The EU has made their bed now they have to lie in it

[javajolt]

EU Says, Windows 7 Needs Browsers!  I was under the impression that World War II was to rid the European Continent of its dictators!  Here a mere 64 years later this very same European Continent has dictators on its soil called the European Commission.  Microsoft agreed to remove Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer 8 from the Operating System.  Now they say Windows 7 needs a browser, and that Microsoft should bundle their competitors  browsers in the Windows Operating System. 

I guess the next step in their dictation is to make all European car makers offer their competitors, Radios, Dashboards, Hood Ornaments, Name Plates, etc, on their automobiles.  Instead of the Mercedes Benz Star, MB will have to offer the Spirit of Ecstasy, or the BMW badge embedded in the hood.  Offer putting VW branding on Bentleys.

This is so wrong, and I for one hope Microsoft will tie this up in litigation at least until after the release of Windows 7 “E” edition to the general public.  If the European public are so hell bent on not having IE8 bundled in the OS they have gotten what they wanted.  Now it should be up to them or the Computer manufactures to offer them an alternative.

javajolt

[Chuck E]

I agree - I think that Microsoft is making the right move here, If any of those Europeans have been using 7 RC then they've  probably seen what the Upgraded 8 is like and then I'm sure that on consideration there will be an awful lot who order the IE8 install disc. It's really too good to miss. Then I'd say that there Will be a major anti-commission that will have the regulators having to grovel to be voted into office again. 

[riso]

Listen to all: I'm European...poor me.
First we don't like a European supremacy and
second we don't like those stupid rules,
third we WANT a complete Windows 7,
fourth E.U. sucks!!!
To me Firefox, Chrome, Opera all sucks... I'm a real IE addict,
The only E.U reason is probably to suck Microsoft's $$$
riso

[Jake]

The EU is really starting to piss me off with all their nonsense...

Do this, do that, no wait we changed our minds, haha just kidding you've gotta do this or we'll sue.

>_<

[javajolt]

Hi Irtehpasty  & Riso,

I have to agree with both of you.  The EU is way out of line on this and I think riso is right about all they want is MS $$$$$$$$$.

javajolt

[madindehead]

No one in the EU even gets a say on any of these things. All we do is vote for the MEPs. The rest is up to them. The EU Commission really need to start sorting their ideas out. They are going way too far with this total bullshit.

[zYb]

I'm with you all on this one. Like Riso, i use IE all the time. It's my PREFERRED web browser. I also use Opera for those pages that simply will not load with IE - but i find that i very rarely need to use it at all...

I cannot believe that the EU are making these decisions without more input from independent and impartial sources. There is all the talk of M$ being a monopoly. How is including a web browser in their operating system a cause for an anti-trust case i ask.

Interesting how other operating systems available for purchase here in the EU come with web browsers pre-installed... I mean look at Apple - they include Safari in their OS, all the Linux distros that come with Firefox.... Why are these organisations not being forced to remove their browsers? (please don't start on open source being community based - i mean the enterprise versions of Linux such as Red Hat, SuSE, etc.)

It's a case, in my opinion, of "what's good for the goose is good for the gander". Sure, stop M$ from including their browser, but then force all other operating systems to remove theirs too.

Why should I be forced to use Safari if i use a MAC or Firefox if I use Linux?! I'm not talking about NOT having a choice - that is really what this is all about.

Obviously we can all just download an alternative browser... but for the non-tech savvy users out there it's going to be pretty hard to get online if, once you've installed your OS, you either need to install an out-dated browser off a CD/DVD or, if you don't happen to have the installer for a web browser either visit your local IT store or visit a friend to download one...!

What does make me laugh is how when opera won by getting this EU ruling to force M$ to remove their browser, they immediately say it's not good enough and now M$ should include other browsers as a choice...

Who is going to be responsible (legally) if installing one of these browsers screws up your PC? Are people going to sue M$ or the company that gave M$ the browser to include with Windows?

Bottom line is - i'll buy a copy of Win 7, but i sure as hell will not be getting it from the EU. I don't want to have to install yet _another_ piece of software when I re-install my OS... one of the VERY first things i actually NEED on my PCs is a web browser... to get the latest version of my AV product, drivers, etc.

Just my 2 pence worth...

zYb