In a move designed to placate regulators, Microsoft will be shipping Windows 7 without a web browser in Europe.
According to a confidential memo sent out to PC manufacturers and seen by Cnet, Microsoft will be releasing a special version of Windows 7 for the European market that has had Internet Explorer 8 removed.
The browser will still be available free of charge, either for makers to install prior to shipping new PCs or for consumers to sideload at home.
Choice of browsers
According to Cnet, the Microsoft memo states, "PC manufacturers may choose to install an alternative browser instead of IE 8, and has always been the case, they may install multiple browsers if they wish."
Europe has always taken a dim view of Microsoft bundling its web browser (and media player) in with the Windows operating system, and hinted that it could impose penalties if Microsoft did so again. The EU has also investigated Microsoft for anti-competitive actions in the server market.
Cnet reports Microsoft's memo as saying, "We believe that we need to release these versions to address the preliminary legal views communicated to us in the EU. We are informing OEMs of these plans now so that we can work together to meet our shared goal to have Windows 7 broadly available for a holiday launch."
Windows 7 is due for launch 22 October, with the move potentially leaving owners of new PCs no means to surf the internet - even to download Internet Explorer. Because of this, Microsoft will probably be making its browser available on CD, via FTP and also through shops.
Via Cnet.
Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
backbydemand
July 22nd
5. MS offered to bundle other browsers at install but the EU turned it down, GOOD. There is a perfectly good reason why it is a BAD idea to include other peoples browsers with Windows. Worst case scenario is forcing MS to include Opera, Safari, Chrome and Firefox as well in the installation so you pick at the beginning. That sets a legal precedent so anyone with a bit of freeware can force them to have it included.
Imagine during the install you are asked to select your favourite from 12 calculators, 35 notepads, 88 paint programs, 134 solitaires – where does it end….
Here’s a conversation between the EU, MS and the Customer …
EU – “You will include alternative versions of all this list of stuff in your OS”
MS – “You are having a giggle right? There’s over 12,000,000 programs here”
EU – “Yes, each one has a legitimate claim to be included because it’s something you do already that someone else also does for free”
MS – “Have you any idea how much that will cost to produce?”
EU – “About a billion dollars in fines unless you shape up sonny!”
MS – “Whatever you say Jack, here’s your library of disks”
Customer – “Jeebus H Christ, this new Windows comes on 25 Blu-Ray disks”
MS – “An engineering feat of genius to compress it that small!”
Customer – “After decompressing and installing it’s over 2000Gb and my machine chugs like a *****!”
EU – “Yes, but you have the ultimate choice to pick whatever you want”
Customer – “Can’t I choose to have all this **** elsewhere to download?”
EU – “No, you can’t, shut up and do as you are told”
As it was, in the actual case of what MS has been forced to do by the EU is equally stupid beyond belief. Here’s that conversation again between MS, EU and the Customer.
EU – “We want you to remove IE as it is not fair to other browsers”
MS – “But it’s free, and so are theirs, and anyone who wants them can freely use them without restriction or bias”
EU – “We don’t care and if you don’t comply we will fine you a billion dollars”
MS – “OK then matey, whatever you say, here’s a version with IE taken out”
EU – “Thanks”
Customer – “Hooray, no IE on my system, now I can use whatever browser I want, maybe I’ll try Firefox”
MS – “Good luck with that”
Customer – “Hey, I can’t get to the Firefox homepage, how the hell do I download it?”
MS – “You can’t, the EU made us take IE out, you’ll have to get a hard copy on a flash drive or CD from a friend”
Customer – “I’m a bit of a geek so I don’t have any real friends apart from the ones I have on Facebook, which I’m now unable to also access, so I’m totally isolated”
MS – “There is a solution, you can use Windows Update and install IE, when that works you can go to the Mozilla site and download Firefox”
Customer – “That sucks *** big time, the EU are technological retards”
EU – “Yes it does suck *** and we are technological retards, but we really wanted a billion dollars in fines and they called our bluff”
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eury360x
July 16th
4. I would actually be better Windows 7 not coming with any web browser, this way I can make Firefox open all my email weblinks when I use Outlook Express. Just use a flash drive to install Firefox or safari it's not a big deal. Have your flash drive when you plan to instal Windows 7.
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gandharva81
June 18th
3. This is the best idea from Microsoft I Like this one step decided by Microsoft.
Since this increase in System performance and make system fast.
But if we talk that how to use internet we can use third party explorer as Opera and firefox etc. are one of the best explorer.
try the best.
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khsbenny
June 11th
2. Thank you Pauli.
this is what I have been thinking all along. As much as I hate IE and WMP I think it should be bundled.
Why dont apple get the same punishment for bundling Safari?
Its plain wrong. The EU are just picking on MS and have always been doing so.
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pauli
June 11th
1. So you get Windows installed on your new PC or laptop. If you haven't got IE how do you access the internet in order to install Firefox, Chrome or even IE if you choose to have it?
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