HermMunster · · Score: 1

    It will do what it stated it would do all along. It will remove the .exe file for the browser but still keep the underlying functionality at the OS level, which itself can be used to browse the web. They'd need a complete overhaul of their GUI to rid themselves of IE.

    --
    You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.
  96. Re:What next EU: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am pretty sure Apple strongarmed Apple in to exclusively installing their browser! (:P)

  97. Re:Getting Firefox? Here's how : by clarkie.mg · · Score: 1

    So if I get a copy of Windows in Europe and do a full reinstall, how am I supposed to use my already-active internet connection to get Firefox?

    Start
    Run
    Cmd
    ftp
    o
    ftp.mozilla.org
    anonymous
    anonymous
    cd pub/firefox/releases
    dir
              (choose your version)
    cd 3.0.9
    cd win32
    dir
              (choose your language)
    cd en-US
    mget * (easier than typing the full name with escapes)
    close
    quit
    Fir[TAB] (expands to the full name of the setup file)

    This helped me a lot of times when i had to repair a screwed up windows xp where IE would crash.
    Other alternative is having a cd with firefox but you know about murphy's laws.

    --
    Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education. Bertrand Russel
  98. Re:What next EU: by xigxag · · Score: 1

    And I'd also go ahead and point out that there was a time when web browsers were sold seperate from the OS. At that point there was competition to IE - Netscape.

    Modern OSes require connectivity. When Windows 3.1 was out it was still common for people to connect with FTP, which came free with Windows, or with a terminal program, which came free with Windows, or through online service gateways (e.g. AOL), which usually came bundled with Windows. (Note that the fact that there was a free ftp or telnet or hyperterm didn't stop programs like CuteFTP and HyperACCESS from existing and making money.) At this point Web browsers weren't yet integrated into "the OS," meaning Windows or any other Operating System, because they weren't yet a popular means of connectivity. But when they started to become popular, Microsoft, Apple, Sun, NeXT, Linux makers ALL started to bundle Web browsers. Microsoft wasn't doing anything unusual here, and they shouldn't be penalized for it. In fact, the first IE wasn't actually free -- it came with MS Plus! which was an additional purchase. And it had to compete with Netscape, which despite its nominal fee was effectively free for home users, who could keep updating the endless beta.

    Did they abuse their monopoly in (many) other ways? Yes. Arguably the fact that they chose to make IE broadly incompatible with established web standards did negatively impact competing browsers, since Microsoft's dominant position caused the World Wide Web to evolve as an IE compatible beast. (Note that this is a separate issue from the mere existence of a Windows branded broswer.) But at this point they've already been fined hundreds of millions of euros, the horse has long left the barn, and the browser is no longer an optional part of a decent operating system. Let's just let the best browser win.

    Besides, Internet Explorer is an indispensable tool for one thing -- downloading Firefox onto a virgin Windows install.

    --
    There are two kinds of people: 1) those who start arrays with one and 1) those who start them with zero.
  99. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by Kalriath · · Score: 1

    Internet Explorer is not just another application, it's a deeply embedded part of the OS. Microsoft has not removed it from Windows, all they've done is hide it from a few of the places it comes into play. It's still there, as part of Windows Explorer and the Control Panel and Windows Update and Windows Media Player.

    No. IE is just as embedded as Safari. Which is to say, not at all. TRIDENT is used in a lot of places, just like how on a Mac WebKit is used in a lot of places.

    --
    For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  100. Re:Unlike IE, you can actually stop using Safari.. by morganew · · Score: 1

    As an Apple guy, I can tell you this is completely wrong. WebKit (the engine powering Safari) is a shared framework. it can be found here: /System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework. This framework is key to the "help" Display system and Dictionary. In fact, the new safari 4 engine replaces the webkit framework.

    You can check out more information at developers.apple.com

    I don't want anyone to strip out the underlying code on either system - having someone else do all the work for building a Help system is a relief.

    --
    A sig?!? I don't think so.....
  101. Re:What next EU: by int69h · · Score: 1

    oh so it matters how much % of the market you have? How convenient

    When you're determining whether or not someone has a monopoly and whether or not they're abusing said monopoly, you're damned right it matter how much of the market you control.

  102. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    It's just excuses. If Microsoft were a European company, there would be no fine.

