EU Says MS Must Offer Other Browsers; Now What?

Well...this is a mess. Assuming that Microsoft doesn't continue to fight this in appeals forever -- and if they can, they will -- then how do you implement "instead of" part of the ruling? IE is tightly woven into the released versions of Windows.

They should have locked the barn door on MS (and Apple, etc.) years ago. The moment it started offering anything "free" integrated into its operating system that could otherwise be a standalone application. But it's far too late now. The only chance (and it ain't gonna happen) is that they make that a requirement on all future OS from MS.

Of course then MS will just claim that any future OS are actually just "refinements" of Vista / Win 7. They'll drag that argument out in court for years too.

My best guess is that if MS does by some miracle bother to comply with this ruling they'll simply stick deep into some sub-sub IE menu a permanent link called "Other Browsers?". That'll take you to an MS website where one click will auto-install one or more buggy, crappy browsers onto your PC which will over time annoy the heck out of users. IE will cease to operate as an internet browser - until you've had enough and click on the curiously easy-to-locate "Restore IE as your browser?" icon on the desktop.

I love firefox, and hate IE, but whether they would be able to offer it

I have a love/hate relationship with bill gates. I admire his business acumen but I hate his business ethics. He has cost users alot of money. He has forever flaunted the law and I have tremendous respect for Bill Clintons administration for going after MS also. I hope the EU takes that bast**d to task like the US Justice Dept should have. Monopolies are never good. He has attempted to engineer one. May someone take all those ill-gotten gains off of him..... May he be forever in front of the blue screen of death! Screw you Bill Gates.

You know, as much as so many people love to hate MS, what's the big deal? This kind of government meddling in business is sickening. Is MS really a monopoly? You can't buy Unix, Linux, MacOS, or anything else?

Other OS makers tried but put out less effective products. I know this because I tried DR-DOS and IBM's OS/2 back in the day. I even used to exclusively use Netscape to browse but it just didn't offer me anything better than IE.

Consider this: You sell GM automobiles over in Europe and it is the prevailing vehicle of choice. Now, the EU doesn't like the fact that you make good profits with an effective business strategy. So, they now stipulate that your cars must be able to use parts from a Ford or you can buy your GM with Ford seats or wheels. Get real. This is pandering to an easily manipulated public.

I have a severe dislike of M$, that said:

If the EU does not like the product DON'T USE IT.

If M$ really want to be a butt they could refund EU's money and say we don't sell to EU, then make their money going after pirated software in the EU.

So why don't the EU develop their own OS and software? Because the governments are lazy. They would have to produce instead of consume. Now wouldn't that be a novel idea. Oh yeah then their subjects could sue them for not providing other browser support.

I argue with my brother inlaw about M$ regularly but I don't see M$ standing in line for welfare checks with the banks and car companies either. (just don't tell him that, I'll never hear the end of it)

Brad

If people go on the internet and haven't heard of other browser options like Firefox, what the heck are they doing on-line anyway ?

Maybe the EU should let Schools educate kids about the internet, and find some other subject to waste time and money on. Jeez, what next, advising people on ways to cook an egg ?

"understand the choices they will have". The only 'campiagn' they need is to ensure schools cover broswer options in the lessons on computing skills they already teach.

will ??? What does that mean ? I've got Firefox running as well as IE7, and could probably get a whole bunch more. You have to tweak windows to enable/disable the features you want, then you have to install security software, so what's the big deal about swapping browser.

If people aren't educated to know what a browser is, the fault isn't micros##t's, and if micros##t was European the EU would be singing a different song.

I can't believe I'm defending microsoft, but at least it doesn't suck my money like a bunch of freeloading bureaucrats.

MS has been breaking the law, lying to judges and corrupting the market for too long. Doesn't anyone remember that they wanted to break up MS in the USA because MS attempted an end run around the courts and got caught, and it was all about IE. MS must have paid enough money to some judge or legislatures retirement to get out of it, so I hope they roast in HE double hockey sticks.