Microsoft bundling IE with windows deemed illegal by EU (IBM, Adobe agree)

[Timo]

lol.

It seems the EU has run out of cash, and needs to sue Microsoft for money.

This is an important case to ensure that browsers can compete on the merits and that consumers have a true choice in the software they use to access the internet. Despite consistently lower user satisfaction ratings for IE, Microsoft browser maintains its dominant position because of illegal bundling with Windows. Smaller, more innovative browser developers need a level playing field to have a fair chance. That is why there is such broad support for the Commission's preliminary findings of abuse.

Maybe Microsoft should unbundle IE from Windows and sell it to the EU without a web browser, so people can choose for themselves . Users aren't forced to solely use IE, except for the one or two webpages they need to visit in order to download Firefox. It's like being given a free car when you arrive in at internet land. It might be shit but hell it's a free car. Just because you don't know about other free ones that you can get after a short drive doesn't mean that internet land should be shot in the foot for offering the free car in the first place .

I can't see any reason why they're so up in arms about it either, it's not like Opera or Mozilla would benefit from having their free software pre-installed.

Just because so many people are frustrated with IE doesn't mean that the second they use a different browser all their problems will vanish - doesn't it make a bit of sense that IE has such a low approval rating because there are so many computer illiterate people on the internet that don't realise alternatives exist? And just because they disapprove of one doesn't mean that they will suddenly know how to put links on their links bar in another. If Microsoft did give consumers three options, would they know the difference between Firefox, Opera and IE just by their names? Wouldn't they pick IE anyway because it's the only one out of the three that explores the internet??? Most computer illiterate people I know see IE as a window to the internet - changing the frame of the window won't make them enjoy looking through it any more than they already do.

Can't help but ask - why isn't Apple up on the firing line for this too, aren't they also illegally forcingusers to use Safari on their macs?


I guess it doesn't help that the head of this ECIS works for Opera.


I know I wouldn't normally make a thread (about this), but it really pisses me off. Also note that I don't read the entire internet every day so only stumbled apon this on neowin today (oh lord it's more than one day old).
[/rant]

[Kornman00]

Can't help but ask - why isn't Apple up on the firing line for this too, aren't they also illegally forcing users to use Safari on their macs & ipods?

fty

[beele]

They did the same thing with windows media player, you can get the xp-N here (don't know for vista) and it does not have wmp installed.

ECIS people must be really stupid, no one is forcing you to use it, you can insall the program best suited for you.

[Sel]

ahahhahaahhaha

god damn they are so dumb

[FireScythe]

I'm kinda glad they do bundle IE with Windows. It'd be a bit difficult to go find and download a new browser if you don't have a browser in the first place to go and find it with.

[Syuusuke]

Think of the number of new users yelling "HOW DO I GET ON THE INTERNET?!"

As if there weren't enough people asking that anyway.

[=sw=warlord]

Think of the number of new users yelling "HOW DO I GET ON THE INTERNET?!"

As if there weren't enough people asking that anyway.

I think if microsoft removed internet explorer, OEM's would start installing the browers anyways, its not as though they don't install enough junkware as it is with new computers.

[jcap]

What about iTunes? That comes bundled on every clean installation of OS X too.

[rossmum]

This is so petty and downright stupid it's not funny. Sums up our society pretty well, I guess.

[Inferno]

This is so dumb. I guess this is why we can't have nice things like the internet.