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Microsoft Drops Windows 7 E Editions

Posted by kdawson on from the gets-no-bread-with-one-meatball dept.

A week after Microsoft agreed to include a browser ballot screen in Windows 7 systems sold in Europe, then announced that those systems would initially include no browser at all — specifically, no Internet Explorer — Microsoft has changed its mind again and dropped talk of a European Windows 7 E edition. Here is the official Microsoft blog announcement, which includes a screen shot of the proposed ballot screen. The browsers are listed left-to-right in order of market share, with IE therefore having pride of place. PC Pro notes that, since the ballot screen would not appear if IE were not pre-installed, Microsoft's proposal opens the door for Google to work with PC manufacturers to get Chrome on new machines. Note that the browser ballot screen has not yet been accepted by the EU, though the initial reaction to it was welcoming.

6 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wait, what? by sopssa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It seems to me that this enables manufacturer to choose:

    1) Install "IE", which by default asks user which browser to install
    2) Install another browser by default
    3) Dont install any browser at all (the Windows 7 E route)

    What makes me wonder tho, is the IE removed after installing another browser?

  2. Less work for them... by PrimaryConsult · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The logistics of separating out the IE browser from the rest of the OS must have been more daunting than anticipated. I do wish the "ballot screen" idea would be used in places outside the EU, as well...

  3. What about... by s0litaire · · Score: 4, Interesting
    ...All those that have pre-ordered Win7e or Win7n versions?

    Are those orders canceled since the product no longer exists, or will they get the Full (non-upgrade) Win7 version instead?

    --
    Laters Sol "Have you found the secrets of the universe? Asked Zebade "I'm sure I left them here somewhere"
  4. What is safari doing there? by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well Apple's little update-jacking fiasco seems to have paid off. The screenshot shows that Safari is the third most popular Windows browser, in front of Chrome and Opera. I don't have any problem with Safari (fast, small, standards compliant) but I wonder if this is all an Apple plan... and they seriously need to just use Windows widgets and styles instead of imposing their Cocoa look on the windows environment..

    1. Re:What is safari doing there? by Rockoon · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I would, but every time I run it and select to update my copy, it wants to download Bonjour, iTunes, and QuickTime for me. Since I don't want that shit on my system, I forcefully close the process from task manager.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
  5. Re:Isn't it time to drop the bill gates borg icon? by OverZealous.com · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Provided completely without any copyrights withheld, I present, a better MS icon:

    The Microsoft Flying Chair

    Download several sizes, including transparent PNG images, in a ZIP

    (Admittedly, the icon had a lot more motion blur before I shrunk it. :-( I could enhance it if there is interest from the Slashdot gang.