What the EU might force Microsoft to do

Iria · Jan 25, 2009, 07:21 AM

The European Union is considering forcing Microsoft to distribute rival browsers as part of Windows, the software maker disclosed in a regulatory filing this week.
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Source: Beyond Binary

mike2h · Jan 25, 2009, 10:01 PM

i can understand(kinda) the eu stance on not forcing windows browser down everyones throat. but to force them to include somebody elses browser is just ignorant. must be some serious lobbying(payoffs) going on over there

RealityRipple · Jan 25, 2009, 10:07 PM

Does Apple have to do the same thing? OSX has to come with an alternative to Safari? I've never understood this whole pick-on-MS when every other OS acts identically. Most Linux distros come with Konqueror, MacOS comes with Safari, and Windows comes with IE. It's defaulting, not monopolizing.

mike2h · Jan 25, 2009, 10:17 PM

the only thing i can think of is that some peeps will get their overall wealth increased then this will all go away.

Neshi · Jan 25, 2009, 10:21 PM

isn't this something along the same lines as people getting upset that with windows came windows media player, almost forcing non-pc-savvy people to use WMP?

RealityRipple · Jan 25, 2009, 10:26 PM

"We may also be required to disable certain unspecified Internet Explorer software code if a user chooses a competing browser."

That line scares me.

mkk · Jan 25, 2009, 11:39 PM

They should be able to agree on a setup where IE is the only browser installed by default and the user is clearly informed of the alternatives. Could be done as easily as through a website. MS and others could co-found some small organisation for the task if required as a form of safety against overt bias.

Resistor · Jan 26, 2009, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

They should be able to agree on a setup where IE is the only browser installed by default and the user is clearly informed of the alternatives. Could be done as easily as through a website. MS and others could co-found some small organisation for the task if required as a form of safety against overt bias.

I agree with this method. Simple and easy...

RealityRipple · Jan 26, 2009, 02:18 AM

It would also be nice if IE was removable from the system...

Jan 25, 2009, 07:21 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	What the EU might force Microsoft to do The European Union is considering forcing Microsoft to distribute rival browsers as part of Windows, the software maker disclosed in a regulatory filing this week. ________________ Source: Beyond Binary

Jan 25, 2009, 10:01 PM	#2
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do i can understand(kinda) the eu stance on not forcing windows browser down everyones throat. but to force them to include somebody elses browser is just ignorant. must be some serious lobbying(payoffs) going on over there __________________

Jan 25, 2009, 10:07 PM	#3
RealityRipple Embrace Entropy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Berros Canyon, Nipomo, CA Posts: 195 Rep Power: 27 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do Does Apple have to do the same thing? OSX has to come with an alternative to Safari? I've never understood this whole pick-on-MS when every other OS acts identically. Most Linux distros come with Konqueror, MacOS comes with Safari, and Windows comes with IE. It's defaulting, not monopolizing. __________________

Jan 25, 2009, 10:17 PM	#4
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do the only thing i can think of is that some peeps will get their overall wealth increased then this will all go away. __________________

Jan 25, 2009, 10:21 PM	#5
Neshi S.N.A.F.U. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 3,257 Rep Power: 150 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do isn't this something along the same lines as people getting upset that with windows came windows media player, almost forcing non-pc-savvy people to use WMP? __________________ If one does not attach himself to people and desire, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live? Life is just too damn short for if's and maybe's

Jan 25, 2009, 10:26 PM	#6
RealityRipple Embrace Entropy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Berros Canyon, Nipomo, CA Posts: 195 Rep Power: 27 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do "We may also be required to disable certain unspecified Internet Explorer software code if a user chooses a competing browser." That line scares me. __________________

Jan 25, 2009, 11:39 PM	#7
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,375 Rep Power: 120 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do They should be able to agree on a setup where IE is the only browser installed by default and the user is clearly informed of the alternatives. Could be done as easily as through a website. MS and others could co-found some small organisation for the task if required as a form of safety against overt bias.

Jan 26, 2009, 02:18 AM	#9
RealityRipple Embrace Entropy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Berros Canyon, Nipomo, CA Posts: 195 Rep Power: 27 System Specs	Re: What the EU might force Microsoft to do It would also be nice if IE was removable from the system... __________________