Monday, August 3rd 2009
Windows 7 EU-Specific Variant Scrapped
Following the European Commission's recent welcoming of Microsoft's proposed "browser ballot" method of providing users a choice of web-browser software to be installed, Microsoft has decided to scrap the Eurozone-specific variant of the operating system codenamed "Windows 7 E", that lacks the Windows Internet Explorer web-browser component. The company will be shipping the standard version of the software to EU which it ships to the rest of the world.
In an interview with CNET, Microsoft's VP and Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner said "One reason we decided not to ship Windows 7 'E' is concerns raised by computer manufacturers and partners." He added that "Several worried about the complexity of changing the version of Windows that we ship in Europe if our ballot screen proposal is ultimately accepted by the Commission and we stop selling Windows 7 'E'. Computer manufacturers and our partners also warned that introducing Windows 7 'E', only to later replace it with a version of Windows 7 that includes IE, could confuse consumers about what version of Windows to buy with their PCs."
Source:
CNET
In an interview with CNET, Microsoft's VP and Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner said "One reason we decided not to ship Windows 7 'E' is concerns raised by computer manufacturers and partners." He added that "Several worried about the complexity of changing the version of Windows that we ship in Europe if our ballot screen proposal is ultimately accepted by the Commission and we stop selling Windows 7 'E'. Computer manufacturers and our partners also warned that introducing Windows 7 'E', only to later replace it with a version of Windows 7 that includes IE, could confuse consumers about what version of Windows to buy with their PCs."
29 Comments on Windows 7 EU-Specific Variant Scrapped
This is what I hoped for for a while. Now I can install Opera without IE ^_^
I never understood this fuss. It is not like you are incapable of installing a different browser. Granted, a lot of people will simply not care; however, for us "power users" the first thing we install on an OS is the web browser we actually use.
I am not sure about you guys, but I enjoy the sad joke that I need to use IE to browser the internet to download the web browser to replace IE.
yeah, hell i even try and avoid doing that by keeping the latist opera installer around as a backup:P
I liked the fact it would have forced devs to recode their apps to use IE less/differently
For example, if I run Win 7 E or uninstall IE, steam works fine other than for pop ups (e.g screenshots).
I mean its no biggie for me to go and uninstall IE, but it means that steam will never be fixed.
Thing is, the whole Win 7 E thing was actually good IMO, it meant I got out there and tried other browsers. I'm now a devoted Opera User.
I'd like to know whats actually happening about pre-orders tho. I we all just being moved over to a standard retail edition? If so, win/win. We get full retail standard edition at ridiculously low prices! :D
The main reason most programs us IE is not because the like it or want to, but it is the only browser they can Guarantee will be on your Windows OS. Hell, if you if "uninstalled" it on WinXP IE can still be started. XP IE uninstall just removes direct access to IE, but the OS can still start it at will because it is still there.
"Those who pre-ordered Windows 7 "E" through a recent discount offer will get the full version, as Microsoft had promised. However, Microsoft plans to now sell Windows 7 upgrades in Europe and also offer a higher-priced full version (for those without an earlier copy of Windows)--similar to what it is doing in the rest of the world.
i like to use other browsers, but since Windows is made by microsoft i expect them to add other microsoft stuff.
microsoft should have ignored all that bs.
take a look at apple.
All other browsers come with their own API for rendering HTML.
My point was that steam has been built to use Trident with its own interface for everything but screenshot popups which IMO is bloody stupid.
Guess I should have known, being forced into something I'd probably produce a lackluster solution such as the one above. Sigh.