    This comes up on /. again and again, and every time it is pointed out that EU actually fines European companies more often, and for higher amounts, than US companies. So let me be the one to once again point out that fact in this thread.

    Besides, doesn't Microsoft pay most of its taxes in Ireland? So why are you calling it a US company? ;)

  103. Re:What next EU: by rdebath · · Score: 1

    No, actually, I'd consider "charging for a fucking operating system in the first place" as the egregious business practice. I'm GLAD they crushed Microsoft and their $399.5 USD OS. And Apple and their $299.9 USD OS.

    I like it!

  104. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Too true.

    In the 70s, agriculture was one of the most heavily subsidised industries in New Zealand. The government couldn't afford the subsidies any more and killed them all off.

    A lot of people went bankrupt, but NZ farmers today are among the most efficient and productive in the world.

    Now, without subsidies, our milk exports (to name a recently affected industry) are #2 in the world, which isn't bad for a country of this size.

    American farmers went crying to the federal government that they couldn't compete (due to being inefficient as fuck, our labor costs are comparable), and got nice big fat subsidies, allowing them to sell below cost.

    They also complain that we dump product, but our farmers cannot, since we do not receive subsidies we actually have to turn a profit. I know, amazing concept.

    What free trade, again? Americans like free trade when it's free in the direction from American company to foreign consumer.

  105. So this won't make any difference then by Toreo+asesino · · Score: 1

    ...as it's gonna be called Windows 7 "E" and delivered/configured separately from the normal install, like the Windows Vista "N" version (minus media player)....which totally tanked, because real people actually don't care what browser / media player comes with their PC. Unless of course you have an iPod/iPhone which requires iTunes.

    This is a dance around a formality that may or may not have a justified cause; looks like Microsoft are dealing with the problem before it causes a real problem later on.

    --
    throw new NoSignatureException();
  106. True purpose of IE in Windows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well this sucks, what will people use to download Mozilla Firefox then?

    1. Re:True purpose of IE in Windows by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 1

      Asked and answered.

  107. Re:What next EU: by prockcore · · Score: 1

    Apple does not have 90% of the market.

    Neither does microsoft, if you believe Apple fans. So if MS is no longer a monopoly, then antitrust laws no longer apply.

  108. Congratulations, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thank you for installing the brand new Windows 7.

    In this step, you will choose your internet browser, the software used to access internet.

    Please, choose one of the following :

    - Internet Explorer - Official Microsoft browser, fast, efficient, reliable and secure. Used by 85% of the world. (default and recomanded choice)

    - Mozilla Firefox - Free software used by hackers and terrorists.

    - Google Chrome - Free software, but reads your mails and spy the websites you're visiting.

    - Opera - What is this?

    (sorry bad english and stuff ...)

    1. Re:Congratulations, by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 1

      Result. EU imposes a bigger fine on Microsoft. I really don't think that MS would try something as stupid as that.

  109. Re:What next EU: by mjwx · · Score: 1

    OK so by your logic (and the poster before you)... It's ok to stifle competition as long as you're "not popular".

    That is a massive contradiction. If you are not a monopoly then your competition is able to compete no matter what you do. When you don't have a monopoly it's pretty difficult to stifle competition as its well and truly beyond your control, in a monopoly this is the opposite.

    oh so it matters how much % of the market you have?

    When you are forcing customers to use your products over a competitor your damn right it is. If Company A (lets call them MicroS, no no that's too obvious, lets use Msoft instead) has 90% of the widget market and then forces all Msoft widget owners to switch to Msoft brand Cruskits then we have a problem as their 90% gives them an unfair advantage pushing into new markets. If company B (Lets call them Pear) has 4% of the tinned fruit market but forces customers to eat from special Pear(tm) bowls then those customers who don't like it can purchase from one of the tinned fruit companies that comprise the other 96% of the market.

    If you have having trouble understanding the difference between a monopoly and not a monopoly I suggest you avoid economics and take up something with fewer numbers, like woodworking.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  110. Re: Microsoft are dealing with the problem by cheros · · Score: 2, Insightful

    looks like Microsoft are dealing with the problem

    With all due respect, I disagree. This is window(s) dressing, and I think MS knows this. They still appear to think that trying to game the EU Commission will work like it has with the US DoJ (which, as a result, has lost a HUGE amount of credibility), and I think (and hope) they're in for a very rude awakening.

