Microsoft will ship IE with Windows in Europe

So, when they chooses not to uses windows but other os, it will be automatically download the others and install the other os when the copy of windows 7 keeps in the hiden partition

Why the f**k have this news been blatantly ignored??:

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/07/eu-vista-xp-users-will-also-get-to-vote-ie-off-the-island.ars

I can't believe it, this site is totally pro-microsoft after all!!
Feh..!!

Microsoft should NOT be able to ship the same version plus ballot; but one WITHOUT IE installed but as a choice in the ballot screen. So all the browsers would be on the same ground.
Can't believe how mischievous microsoft is.

Also, look at comments form this news:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1433678/opera-windows-tweak

And how on Earth is anyone supposed to download their favourite browser if there ISNT any browser to begin with? With a new special application created specifically to download the browsers?

What a stupid idea. Pick your browser from the ballot screen, then uninstall (or "turn off", whatever you want to call it) IExplorer.

Simple and effective.

Quite frankly it's more than MS should have to do. The inclusion of a browser in an operating system is simply practical. No ifs, no buts. An OS without an internet browser in this day and age is nothing short of retarded. MS bundling their browser with their OS? Wow. Shocking. How unfair that a company will use it's own rather than a competitors products. Whinge, whinge, whinge.

And, as an aside, I write this from within opera - Microsoft didn't hinder my choice in this regard and nor should they.

As much as I do not use IE, I find it very stupid to have to remove IE from windows. What will be next? will the calculator software companies ask for a version of windows without the calculator?

done years ago. If MS had marketed IE the way it should have been - as a way for large customers to get a browser for their INTRANET sites, none of the suits would have been lost.

But no they marketed it as for EVERY CUSTOMER. Bad idea. Then to link it to Explorer shell made security a horrible nightmare.

Don't knock calculater, calc.exe is the best piece of software the voles ever wrote\z. Besides, I've misplaced my cheezeburger. Can I has cheezeburger?

@TheINQReader

The browser is not the only tool that can access the internet. There are thousands of them, and many protocols that can be used to download software; just like when you use various apps' updating tools (from adobe updater to google updater), wget or you-name-it; windows has various downloading tools built inside that don't involve the browser. Those can be used to implement the ballot screen.

Uninstall and turn off are NOT the same thing, but we the consumers, shouldn't have to perform any of them because IE shouldn't have to be installed in the fist place.
The ballot method would be much more simpler and more effective if you want a decent browser. And just a minimum hassle if you don't care.

@Brendan

A browser is practical only if it can access the internet (well there are some minor exceptions), so a ballot screen that would come up first time you want to browse the web is to hit the nail on the head.

Microsoft bundles IE with windows. Most linux distros bundle firefox. MacOSX bundles safari. Do you know what the difference is between those three? MARKET SHARE. Windows is 90%, 10% for the rest. THAT'S why it IS and MUST be threated different.
If the day comes when MacOSX or linux have 90% market share, it will be PLAIN WRONG to bundle safari or firefox with them too, and will be prosecuted the same way.

Regarding your choice to use a browser over any other; no, windows doesn't take you away from using another browser, it just makes sooo much easier to choose IE over any other. Look it this way: if you where not a power user (or someone not satisfied whit IE) you would just use IE, because it's already there. And THAT'S exactly the point and the competitive advantage of IE.

@Santi

You don't make money with the calculator, but the browser is the most important way to make craploads of money nowadays, that's why it gets so much attention. Besides, you're comparing apples to oranges there.

Grow up. I mean, personally i think microsoft have evry right to bundle whatever software they want with their OS. By being found guilty of giving away I.E. it stuck me as the same as telling Ferrari they can't give away a keychain with their cars as they'd be monopolising the keychain market. It was a ridiculous decision that should be overturned.

Microsoft stopped having rights when they bullied manufacturers, crushed competitors and got a 97% market share.

It's a bit like when you shoot someone and then the police kind of take away your rights to go anywhere you want, whenever you want. Do you see?

