|  | | EU to Prosecute Microsoft On More Charges Despite IE Removal | 
Yesterday Microsoft announced that in Europe it would not be shipping Internet Explorer 8, its market-leading browser offering, with Windows 7, its new operating system which launches October 22. Despite the fact that its primary competitor, Apple's OS X Snow Leopard will ship with a proprietary browser (Safari), Microsoft felt it necessary to unbundle the browser in hopes of avoiding another costly antitrust bout with the European Union.
Unfortunately, for Microsoft its best was not good enough. The European Commission announced late Thursday that it would still be pursuing charges against Microsoft. The EC sticks with its previous assertion that by tying Internet Explorer to Windows, since 1996, Microsoft is "stealing" a unique and unfair advantage.
The EC says it took note of Microsoft decision to not bundle IE 8 with Windows 7, but it felt that the decision did not give users enough "genuine consumer choice". States an EC release, "At the level of both computer manufacturers and retail sales, the Commission's statement of objections (SO) suggested that consumers should be provided with a genuine choice of browsers. Given that over 95 percent of consumers acquire Windows pre-installed on a PC, it is particularly important to ensure consumer choice through the computer manufacturer channel."
Read the entire article at DailyTech. | | 17 Comments | | | now their really streatching it, who gives a shit about IE?? seriously its not like ms is making money off of it people can just as easily use any browser out there, except now they cant even get on the internet, what are we supposed to start buying browsers in the store now? give a break
You know who's ultimatly going to pay for this? The users as microsoft will pass its costs onto us | | | | I'm guessing EU is after MS's money and nothing will stop them
IE is just an excuse | | | | oh come on why gives a damn what is pre-installed on the OS if someone is unhappy with the pre-installed software he can just use something else they don't force anyone to use IE. Doesn't the EC have anything better to do? | | | | This is just wrong. I mean I can understand about the EU fining Intel for their unlawful monopoly, but like blindartist said, it's not like MS is making any money on IE, I fact it's only a good thing that MS supports their own OS with their own Browser. I mean in the end it doesn't matter, because users can indeed install whatever they want. I own a MacBook Pro and Mac OSX comes with Safari (now updated to 4), but I still have the chance to switch to something else if I'm not satisfied! | | | | exactly, this is just greed, no one has ever bought windows because it has IE and no one has ever not gotten a different browser just because IE is pre-installed if their unhappy with it.
The EU has lost some respect in my eyes from this | | | | Not shipping with any web browser is even worse than tying IE to the OS. | | | | the EU are a bunch of fucking pricks and nothing more.
Maybe they should stop sapping msft's moneys and go after the drug companies that are causing more harm then good to people.... oh wait... wh would they do that when they have their hands in those companies back pocket.
the EU is corrupt. someone dismantle this fraudulent body. | | | | lol come on squall...if they took down the drug cartel's then where would they get their drugs? | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by witek  they don't force anyone to use IE. Doesn't the EC have anything better to do? | They don't, but people tend to use what's at hand. This is where all the crap originates from. | | | | Can the EU be sued? Think about it. | | | | | | What gets me is that with Windows 7 they are also nixing the Windows Mail Client. One of my email addresses is through Qwest, and they use Microsoft Servers (part of MSN). So to get mail from them I will either need to buy a more expensive copy of Office, that has Outlook. Or I will need to use Windows Live Mail, which doesn't work that well with Firefox (my preferred browser...). All of this is different in Europe, but still they are going to try and force you to use their software... just because they can "get away with it". | | | | windows live mail has worked perfectly fine with Firefox for months now. | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by squall_leonhart windows live mail has worked perfectly fine with Firefox for months now. | I tried it and couldn't get it to send mail when I clicked on an email link. But I didn't try a work around, I just installed a copy of Office that had Outlook. | | | | This is ridiculous. Even though i live in Europe, i hope Microsoft will just say fuck it and completelly stop all shipments of Windows to EU. Then EC can go screw themself with their idiotic idieas. No Windows, no problems. Maybe they'll hang on Apple with it's monopoly position with Safari...  | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RejZoR This is ridiculous. Even though i live in Europe, i hope Microsoft will just say fuck it and completelly stop all shipments of Windows to EU. Then EC can go screw themself with their idiotic idieas. No Windows, no problems. Maybe they'll hang on Apple with it's monopoly position with Safari... | Or maybe more software will be written for Linux... So we can finally have a real alternative to Windows! I'm serious! If Microsoft would "collectively" step in front of a speeding bus I'd be delighted. I continue to use an Microsoft OS simply because I want to play games (and NO Wine is not good enough!!). So if they completely pulled the plug on Europe, then maybe someone would find the motivation to do something different. It's just that you can't expect Apple to step up to the plate either, they just want the power that M$ has had for years. | | | | that would be utterly stupid. | |
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