No Windows 7 Upgrades for Europe
It's all because of the IE8 deal with the EU.
When Windows 7 hits on October 22, it’ll come in flavors that are familiar to us from before with full and upgrade versions. Countries that a part of the European Union, however, won’t be getting the upgrade version due to the recent events between Microsoft and the European Commission.
“To ensure that Microsoft is in compliance with European law, Microsoft will be releasing a separate version of Windows 7 for distribution in Europe that will not include Windows Internet Explorer,” the Redmond company said in a memo to PC manufacturers.
The result of that is that European consumers looking to jump into Windows 7 will have to back up their own data and perform a clean install, according to Gizmodo. Apparently the decision behind the lack of an upgrade option stems from quality assurance. Microsoft can be relatively sure about what happens with a clean install, but it is unable to control what happens when Windows 7 is upgraded onto a system that already has browsers already installed on it.
“We don't want to break anyone else's software, we don't want to break our own software, and we don't want the customer on the phone with support,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Windows Product Management, to the gadget blog.
Fortunately, those running Windows Vista or XP won’t be stuck with paying for full version prices. Microsoft said that it would offer upgrade pricing on the full licenses (for those who qualify), though didn’t detail how it would go about verifying existing licenses. European customers will also get an offer for discounted upgrades starting July 15.
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tipmen Nice Shot! No upgrades for you guys. Maybe if you didn't try to sue MS.... this could of been avoided. I guess it has come to the point where companies have restrictions on what they can put on their own software.Reply -
IzzyCraft EU finally finished a lawsuit against a dieing browser and this is what happens. Well Europe is probably used to getting everything last anyways with complications.Reply -
jhansonxi I've never had a system that was stable after an upgrade so I only do full installs.Reply -
norbs I count 1^, 2^, 3^ morons in this thread. Yes, it's the consumers fault that the EU sued them.Reply -
zaratustra06 How is this a bad thing for anyone? Microsoft will get more more money and consumers more stable system. It's a win-win :)Reply -
curnel_D Nah, this didnt do anything to the EU aside from give them a better version of MS for an upgrade price! Now they just get a better deal.Reply -
JimmiG tipmenNice Shot! No upgrades for you guys. Maybe if you didn't try to sue MS.... this could of been avoided. I guess it has come to the point where companies have restrictions on what they can put on their own software.Reply
Most european citizens (me included) think the whole lawsuit thing is just as crazy and ridiculous as you do. 99.9% probably don't care at all or even know what's going on, though.
I guess I'd better load up Firefox Portable on a USB key *before* I reformat and install Win7 on the only computer in the house, then.. Otherwise my system will be permanently offline and I'll have to buy a new system with XP or Vista on it and then transfer Firefox from that I guess... Or maybe the days when ISPs sent CDs with browsers when you signed up are about to return... I thought Windows7 was about a cleaner, easier experience...?
Maybe there's some command line based FTP client in there to get a browser downloaded. But then the makers of FlashFXP would probably also sue MS...Wonder if they can even keep the command prompt in there. Aren't there companies making virtual DOS environments for Windows? How are people going to discover their products when Windows already comes with a command line interface?
The Windows8 EU version should just be a black screen, everything else has to be coded in using machine language.
IzzyCraftWell Europe is probably used to getting everything last anyways with complications.Yeah, also more expensive. Vista Ultimate cost about twice as much in the EU compared to the US. Normally the EU Ripoff Tax™ is only about 30%.