    MS appears to forget that it's now under extreme scrutiny because the EU Commission fines to change behaviour, not posturing. The Commission hasn't exactly reached the end of what it can do with MS if it doesn't play ball properly. MS is playing a very dangerous and irresponsible game, and if the EU decides to call hem on it it will *really* hurt.

    --
    Insert .sig here. Send no money now. Owner may sue, contents will settle. Batteries not included.
  111. This will be great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think we can rely on omputer manufacturers to supply icons on the desktop to download and install a browser OF THE USERS CHOICE.

    Perhaps then websites will consider it important to follow standards rather than just write for IE.

    1. Re:This will be great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can finally get all those people to use a decent browser, stop getting hijacked and stop wasting my time sorting them out.

  112. So if Windows 7 ships without IE... by Spacelem · · Score: 1

    If Windows 7 doesn't ship with a browser, how are people with a fresh install actually going to obtain any web browser?

    Did no one think of this problem? With no browser to download another browser, you either need one on CD, or master the art of using wget and a text editor (assuming they are even installed).

    I'm guessing they'll have to bundle some sort of micro-browser, for people to obtain their own, but this isn't going to make computer illiterate types happy.

    1. Re:So if Windows 7 ships without IE... by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      Geez. This has been discussed to death. If you RTFA, you will see that Microsoft will supply free browser CDs. In addition, new PCs will have a browser bundled by the OEM. And so on. There are lots of solutions. Including an "app store" like interface to easily select between browsers. Linux distributions can do this, so why can't Microsoft?

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    2. Re:So if Windows 7 ships without IE... by Spacelem · · Score: 1

      Yes, you got me there: it was in the article, just not in the first few comments I read, so I thought a reply was in order. An "app store" would be my favourite solution (I don't see the harm in replicating useful ideas - despite the attempt of people to use software patents to prevent this sort of thing).

  113. Re:What next EU: by ildon · · Score: 1

    Let me ask you honestly: Do you really think the web would be as popular as it is now if people still had to pay $50 every time a new version of their favorite web browser came out? Do you think standards compliance would be better rather than worse? You don't think various companies would have fragmented the web with non-compliant HTML or exclusive plugins to try and lock in users to keep the yearly update cash flowing in?

    People would have eventually turned to a free alternative anyway. Netscape (or whomever) would be attempting to sue some open source browser for attempting to support their plugins or broken non-compliant lock-in bullshit. How much of this is just people trying to see MS get dragged down because they're the big fish, rather than actually caring about what's best for the internet and technology?

    By the way, I've been using and advocating Firefox since it was called Phoenix 0.5. IE might suck but bundling it for free with Windows was an essential step in making the internet as ubiquitous and accessible as it is today.

  114. Nice troll by Mystra_x64 · · Score: 1

    Can you please back up your words, man? Or should I say Microsoft brainwashed man?

    --
    Quick way to get 30% Funny 70% Troll: defend Opera browser on /.
  115. Re:Total protectionism by the EU by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

    It's just excuses.

    What is?

    If the EU is so anti-American, then surely they would also be going after Apple?

    You guys just want European PC makers that are selling Windows to bundle them with European browsers. It's just protectionism to benefit Opera.

    That's just crap. Opera probably contributes zero-point-nothing to the EU economy; I'm not knocking their success in what they do, but they're a tiny tiny company on any kind of global scale, so there would be no point in this EU action purely to benefit Opera. Plus if that was the case, then, as mentioned above, surely Apple would be in the frame also? Plus, the outcome [what ever it is... it's not been determined yet] should benefit *all* alternative browsers, so that could include Safari and Chrome which whilst both largely open-source, are products built to benefit the companies that produce them -- both of which (Apple & Google) are of course American!

    This action [whatever it is....] is being taken because of Microsoft's position in the market and their actions. It has nothing to do with them being a non-EU based company.

  116. IE is still the most popular by Keeper+Of+Keys · · Score: 1

    Firefox users in Europe are in the majority now, and IE only has a minority of less than 36% market share.

    That makes for a nice headline, but is quite misleading: according to your link, FF3 has overtaken IE7 only because IE users are in the middle of upgrading to IE8. Taken together IE users account for around 50% of the market. Which is already an impressive statstic - no need to over-egg it.

