EU Responds to MSFT's Antitrust Case Solution
The European Union has responded to earlier news that Microsoft will ship Windows 7 without the brower to European customers.
However it seems European regulators are unhappy with Microsoft's efforts, and in a statement issued soon after the Redmond company’s plans hit the wire, the EU has said the company has gone in the wrong direction completely and limited the user’s choice of browser even further.
"As for retail sales, which amount to less than 5 percent of total sales, the Commission had suggested to Microsoft that consumers be provided with a choice of Web browsers," the Commission said, according to CNet. "Instead Microsoft has apparently decided to supply retail consumers with a version of Windows without a Web browser at all. Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less," the statement concluded.
Microsoft’s plan to offer PC makers the choice isn’t much of a change from old practices of shipping the browser with its operating system. Opera believe that the company’s endeavor to remedy the situation by not offering it at all is, “too little, too late” and detailed that it preferred the European Unions solution of providing users with a ‘ballot screen’ and allowing them to choose before they connected to the Internet.
Thanks EU! Saved me a bundle. Now it's time to switch to Geico for a double-whammy. Oo... today's going to be a good day!
IMO that's the best option for the company. Otherwise they'd just get another fine for listing a lot of browsers and forgetting to list one or the other.
I sometimes find myself ashamed of living in the EU when I see what the eggheads in charge dream up. Guess they want china to be the world leader instead of eu or usa.
Thanks EU! Saved me a bundle. Now it's time to switch to Geico for a double-whammy. Oo... today's going to be a good day!
I guess the EU isn't going to rest until Microsoft bundles IE8 and then adds a preferences screen at startup (like they have for choosing your search engine) to let you pick a different default browser. That solution is a bit silly, but it would also have the extra benefit of not having to bundle other vendors' browsers into the OS image.
Let's hope the U.S. government steps on Europe and stops this nonsense of bullying American companies. We gave Europe enough aid after WW II, they don't need to keep stealing from our companies. This is just crazy, how can they say Microsoft is unduly favoring their own browser when no browsers are installed? Since when did a failed continent get the right to tell our businesses how they must ship their products? At this point, it's not a competitive advantage, so they can't argue it's for competition.
Besides, what is this competition for? Browsers are free!!!!!! Competing browsers are gaining market share! They are easy to get, and Microsoft does not exclude OEMs from adding them to their machines anyway, if they feel it's better for their customers.
For all you people that hate Microsoft, and believe me, I am one of them, just remember that this is taking money from ordinary people too. All those mutual funds, and retirement funds that people in the United States have do have Microsoft stock. Intel is also a very common component of them too. If Europe keeps fining our companies, especially if this turns out as yet another excuse to, it's really robbery. We gave them enough money; we can't afford to rebuild Europe again. If they want to fine Intel, which at least you could make a case for, give the money back to AMD. But, nope, they keep it. When the fine Microsoft, do they give it to companies that suffered from their practices? Nope, they line their coffers.
If they keep this up, let's fine BMW for being unable to deal with American snow, and sue them for accidents. Or Volkswagen for being a NAZI company, originally. Or Daimler for screwing up Chrysler. Not Lotus though, their cars are too cool, and they might stop selling here. But, if Europe can fine companies for crazy stuff, it's time to take aim at European cars. Mind you, I love European cars (it's all I buy) and everything I'm saying above is ridiculous, but no more so than if they fine Microsoft for not putting any browsers in their OS. It's maddening!
Lets compare some similar situations.
In your Ford Vehicle, you now must be able to provide customers with at least 3 different types of engines, all from different manufacturers. I love microsofts response "ok fine, here is a car without an engine at all, you put in what engine you want".
I think this is absolute bullcrap that they are doing this. Microsoft should be able to give away mediaplayer/ie all they want on THEIR operating system. No one is forcing users to use Windows are they? They just 'have' to use it because there are no other options. Well boohoo.
Another example?
I went into the grocery store, and I demanded and ham sandwhich from the deli. However, I demanded that I be provided with 8 different types of ham, all from different places. See how stupid this gets? Those users that WANT firefox/opera/safari will go download it.
OMG, microsoft is giving something away for free and its not fair!!!
They need to wake up and notice, it is the responsability of the Retail store or PC maker to sell/distibute other webbrowser products to give the customer good choices.
The EU is always out for money. They are just making this hard becuase they want more free money,..... and what solutions they are looking for are very unrealistic.
I totally agree. I'm not that big of fan of Microsoft as a business, but I use windows cause that's what there is, (please don't give the linux, mac stuff) But I don't use their browser. What's up with the EU lately, they seem to be going on a rampage and ,to me, really overstepping their place.
Very good point. If Microsoft forces users to choose to instal a new browser right away, most people will be anoyed and think "gee, the Mac gives me a browser without having to choose one. It just works!" For mainstream users, the less choice they have to make in computer setup, the happier they are. This is part of the appeal of Macs.
In previous versions the IE is so intrenched in the OS that there is no easy way to get rid of them.
Mozilla for instance, defaults it's Firefox searches through Google and Google pays them for the traffic. That is how Mozilla makes money. Google on the other hand, makes money off advertising.
Microsoft is trying to get in a share in that advertising market. IE will direct all searches, by default, through Microsoft's search engine (MSN Search, Live Search, and now Bing), thereby increasing traffic of it's search engine, and having more traffic for advertising.
Since browser is the first link in this chain, browser makers are fighting tooth and nail for market share, even though they are free. However, the above are usually negated by Google being made the default search engine by users even if they are using IE.
Honestly, I am going to start boycotting anything made in the EU soon. If those douchebags can't learn it the first time, then there's no other way.
Take it up with the EU then, ask them to supply you a browser. MS doesn't have to legally supply you anything but the OS itself to run your computer on, if you purchase Windows. IE is not mandatory for the system to run, therefore it is on you to supply your own browser.
Now keep it down EU, America is trying to play golf on the moon.