Microsoft's Official Statement Following EU Commission Objections on IE with Windows

[FordGT90Concept]

Another point, Bundling IE with Win95 was the downfall of netscape nav, back then everyone was "against" MS, funny how now they are "with" ms.

Windows 95 was released on the dawn of the Internet for consumer use. The purpose it served then is the same purpose served now...

Today IE is hard-coded in the OS which sucks because forces people to keep two browsers if they want alternative. It is also hard-linked, meaning that a lot of functionality doesn't look for the default browser but for IE directly. This sucks a lot but here in EU we like to unsucker ourselves.

Look at it from Microsoft's perspective: They need code in order to obtain and install updates for the operating system. That means a whole lot of protocol code behind the scenes. Now, why not use HTTP and use the same code base for more than one application? That's exactly what they did: Make an update client and slap a browser on to it.

What Microsoft is having to do now is completely hide that underlying code base and only access it for update routines; however, for quality control purposes (spoofing browsers, spoofing websites, etc.), Microsoft cannot expect a third-party browser to allow updating because that puts the entire operating system at risk.

So what it comes down to is this:
a) A high security clearance browser with strict access controls.
b) A high security clearance update application with strict access controls and an unenforceable security clearance browser with application derived access.

"a" fulfills two roles securely; "b" fulfills the same two roles but at the same time producing a potentially massive security hole.

Internet Explorer made sense back then and it still does today: it's update role is required for safe operation of the computer and expanding upon it merely makes life on a freshly formatted computer a little easier. It's a win-win situation.


Simply put, if you can't stand Internet Explorer, you shouldn't be using Windows. They are one in the same--at least until the EU raped Microsoft and forced them to change their programming model in Internet Explorer 7 (IE6 could do FTP, local, and HTTP without changing executables, IE7 can only do HTTP). EU has done a whole lot of absolutely no good in this case.

 

[Demon_82]

European Union is getting more retarded every day... and I have to suffer them! XD

 

[Baer]

The answer is for Tech American companies to just stop selling in the E U. The market is not growing much and with the anti successful U S company issues and the crasy ROHs laws it is not really worth it for some.
Why should those of us that like the additional free add in's have to be penalized. Yes I use Firefox but I want the choice and I want the convienience of having net access right out of the box.
Let the great E U software O S company (who??) sell in the E. U.
This is not meant as a slam to E U residents but your E U reps are nuts and are not helping you.

 

[tomkaten]

I guess most people here fail to realize that IE has been the bane of Windows since the very beginning. Let's not forget that previous protests brought us the "Set program access and defaults" feature, that wasn't there a while ago.

Basically, you were stuck with IE taking up all your clicks from any external program, no matter which browser was set as default.

And btw, the IE Browser Helper Objects remain the greatest security threat to this day. It's how you get infected with almost all the trojans out there. It can be invoked externally, even if you browse using a different browser.

I'm not saying the EU commission is right on this one, because they're not, but let's not think that Ms's monopolistic practices have done us, the end users, any good. It's probably the reason the attacks on Windows machines have become so popular... Most of the IE userbase (read novices) has no idea what a vulnerable and outdated piece of crap it's using.

 

[Johnytxtc]

If you all feel so strongly on the matter why not tell the president:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/contact/mail/index_en.htm

 

[Darkrealms]

I don't see why Microsoft is fighting it . . . Just send every EU copy of Windows without a web browser. Perhaps still be nice enough to have it as an optional install on the CD for those users that don't agree with the EU Commission.


I think one of the main reasons IE is so "vulnerable" is because it is so used. Same with Windows vs Apple and viruses. Hackers will attack the most used target.

Bundling any other one companies browser should also be considered anti trust, by their stance. Why not have every Web Browser vender pay MS a fee to have their browser included and fix this problem, LOL. I'm sure Google won't mind ; P

 

[silkstone]

Been away for a while, but i guess i'm going to revieve this thread....

A great feature that would make everyone happy would be for MS to give users a choice of browser to install upon setting up Windows. Even if it mean connecting to the internet to download a non ms browser. M$ wouldn't do this tho as they want as many users as possible to use IE > More money for them.

 

[3870x2]

Soon windows won't come with a gui in europe because it is anti competitive. I don't think microsoft are trying to eliminate the competition its more that the competition isn't anywhere good enough to compete with microsoft hence their massive marketshare.

best bit of sense ive heard on the subject. They may be M$, but they know what they do and do it well, its not their fault everyone else sucks

regardless, how would the option of installing it help? that doesn't make any sense, it is no different than them having the option to double click the IE icon.

I think what the commission means, is that M$ should bundle an alternative instead of explorer, like opera, or firefox, not ship without an os.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think what the commission means, is that M$ should bundle an alternative instead of explorer, like opera, or firefox, not ship without an os.

It is Microsoft's product. They can bundle whatever they want to; however, it would be a bad idea for them to include a third party browser like Opera or Firefox because they can't guarantee the product won't kill their computer. IE is a product Microsoft authors so Microsoft can guarantee compatibility with Windows just like Safari is a product Apple authors so they can guarantee compatibility with Mac OS X. It is not anti-competitive to give consumers something they'll need should they want to use the Internet.

 

[eidairaman1]

ya and you should be able to Permanently Remove it (not hide the Icon, removes all traces out of Registry/Programs etc).

 

[DrPepper]

ya and you should be able to Permanently Remove it (not hide the Icon, removes all traces out of Registry/Programs etc).

Yeah but isn't IE also used as windows explorer.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It was up until Vista/IE7.

 

[craigwhiteside]

.... times like these, when you feel like hitting your head against a brick wall.

political correctness needs to be kicked in the head...

or to the more extreme, the laws need to be reformed so that they actually make sense and are fair