  117. Mwhahahahhaa!! by PinkyDead · · Score: 1

    At last the tables have turned - now it is you who is the victim of market segmentation!!! Too long have we toiled under yoke of the imperialist. Soon the whole world will know of...

    Oh wait... I use Linux.

    --
    Genesis 1:32 And God typed :wq!
  118. Inconvenient... by CJSpil · · Score: 1

    If Windows 7 ships without IE installed, how am I going to download Firefox?

    --
    For people who like peace and quiet. A phoneless cord!
    1. Re:Inconvenient... by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 1
      Simple. I predict that EU will tell MS to include a tool to download and install the user's choice of browser. And spank them with big fines until they comply.

      Failing that, someone will create a CD with copies of all popular browsers and/or downloaders and distribute it for free to PC retail outlets. And if you somehow missed out on getting your copy, your brother or your neighbour will have one. I'm sure that Mozilla, Google, Apple and the Opera guys would chip in some cash to finance this effort.

  119. Apple not monopoly: official by itsdapead · · Score: 1

    Apple = Free Pass Linux (every flavor) = Free Pass

    As others have pointed out, that's because Apple doesn't have a monopoly in the field desktop operating systems and that has now been tested in court

    As for Linux, I count about a dozen different web-browsers on offer in the Ubuntu distribution. - and all the EU required of MS was to offer a choice, not to unbundle IE.

    However, I am inclined to agree that 1994 is on the phone and wants its problem back.

    --
    In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
  120. Slashdot line of thinking by Wolfraider · · Score: 0

    Replace IE with open source browser - check
    Replace other tools with open source
    Replace windows manager with open source
    Replace kernel with open source
    Replace any other files that are Microsoft

  121. IE is a critical update by Andypcguy · · Score: 1

    It doesn't matter IE 8 is listed as a critcal update and when the user goes to install updates they will always have to deselect it. Microsoft would have put up a bigger fight if they did not have another way of pushing their software onto the desktop.

  122. Webkit is not like the Microsoft HTML control by argent · · Score: 1

    As an Apple guy, I can tell you this is completely wrong. WebKit (the engine powering Safari) is a shared framework.

    I didn't say it's "not a shared framework", I said it's not deeply embedded and integrated into the OS in the way the Microsoft HTML control is.

    Finder doesn't use Webkit.

    Applications like System Preferences and iTunes and Software Update don't use Webkit.

    Unlike the Microsoft HTML control, Webkit doesn't contain components that allow you to run untrusted code via cross-zone exploits.

    The design of Webkit, unlike the Microsoft HTML control, is not an unfixable and unavoidable security hole.

  123. It will automaticly install on first MS update! by sxmjmae · · Score: 1

    No problem for MS. They can just have it silently install in the background upon the user doing the first update. I am sure MS will claim it is a critical patch.

    --
    My Sig indicates the end of the comment I posted.
  124. IE is not just the shell. by argent · · Score: 1

    IE has not been part of any of those components since XP.

    The shell program Microsoft calls IE so they can pretend that they're not violating the consent decree isn't.

    The HTML rendering engine that is the real problem, because of its deep and unfixable security flaws baked into the very API of it, is the important part.

  125. Cite, please. by argent · · Score: 1

    Control Panel: Huh? Not true; that's just standard Windows Explorer.

    Since Windows Explorer is also a shell around the HTML control, this is a difference that makes no difference.

    About the only "fundamental" part of Windows where their HTML rendering engine is used that I know of at this point is the help system.

    Cite, please.

    1. Re:Cite, please. by EvanED · · Score: 1

      Since Windows Explorer is also a shell around the HTML control, this is a difference that makes no difference.

      Did you read anything I wrote? Namely "Windows Explorer: Not true, starting with Vista."

      Entering a URL in Windows Explorer opens that URL in your default browser now, not in the Explorer window. Hell, I was even too conservative in saying what Microsoft did there; that's true now even in XP if you have IE 7 or maybe 8. (I have 8 and confirmed that behavior now; a poster in another thread said that was the behavior starting with 7.)

      Cite, please.

      Strictly speaking, all I said was "that I know of".

