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EU Accepts Microsoft's Browser Choice Promise

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the so-that's-it-then dept.

itwbennett writes "Hurrah! The European Commission's antitrust investigation of Microsoft's position in the browser market is over. The EC has accepted Microsoft's commitment to offer users of 'Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 a choice screen through which they can pick the browsers they want to install on their PC,' writes Peter Sayer in an article on ITworld. 'The screen will be offered to users in the European Union and some neighboring countries for the next five years via the Windows Update mechanism. In addition, PC manufacturers will be allowed to ship computers with competing Web browsers, as well as or instead of Internet Explorer.'"

12 of 336 comments (clear)

  1. Hurray! by AlexiaDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    No more IE being forced down our throats... Except when we need to access our corporate intranet.

    1. Re:Hurray! by dotwhynot · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Which IE8 can't do, I think. Can you even install IE6 on Windows 7?

      Only in VirtualXP mode. I believe Win7 is the best bet to get rid of most of the remaining IE6 users, because many corporation and governments that skipped the Vista upgrade cycle, and didn't want to update/certify intranet applications between cycles, will upgrade to Win7 (for many reasons). Let's hope they do it quickly. At least IE8 is a huge step in right direction.

    2. Re:Hurray! by nstlgc · · Score: 5, Informative

      Vista and Windows 7 don't use IE for Microsoft Update, but nice try.

      --
      I'm Rocco. I'm the +5 Funny man.
    3. Re:Hurray! by marsu_k · · Score: 5, Informative

      IE8 is certainly a step in the right direction, and I will be so happy when IE6 finally eats flaming death; but there are still glaring omissions. Not that any browser is a model citizen in this regard, but IE is definitely worst. Now I'm aware that it is possible to work your way around the differences, I just finished a library to be used internally that emulates W3C-compliant DOM events in IE; but I'd rather spend my time doing actual development than working around browser bugs (which 99% of the time are caused by various incarnations of IE).

    4. Re:Hurray! by IrquiM · · Score: 4, Informative

      You haven't been working much in a corporate environment, have you?

      --
      This is blinging
  2. Next up by Nerdposeur · · Score: 4, Funny

    Uberdork: "Now if only we could get them to ship Windows with a choice to use bash."

  3. oh dear by kennethmci · · Score: 4, Insightful

    sounds great - although, i can hear the customes complaining 'i cant find internet explorer'! i love the alternative browsers , but cant help feel the 'average consumer' doesn't really care that much? i have actually installed firefox on family members computers, and couldnt really answer ( with info that they found useful ) what the difference was... my family dont really care to much about usability compliance and security ( well - until theyre shot down themselves with it! )

  4. Depends on the description... by ActionJesus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Welcome to Windows!

    Looks like you need to install a browser. Would you like:

    A) Internet Explorer, the latest and most secure browser from Microsoft
    B) Firefox, a browser made by terrorists that want access to your computer.

  5. Re:past behaviour by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Anti-competitive behaviour is not like murder. That's an unfair comparison.

    MS was fined 1.3 billion for past behaviour. This promise is needed for them not to get future fines:

    http://slashdot.org/yro/08/02/27/1152208.shtml?tid=98

  6. Re:past behaviour by Insanity+Defense · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes, that's right. Supplying your own browser with your own operating system is analogous to murdering someone. Good work.

    Microsoft did more than just supply a browser for their own OS. They forbade OEMS from installing any other browser. They programmed it into the system so that end users couldn't easily remove it. They did everything they could to KILL competing browsers. In short they used their OS monopoly to force a browser monopoly and that was and is illegal. Now attempts are being made to rebuild competition in the browser field.

  7. Re:Yeah right. by spitzak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There is nothing wrong with IE being included. The big difference is that OTHER programs can be included.

    Buried in the story about the "ballot box" is the REAL story: "In addition, PC manufacturers will be allowed to ship computers with competing Web browsers, as well as or instead of Internet Explorer."

    The real deal is that OEM manufactures were NOT ALLOWED TO SHIP A COMPETITOR TO IE. Not at all as long as they wanted to keep their volume discout pricing for Windows. This is the REAL antitrust settlement. Microsoft astroturfers have managed to bury this fact under so much fud about the "browser ballot box" that it is almost hidden even here at Slashdot. Disgusting.

  8. Re:I demand choice in my car as well by AntiDragon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    General Motors have a 90% share in car sales worldwide? I'm shocked and awed!

    --
    "...So I hung back and lurked. For 18 months. Can't beat a good old-fashioned lurking."