@ N4TH4N
Please. Don't put yourself in evidence like that.

They are not giving away IE. It's part of the price you pay for the OS. You're saying that when you buy a ferrari, not the keychain, but the wheels are for free.
(anyway, don't think they'd give you the keychain)

Microsoft hasn't got the right to bundle whatever they want; they have to go by the rules and obey the laws of the markets they commerce in.
And it's not for any reason, is because they hinder *competitiveness*.

I am aware that the browser is not the only tool that can access the internet, and that there are many protocols out there.

Can you name any of those tools within Windows that would be able to display the ballot screen? (ie: an html document). Surprise! it's called Internet Explorer!

Ok so, let's say they throw away the HTML page and instead use one of those other built-in tools. Without thinking about it too much I'd say you have 2 options: Windows Update or Explorer using FTP. The FTP is really a bad choice since it's not very intuitive to the average user. Windows Update would need (I'm pretty sure) a significant "add-on" just to display something it was not designed for. If you have a better option, please name it.

In short, the EASIEST way to handle this is by changing the default iExplorer homepage to the ballot screen or something to that effect, the other options are IMHO, a useless waste of time and resources.

FWIW I'm not a big fan of IE but quite frankly asking to remove it phisically from the computer is ridiculous, the "turn off" function works perfectly since it effectively makes it dissapear, not just hide it; it accounts for less than 0.2% of the used HDD space by Windows 7.

Feh.. You know, it doesn't have to be a simple flimsy html page, just something more elaborate; showing a html page on IE to choose a browser is kinda.. cheap.

It's not for me to say what the best tools would be, that's microsoft's work. Besides, it hasn't got to be easy (for microsoft) as you say, but for us consumers.
And it would have to be -very- secure.
I'm sure I've seen screenshots of the ballot at the installation time, but I can't find them.

The reasons for wiping IE out of the system have already been given, security reasons, anticompetitive reasons.. So I'm not going to discuss that point anymore, at least not with used hdd space as the argument to tackle.

?This may be bigger blunder than ever:

Three weeks ago, doctors gave her (Bartz) a new left knee, made of titanium and plastic. As a result, she is limping around Yahoo’s headquarters here, occasionally standing to hold a chair and stretch her leg while a bottle of Percocet sits at the ready on her desk.

Yahoo also underwent invasive surgery

NO SHIT. Can you imagine working while under influance of heroine for three weeks? blable dah rah bab gaga. yahoo value declined 20%. whirlies. Big Mistake on upper command floor. Bartz is part of NW Bank group, kamakazie group.

IE works until it dosn't & it dosn't work long. when it sees no connection, SEAMONKY gets thru just fine. so IE is Bad Browser from start. Once IE has been corrupted, theres NO Fix. Your out of luck if don't have SEAMONKEY ready to fire up at instants notice.

vondrashek

... this is a surprise because....?????

It's their bat, their glove, their field, their stands and their ball. You wanna play ball with them, well, you gotta use their stuff.

Kinda like driving into McDonalds and ordering a Whopper. Wrong...you play by their rules and get their burger. Or go somewhere else. Simple.

Lunix anyone???

The ballot box will be shown with Internet Explorer, just like the composite image Microsoft has shown to the EU. EU doesn't seem to have any problems with it.

@Doug Glass
It may be their bat, their glove, their stands and their ball; but it's NOT their field. In fact, it's never their field and never should be.
The European market is the field this time, and every time they win this way, the consumer loses.

So, the one who puts the rules and stands by them is the European Commission (let's hope they always go for the consumers' best)

@barayan
It would be so convenient to them.. but it would be a bodge up.

First, it would ensure that IE would have to be present (which is not needed)

Second, it would make this option sooo insecure (you know, a website holding download links to some popular browsers.. a sweet pie for hackers and defacers)

Third, it wouldn't be reliable (millions of page hits to www.browserballot.eu)

Best solution would be some aditional module for windows update, or something similar to synaptic... BUT this would open a very dangerous gate for Microsoft, one that would make them make available any third party software would they be required to.