      But, for instance, we have what Wikipedia says about removing it:
      "The Windows help and support system will also not function due to the heavy reliance on HTML help files and components of IE. In versions of Windows before Vista, it is also not possible to run Microsoft's Windows Update or Microsoft Update with any other browser due to the service's implementation of an ActiveX control, which no other browser supports. In Windows Vista, Windows Update is implemented as a Control Panel applet."

      Note that the only thing they specifically mention as breaking now is Windows Help.

    2. Re:Cite, please. by argent · · Score: 1

      Entering a URL in Windows Explorer opens that URL in your default browser now, not in the Explorer window.

      What does that have to do with whether Windows Explorer is a wrapper around the HTML control or not? You can make IE itself open specific mime types, URL methods, or file extensions in Firefox by changing the helper application... in fact that was the basis of an exploit not so long ago to IE and Firefox handling quoting differently.

      In Windows Vista, Windows Update is implemented as a Control Panel applet.

      Many control panel applets are also wrappers around the HTML control.

    3. Re:Cite, please. by EvanED · · Score: 1

      What does that have to do with whether Windows Explorer is a wrapper around the HTML control or not?

      *sigh*

      Fine, I'll be more explicit. Starting in Vista, Windows Explorer won't open HTML files itself.

      If you think it can, I challenge you to find evidence of that fact. In the meantime, I'm going with the circumstantial evidence I've already presented, as well as this direct quote from Wikipedia:

      "Also, with the release of Windows Vista & Server 2008 and Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP, Internet Explorer is no longer integrated with Windows Explorer. Unlike older versions, Windows Explorer does not host Internet Explorer controls in its own process, rather it launches a new process when necessary. In Windows Vista and Server 2008 (and in Windows XP as well if IE7 is installed), Windows Explorer no longer displays web pages, and IE7 does not support use as a file manager, although one will separately launch the other as necessary."

    4. Re:Cite, please. by argent · · Score: 1

      Fine, I'll be more explicit. Starting in Vista, Windows Explorer won't open HTML files itself.

      Where did I even suggest that having Windows Explorer "open HTML files" had anything to do with the problem I'm talking about? You're going off on a completely irrelevant tangent.

      Windows Explorer uses HTML internally, for rendering content inside the Windows Explorer window. There are ActiveX controls that are only intended for use by Windows Explorer in this context. The control panel is one of these situations, and control panel applets are ActiveX controls too. Windows Media Player uses internal HTML files similarly. As do many third party applications.

      It doesn't matter whether the shell called Windows Explorer calls another shell called Internet Explorer in certain circumstances or not. What matters is that there is a mechanism IN THE HTML CONTROL to run applets that have capabilities and expose privileges that should not be available to the HTML control directly. Unlike other HTML rendering engines where the shell application loads these kinds of plugins, in Windows the HTML control makes the decision whether these will be used. This is an inherently insecure design.

      That's why Microsoft quit using the HTML control in Outlook. Because the HTML control is inherently insecure. They need to eliminate it completely, redesign the API so it uses an explicit plugin mechanism instead of a global set of heuristics (security zones), and take the hit from people whinng about broken third party applications that use the current API.

      Oh, and people thinking of using Microsoft's HTML control in your own applications (I'm looking at you, AOL)... ship webkit instead.

  126. It's not about competition by argent · · Score: 1

    The application uses a rendering engine, generally known as "Trident" or simply "MSHTML", to render HTML. This wasn't removed, but it's not really an issue, because it by itself does not unfairly compete with Firefox and other browsers.

    I don't care if it competes against other browsers. I care that Microsoft embedded it into the OS in completely inappropriate ways to get around their consent decree with the DoJ, and in the process of doing so they created a security nightmare that we will not awake from any time soon.

    The whole "anti-competitive" part of this has long since become a convenient distraction that has let Microsoft avoid taking the hit they need to make applications that use it secure.

  127. This is all about security. by argent · · Score: 1

    Gecko and Webkit do not have a security model that is deeply and unfixably broken. The HTML control makes the control itself responsible for security, rather than the application around it, so it has to guess at whether a request from an untrusted object to execute unsandboxed code through the ActiveX embedding API should be granted or not, instead of only allowing components (such as I/O slaves in KHTML/Webkit) explicitly embedded by the application to run.

