European Commission Welcomes New Microsoft Proposals on MSIE and Interoperability

[btarunr]

The European Commission can confirm that Microsoft has proposed a consumer ballot screen as a solution to the pending antitrust case about the tying of Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser with Windows. This followed extensive discussions with the Commission which centred on a remedy outlined in the January 2009 Statement of Objections (see MEMO/09/15) whereby consumers would be shown a "ballot screen" from which they could - if they wished - easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer. Under the proposal, Windows 7 would include Internet Explorer, but the proposal recognises the principle that consumers should be given a free and effective choice of web browser, and sets out a means - the ballot screen - by which Microsoft believes that can be achieved. In addition OEMs would be able to install competing web browsers, set those as default and disable Internet Explorer should they so wish. The Commission welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice.

As the Commission indicated in June (see MEMO/09/272 ), the Commission was concerned that, should Microsoft's conduct prove to have been abusive, Microsoft's intention to separate Internet Explorer from Windows, without measures such as a ballot screen, would not necessarily have achieved greater consumer choice in practice and would not have been an effective remedy.

Microsoft has also made proposals in relation to disclosures of interoperability information that would improve the interoperability between third party products and Windows and Windows Server. Again, these proposals require further investigation before the Commission reaches any conclusion as to the next steps.

Microsoft's proposals will be published in full on its website. The Commission has no further comment at this stage.

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[alexp999]

Been following this, but wtf happens with Windows 7 E now?

Will they scrap it and just change all our pre-orders to the normal Windows 7?

 

[btarunr]

Been following this, but wtf happens with Windows 7 E now?

Will they scrap it and just change all our pre-orders to the normal Windows 7?

Windows 7 E comes with that ballot screen instead of MSIE being "turned off" by default. If you choose IE, it will be turned on.

 

[alexp999]

MS have said they will not continue to sell Win 7 E if the EU accepts the proposal and instead they will offer the full version in Europe.

The ballot screen will be rolled out as a critical update.

So I'm wondering if MS will just scrap 7 E completely and change all our pre-orders to full editions, or whether they will just confuse the pants off joe blogs and have about 3 different editions floating about.

 

[csendesmark]

The only good thing in Internet Explorer is: You can download Opera or Firefox

 

[btarunr]

MS have said they will not continue to sell Win 7 E if the EU accepts the proposal and instead they will offer the full version in Europe.

The ballot screen will be rolled out as a critical update.

So I'm wondering if MS will just scrap 7 E completely and change all our pre-orders to full editions, or whether they will just confuse the pants off joe blogs and have about 3 different editions floating about.

The full version (as in the standard non-EU version) doesn't come with the ballot screen. EU agreed to the proposal that Windows 7 will present the user a choice of browser (ballot). So an educated guess will be that Windows 7 E is the one with the ballot screen.

 

[W1zzard]

yeah i guess the update approach might make most sense. put the ballot as critical update there that will be installed by most people automatically after installation.

i dont think there is enough time to delay the dvd production until the eu comission and everyone else is happy with ms's solution. an update can be engineered even a few days before launch

 

[TheMailMan78]

Such a waste of time and resources. :shadedshu

 

[alexp999]

The full version (as in the standard non-EU version) doesn't come with the ballot screen. EU agreed to the proposal that Windows 7 will present the user a choice of browser (ballot). So an educated guess will be that Windows 7 E is the one with the ballot screen.

MS have said they will discontinue Windows 7 E if the Eu agrees to the ballot screen, at which time they will sell the full edition like the rest of the world gets in Europe.

So Im wondering if they will get their arses into gear and ship all the pre-orders as normal editions, or whether there will be a second Win 7 release in Europe with the full version a bit later on.

 

[AltecV1]

so eu member countries will get a choise of browsers and rest of the world will get just explorer! EU rulez

 

[TheMailMan78]

so eu member countries will get a choise of browsers and rest of the world will get just explorer! EU rulez

Yeah thats EXACTLY whats happening.