I'm caught off the blower with Simon Cowell, now and he thinks your brilliant!

Ask Mr. Nasty Judge Dread, hisself, when a tree's got talent in blighty, we want you on the horn.

Have your people called my people? The "M" word. Tata. They cut an LP master. No more Midgets. They canna' reach the counterchange for aten.

I heard it on the radio and now it's in my rock and roll.

Microsoft has every god damn right to put what ever software they want into their own OS. The EU are a bunch of idiots. The only people who care what browser they use, already can easily change. The people who choose IE will still just continue to use it and also the poeple who don't know any better are hardly going to choose "Mozilla" in a ballot over the bolded (recommended) "Internet Explorer" option. Seriously people, it would be different if you couldn't use any other browser ever on windows because Microsoft locked them out then yes you'd probably have a case to make but it's not that way. If you don't like how microsoft does things use a Mac or Linux. For the rest of us who aren't anti Microsoft we'll be happily enjoying the largest software base known to man as well as the cheapest hardware prices and the ability to double click to install. (FAIL Mac and Linux IMO)

Then the middle east has every god damn right to charge whatever *they* want for *their* barrels of oil, so American Idiots should quit bitching about the rising price of gas. If you don't like it, go and use Dallas and Alaskan oil instead.

...According to your logic.

Why does it need to be more elaborate than a simple webpage with links? It's simple, it's lightweight, it's easy to use and it's easy to update. You feel it's 'cheap' to access it from Internet Explorer, I feel your argument is... weak.

Agreed it's not for you to say what the best tools would be, I also agree that it's MS's job, and coincidentally they decided to use the simple page. Again, simple, easy to use, lightweight, etc. Sounds like a winner to me.

I also find laughable that it needs to be "-very- secure". It's not like other more complex Microsoft websites aren't under attack regularly and yet they keep working. All of the sudden all MS websites are insecure? How many virus/trojans have you downloaded from microsoft.com lately?

Your reasons for wiping IE(8? I presume) out of the system are a bit vague quite frankly, I don't know if you wrote about it somewhere else, I have never read them. Please enlighten me, with a link if you don't feel like rewriting it.

For one, my logic applies to the Computer Industry not the freaking Middle East; secondly the Middle East can charge whatever the hell they want for their oil. I don't bitch about Gas because A) I'm not a fag up myself cry baby Yank, B) I live close enough to work to be able to walk or ride a bike and C) you're one of those idiots my original comments title was referring to.

Let's take your logic and apply it to some random situation shall we. A Male comments on how good a Female looks, after routing through your messed up head that Male must be at least Bi sexual now because he is applying his comments to another Male because Men and Women are actually people. The same way Microsoft and the "Middle East" are both selling stuff, therefore they are the same and any comment made about one directly applies to the other.

God damn you're an idiot Chuck

I'm sorry...I don't understand this article at all. This article contradicts itself:

-"SOFTWARE GIANT Microsoft has decided that if the European Union is not going to be a little more enthusiastic about it releasing a version of Windows 7 without Internet Exploder then it is not going to bother"

-you mean microsoft wanted to release it without IE but the union wasn't enthusiastic? what!?!? it's the other way around.

-"The Vole had threatened to drop its Internet Explorer (IE) web browser from versions of Windows 7 shipped to European countries when it launches the new operating system in October"

-you mean microsoft threatened to take IE OFF (???)? isn't that what the unoin want's?

-"Instead, Microsoft now says punters will get a 'ballot' option allowing them to choose whether to install IE or another browser"

-No,no,no....microsoft is forced to do so by the union & to quote a microsoft rep:"As you might imagine, it was not easy for Microsoft to accept the idea that we would essentially promote directly competing software from within our flagship product, Windows. Still, we believe that this approach is better for all concerned, including computer manufacturers and browser vendors—and most of all consumers—than an approach focused on removing Internet Explorer from Windows." (!!!)(from DailyTech)

After all that the writer SUDDENLY changes EVERYTHING about his opinion/stand/knowledge/view/conceptions and we get back to reality...........what was up with the first four paragraphs??? anyone???

??AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO IS SEEING THIS??

!!!!!GOD!!!!!

Man, where have you been the last couple of weeks? Mars?

"you mean microsoft wanted to release it without IE but the union wasn't enthusiastic?" Yes.. exactly. They planned an "E" version for the EU, shipping without IE and Media Player.

"you mean microsoft threatened to take IE OFF (???)? isn't that what the unoin want's?" Well, as the saying goes... don't hope, for you may get what you want. Basically, windows with IE is bad, windows without IE is bad, at least according to our big wigs.

So basically, yes... you're the only one seeing this article as complete BS. As a matter of fact, it's just as accurate as other pieces on this matter. I don't ask to believe me, see for yourself on the most pro-MS site in the world... http://www.winsupersite.com/

And since I'm paying my fair slice of EU Taxes (I'm an abiding EU citizen, after all... sadly I have no way to elude taxes), let me speak my mind about this absurd subject (I've written a few times to our representatives and you can do it yourselves if you wish... www.europa.eu): if MS is compelled to give users some kind of choice, then all others (Apple, posix and whoever) should be compelled to do the same, just for the sake of fairness.
Following this logic, the first time you open notepad you should be warned that UltraEdit or PSPAD exist... On first use of PAINT you should get a flashing screen stating that there are a LOT of much better applications. C'mon, gimme a break!

And to those who wish for a more "elaborate" solution....

anything that is not http and ftp has to be agreed to with other manufacturers (I guess this is obvious...); why should MS be forced to do what Apple, Mozilla, Opera decide to implement? On the other hand, if you do develop something more "sophisticated" that interfaces the user with HTTP or FTP... well, sorry... that would be just another browser, although a limited one! So what you're asking is to replace a ballot screen with another browser.... I apologize, but that sounds stupid!

I agree that the EU should monitor MS to ensure that they don't abuse their monopoly, but.... since ALL browsers are FREE (name one you have to pay for...), who cares about browser monopoly????

P.S. before you start complaining... I have ALL the browsers I mentioned installed, to ensure my content looks right in all of them. So I don't care which is the big guy and which is the pariah.

Mate are you a yank by any chance? This is INQ for eff sake, this is how all of the articles are written, its called sarcasm, go wiki it, they dont have it on T.V in good ole U.S. (roll eyes)

As for Microsoft, this I.E thing is out of proportion, honestly, people who care will uninstall/turn off IE and get Chrome/Firefox/Opera themselves regardless of what comes bundled or not.

Noobs who have 0 clue, will click 'recommended' IE option and be happy campers, ie (no pun intended) your nan or 70 year old auntie, honestly, EC just want some of that huge wad of cash MS is guzzling in its big fat gob. And TBH, I cant blame them.

The EU, as always, is fixing the wrong problem and closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Instead of dicking around with browsers, they should be looking at MS using their monopoly to foist Silverlight on us, whether we want it or not.

And they could do worse than look at the Office and Exchange monopolies while they are at it.

Bet this news does not make it as cheap!!!!

No Scott, I'm a patriot.

The EU has had it's billions from Microsoft so will leave them a few years now until they moan again

Microsoft is no more guilty of foisting Silverlight than *Adobe* is at foisting Flash (or Adobe Reader, or AIR, for that matter); in fact, it's less guilty, as Silverlight is supported by fewer sites than Flash. And as far as writing PDF documents go, you don't even need so much as a single Adobe product to do so. (I use Word 2010 64-bit to do so today, and previously used OpenOffice for Windows 32-bit; please note that Adobe makes neither.) If anyone is guilty of *foisting* anything in terms of the Internet, it's Sun Microsystems, who has managed to foist Java not just onto every computer, but onto our media players, and even our phones.