  128. Wow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    never posted on /.

    but this is worth a Hallelujah

  129. IE not unbundled by viralMeme · · Score: 1

    What it actually says is that browsing functionality will be disabled in Windows 7. Remember the help system still requires the core HTML rendering engine. As does any web applets, like embedded search in the applications, such as Microsoft Office.

    'The E versions of Windows 7 will include all the features and functionality of Windows 7 in the rest of the world, other than browsing with Internet Explorer'

  130. Re:It's About OEMs Idiot by prsinghdua · · Score: 1

    Posting anonymously for obvious reasons.

    You part of EU's governing body? That makes so much sense.

  131. Stupid decision by fearlezz · · Score: 1

    MSIE may stink and may be insecure. But still, it's a LOT more secure than any 2-year old firefox/opera/safari browser. On a lot of installations I've seen, Firefox hasn't been updating for years as the user doesn't have permission to install updates. MSIE is (by default) updated by windows update.

    Therefore MSIE is a lot more secure to the average user. Hate to admit it, but when one of my family members wants a reinstall, they get MSIE.

    --
    .sig: No such file or directory
    1. Re:Stupid decision by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 1
      This sounds like sys admins for those installations are not doing their jobs properly. They need to set up something to allow non-MS browsers, that they presumably(*) installed on the users' machine in the first place, to check for and install updates on a daily basis. Surely this is not rocket science ...

      (* The user doesn't have permission to install browser updates, so presumably he cannot have installed the browser in the first place. Ergo the sys admins did.)

    2. Re:Stupid decision by hkmwbz · · Score: 1

      MSIE may stink and may be insecure. But still, it's a LOT more secure than any 2-year old firefox/opera/safari browser.

      Your point being? Is this supposed to be an argument against bundling other browsers?

      --
      Clever signature text goes here.
    3. Re:Stupid decision by fearlezz · · Score: 1

      I'm talking about home users, people that do not have a fulltime sysadmin. Millions of home users usually have a friendly neighbourhood kid that installed the pc, but doesn't support it after that.

      Sure, for corporate sysadmins it would be very easy to keep a non-MS browser up-to-date. But those admins can install Firefox themselves and won't need a bundled firefox. It's the home user, the guy that does not know where to download a non-MS browser, who's at risk.

      People that cannot manage their own updates should have computers that update all components installed in default installation, and especially any program that communicates with the outside world.

      --
      .sig: No such file or directory
  132. Oh no. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What will I now use to download Firefox with?

  133. Re:What next EU: by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 1

    Yeah but doesnt Apple force Ipod users to use Itunes? Doesnt Apple force Itunes installs, Safari, search light installs etc.

    What about the explorer.exe itself as a file browser? Sure you can use alternative programs to browse your hard drives but MS comes with only their file browser built in.

    Why not force everything to be open? Because its wrong to do so. At some point, its a Microsoft product and so be it.

  134. Re:What next EU: by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

    Apple does not have 90% of the market.

    Neither does microsoft, if you believe Apple fans. So if MS is no longer a monopoly, then antitrust laws no longer apply.

    First both economically and in terms of antirust law monopoly influence is usually considered about 70%. Second, MS has about 98% of the relevant market, that being "PC operating systems" which is defined as operating systems used on desktop computers instead of servers or appliances. Apple's install base is irrelevant to market share because Apple does not sell license OS X to OEMs. The fact that Apple sells Macs with OS X pre-installed does nothing to lessen Microsoft's power over Dell or HP because they can't license OS X from Apple and install it as a component of their computer systems.

  135. Re:What next EU: by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

    Yeah but doesnt[sic] Apple force Ipod users to use Itunes?

    Apple does bundle iPods and iTunes. The EU commission looked into it and decided iPods don't make up big enough of a chunk of the market to give Apple dominance as of yet.

    Doesnt[sic] Apple force Itunes installs, Safari, search light installs etc.

    Force installs? It bundles them, but not with anything that is a monopoly.

    What about the explorer.exe itself as a file browser?

    It was not a pre-existing separate market at the time of monopolization.

    Why not force everything to be open?

    Because that's not the purpose of the law. It isn't about openness. It's about free markets.

  136. Finally by edrawr · · Score: 1

    I can make netscape my browser, just like all the people who call me and ask for support...