 

[$ReaPeR$]

i like the new IE I've been testing it for a month now and its extremely efficient IMO, but it is also very nice to have a choice.

 

[Disparia]

So threatening anti-trust is the only way to get a useful feature out of them?

Why to go MS! :/

 

[Dimi]

This whole discussion doesn't make any sense. If you don't like IE, download another one. Simple as that. If you don't like the tires of your new car, buy other ones!

This is just female nitpicking, Kroes probably doesn't know how and where to find firefox, opera or whatever so she just wants MS to do it for her.

There are still sites, even big sites that don't fully work with Firefox, thats why i use both.

IE is as fast as Firefox. Though firefox takes a long ass time to start up, even on my machine, IE is open in a blink of an eye. Same favorites, not 1 extension in firefox (clean install, only favorites & cookies imported).

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I dont see what the eu's big deal is,if you dont like ie just install another and dont use ie.Surely if microsoft make the os,they can ship it with what the hell they like,if people dont like it they can use linux.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It's not Microsoft's job to offer choices. If you don't like it, don't buy their product. If there's enough people like you, they'll get the message and do something about it.

The EU's decision was wrong before and it is still wrong today. A court should not be permitted to force the developer of an application to include or exclude features.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I completely agree ^^

 

[alexp999]

It's not Microsoft's job to offer choices. If you don't like it, don't buy their product. If there's enough people like you, they'll get the message and do something about it.

The EU's decision was wrong before and it is still wrong today. A court should not be permitted to force the developer of an application to include or exclude features.

Or if they do it should be consistent.

I dont see Apple being sued for including Safari on just about every device they sell.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Apple won't get sued because they're "too little" or "insignificant" because of their "lack of abundant, and overwhelming market share," like Microsoft.

In other words, Apple can't contribute enough to EU's retirement fund to be worth fining them.

...

 

[mtosev]

I dont think Apple sells a lot of stuff in Europe. the price tag is a killer.

one example: http://www.mimovrste.com/artikel/2740066025/namizni-racunalnik-apple-imac-24-266ghz-9860

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'd rather have a lobotomy than buy any apple stuff anyway.

 

[csendesmark]

This rule for the "default" users, not for (you) "experts", cant you understand?

And user from US (who disagree with EU decision), use InternetSuxxplorer only for a week

 

[TheMailMan78]

This rule for the "default" users, not for (you) "experts", cant you understand?

And user from US (who disagree with EU decision), use InternetSuxxplorer only for a week

I use IE8 and love it.

 

[alexp999]

The thing that gets me and I've probably said it before, is that anyone who is competent enough to install Windows 7 themselves, is competent enough to know about the existence of other browsers and how to install them.

Those who don't, probably have no idea what Windows 7 is, it will just appear pre-installed on their next computer with whatever browser the OEM decided to installed.

Which makes EU's argument completely null and void IMO.

Tho I must admit, having an SKU without IE, now that I've been converted to Opera is nice, and it will hopefully force devs to not make popups open in IE regardless of default settings. That said, it looks like 7 E could be canned. I'm downloading the RTM of E now, although it will add confusion, I still like the idea of receiving Windows 7 E.

 

[TheMailMan78]

The thing that gets me and I've probably said it before, is that anyone who is competent enough to install Windows 7 themselves, is competent enough to know about the existence of other browsers and how to install them.

Those who don't, probably have no idea what Windows 7 is, it will just appear pre-installed on their next computer with whatever browser the OEM decided to installed.

Which makes EU's argument completely null and void IMO.

Tho I must admit, having an SKU without IE, now that I've been converted to Opera is nice, and it will hopefully force devs to not make popups open in IE regardless of default settings. That said, it looks like 7 E could be canned. I'm downloading the RTM of E now, although it will add confusion, I still like the idea of receiving Windows 7 E.

I wish the US and EU would end the static between them. I maybe stoned on Oxycotton but all this rivalry crap is getting old.