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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.
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?
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.
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'
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
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.
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.