    --
    Sauer
  137. Re:What next EU: by prockcore · · Score: 1

    If you're going to say that "PC operating systems" is a separate market than "Mac operating systems" then Apple has 100% marketshare.

  138. Re:What next EU: by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

    If you're going to say that "PC operating systems" is a separate market than "Mac operating systems" then Apple has 100% marketshare.

    No. There is no market for Mac operating systems because they don't license their OS for sale. They use it as a component in desktop computer systems and bypass the OS market altogether. OS X would qualify as a "PC operating system" if Apple licensed it. The "PC" part was meant to distinguish it from the "workgroup server" operating system market.

  139. Riddle me this by jackspenn · · Score: 1

    I just don't think many government officials get it. Windows has tons of programs that I do not think need to be in an OS, things like MS Paint and Windows Media Player. But if you ask me one application that should be integrated with the OS, it is the browser. If Windows 95 didn't have that POS IE browser, then I am unsure how I could have downloaded Netscape back in the day. If the argument is people are to stupid to know they have options, what benefit does the government think those people will gain get by getting a PC with IE removed? And if you are a hardware vendor, why would you sell your product with LESS options? They are fixing a non-issue, because Firefox and Chrome and Opera developers already solved it for us.

    --
    Respect the Constitution
  140. Re:What next EU: by mjwx · · Score: 1
    I agree with your post but...

    Apple does bundle iPods and iTunes. The EU commission looked into it and decided iPods don't make up big enough of a chunk of the market to give Apple dominance as of yet.

    That's a gross oversimplification, Ipods and Itunes do have enough of a market share to constitute a monopoly but Apple is unable to leverage that to inhibit competition, in other words Sansa, Sony or whoever can continue to compete with Apple no matter what apple does. Apple has enough market share to be a monopoly but the market doesn't have the level of dependency that it does on Microsoft.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  141. Re:What next EU: by 99BottlesOfBeerInMyF · · Score: 1

    That's a gross oversimplification, Ipods and Itunes do have enough of a market share to constitute a monopoly but Apple is unable to leverage that to inhibit competition...

    The EU commission decided Apple did not have large enough market share because media capable cell phones were part of the relevant market. It has nothing to do with Apple somehow being unable to inhibit competition. People who buy iPods are much more likely to use iTunes instead of Realplayer or Songbird because iTunes is bundled with iPods. That's inhibiting competition in the music player application market. It is not significant enough of an influence though because Apple doesn't have enough of the market the iPod competes in. If Apple did have enough market share then their bundling would be illegal, although with the market already so broken by MS's abuse and the RIAA's abuse it is unlikely any practical remedy against Apple would actually benefit the market.

  142. Re:What next EU: by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 1

    Microsoft is not a monopoly. Windows is not a monopoly. Linux and Apple are the most common competing operating systems.

    Ok so lets say Microsoft's integrated HTML engine is keeping mozilla from integrating their html engine into the Windows OS functionality. Ok if that is the issue, then lets look at other system functions of Windows. There are plenty of other system level functions that are microsoft only land. You cant add you're own plug and play system into windows. You cant add you're own kernel to windows so where is the line that we draw? Does MS have a monopoly on the windows kernel? YEs... because they wrote it and dont expect anyone else to change it. If you want a different kernel, buy another operating system. There are 2 others that are quite capable products. One of which is free.

    Remember MS doesnt haver a monopoly with windows.Its just a POPULAR OS. Apple and Linux compete on the same intel/pc hardware.

    Apple ships OSX with itunes and prevents me from using a different companies DRM, or file formats such as flac within itunes. Safari ships with OSX. OSX has better integrated graphic format viewers and video codecs than windows does.

    To some extent an OS has to function based on how the producer of the OS intends. Windows is not linux. Windows doesnt contain code written by various contributors around the globe. IT is a MICROSOFT PRODUCT and it should function as they see it.

    Telling MS to change their html engine is like saying "Ford is anti competitive because they refuse to make plug and play engines in their cars" Can you take a Toyota engine and hook it right up into a Ford? Not easily no. Do most people want to even do that? No. Shouldnt you just buy a Toyota then?

    Oh but you REALLY want that toyota engine in that Ford Focus.... Ok... well you're a unique case and quite stubborn frankly because its really not a big deal to the rest of the planet.

    Somethings cant be your way.

    Now i understand that there is concern that MS may squeeze other browsers out o fthe market by further integration of html etc but what if Google makes an entire OS that does something similar? Will Google allow you to plug and play any kind of html engine into their ficticious os? Will Apple? Will anyone?

    Personally i've yet to really see the issue with the html engine being linked to explorer because I NEVER USE IE to view html. But i do think the OS should be capable of Html rendering without going into firefox.

    How about the Iphone OS? All i can run on it is Safari. They wont even allow Opera on the phone. It was an issue made publically by opera in the news. All Iphone apps can use Safari's html rendering engine to enable browsing within apps...

    Shouldnt that be split from the iphone OS as well?

    There are lots of situations where This kind of thinking can apply, and i'm not sure we're being fair by just going after microsoft. There are MANY instances where Apple does the very same thing but they get away with it because "they're not as popular".... Or i should say "Not as hated as much"

     

  143. Re:What next EU: by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 1

    "It was not a pre-existing separate market at the time of monopolization."

    There were plenty of file browsers sold by various people long before explorer.exe ever existed. Long before windows existed...

    That market was alive and well.

    I ran norton commander in dos for a long time. Windows 1 - 3.1 had plenty of browsers for file management.

    There is still a market for file managers. Directory Opus is a great one, and there are many clones of norton commander, and all kinds of other file managers. Should MS remove the file explorer from windows????

  144. Distributions ! by DrYak · · Score: 1

    shipping Windows without any HTML rendering engine would be foolhardy on MS's part and stupid on the part of any regulators to require. And requiring MS to ship competitors' renderers opens a whole can of worms

    Not necessarily as impossible as it sounds.
    Nowadays, beside /. geeks, few people actually install their own Windows from scratch.

    Joe 6-Pack get his Windows pre-installed in a pre-built machine. If something goes wrong, he simply give the PC to a repair shop and don't re-fromats the thing himself (Well, actually no. Most of the time Joe 6-pack will simply buy a new computer because "the previous one has gotten too slow" - even if its only due to virus/adware and other cruft).

    So Microsoft could indeed ship a MSHTML-less version which :
    - For /. Geeks :
    the geek will be happy to install whatever HTML renderer she/he chooses out of her/his USB memory key. For security reasons, most will install a browser, a firewall and an antivirus from a media before ever plugging the computer to the net anyway. So if the browser comes with binding to use the rendering engine in place of MSHTML (and Gecko already has such bindings, thanks to Wine&ReactOS), it won't pose any problem if the install media is MSHTML-free.
    - For Joe 6-pack :
    He doesn't give a damn. He just want his machine to work, and buys a pre-built one.
    - For builder of machine sold to Joe 6-pack :
    No builder ships straight vanilla Windows installs anymore. Most of the time, builder customize the installation, usually packing together promotional material (Screen saver playing ads), couple of additional software, such as demo version of expensive antivirus software and a few crappy adware which earn the builder a few money on each sold machine.
    Shipping an alternative stack instead of IE8+MSHTML is nothing unusual for them. (And I sens opportunity to monetize the thing if computer sold with Chrome and Webkit-MSHTML-bindings)
    The buyer will either get a special customized re-installation CD (like Dell's or HP's) which will re-install the customized Windows (along with additional software and specific drivers) or get 2 CDs : vanilla Windows and a CD which installs all the additional components (several builders do this).
    The whole thing is somewhat remotely reminiscent of the choice made by makers of Linux distributions.

    As I said nobody who's inapt to use a MSHTML-less will ever be exposed to.
    And this is actually a step in the directions that regulators do want. Because lazy Joe 6-packers are the reason the current monopoly exist. By forcing MS to create MSHTML-less versions of Windows, regulators give more opportunity to builders to select a different version to ship to Joe 6-pack.
    Otherwise alternative solution will never get a chance, because builder will only ship microsoft's default and nobody except /. geeks will ever install something else.

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
  145. Allow or Deny ? by DrYak · · Score: 1

    "You have asked to use a non-Microsoft rendering engine for windows. Not all help pages may be completely readable if you choose this option.
    Are you really, really, really, really sure you want to do this? (y/N)."

    I think the Windows Vista "Allow or deny ?" fiasco proved that throwing pop-ups to the user IS NOT a way to solve a problem.

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]