News - Microsoft gets more anti-competitive grief from European Commission

[HEXUS]

Tying of Internet Explorer to Windows is naughty says the EC in a Statement of Objections.

Read more.

[M_Taylor40]

But its ok for Apple to include Safari and iTunes in its OSX operating system?

[neonplanet40]

They should have better things to do to be honest. This is a waste of time and effort.

And who really cares?! I use firefox regardless.

[jackvdbuk]

im sure this has been on hexus before?

how do they plan we get a non microsoft browser such as FF or opera without no browser to start with.

[dangel]

Nobody cares - IE has been losing, not gaining marketshare so this is pointless and stupid. Like the EU really.

[Iopean]

I find this whole EU vendetta against Microsoft really quite sad, their inclusion of IE in Windows has been of massive benefit to the consumer. Monopolies boards are there to ensure the consumer benefits but it seems to me like they are gong against what we really need.

[miniyazz]

how do they plan we get a non microsoft browser such as FF or opera without no browser to start with.

Quite. That's pretty much all I ever use IE for. Anyway, bundling it means most people use IE, which means most viruses target IE users

[Biscuit]

im sure this has been on hexus before?

how do they plan we get a non microsoft browser such as FF or opera without no browser to start with.

very good point!

This is just stupid and pointless. They must be seriously bored over at the EU!

[Judge Zetsumei]

im sure this has been on hexus before?

how do they plan we get a non microsoft browser such as FF or opera without no browser to start with.

lol i never even thought about that.
I think this is stupid. I use windows media player all the time, why should I download it when it's a microsoft product. It's their operating system, they should bundle what the hell they want with it. It's as if they are being punished for having an extremely popular operating system.

[Grey M@a]

The thing I find funny though is they don't tar Apple with the same brush. Correct me if I am wrong but don't apple ship with Safari in their OS which is essentially bushing their browser! They just need to lay off the whole Microsoft pushing their products lark. I bet half of them in the EU board have been using windows from way back in the day.

Personally I don't mind if Windows is bundled with IE or not but as said, without it how are those who may only have one computer get to the alternatives available out there, like others I only use it to get windows updates (or did on XP, with vista I don't need it) and to grab the likes of FireFox and the odd bit of testing.

[GaryRW]

Am I missing something here??? There is obviously the basic point that you can choose to install something else, but I get the point that as it's pre-installed, a large section of the user base will just stick with it - they probably couldn't care less what browser they use, even if they know what a browser is.

Isn't the more fundamental point though that all the browsers are free?? I think opera might charge for the higher spec'd version of their mobile/phone browser, but is there any company charging for a desktop browser these days?

(did netscape charge?? is this actually just about the fact that MS put netscape out of business with actions 10 years ago?? & if so, wouldn't we have just got to exactly the same point as we are now, i.e. having free and/or open source alternatives to a (paid-for?) netscape)

[DataMatrix]

As other people have said, what about Apple?

Apple forces people to use Safari on the iPod/iPhone so surely this is anti-competitive.

Screw the EU.

[cleaverlch]

Wasn't MS sued about a similar thing years ago in the US?

[Biscuit]

Lol not totally related but it made me laugh (in an angry way). For some stupid reason the mail proggy on my apple comp automatically gets all these random messages from apple even though i never signed up for any of it... thats not all though, this is what i got today

While they concentrate on finding a cure for cancer, the scientists at the Denver-based biotech company Cell Signaling Technology don’t have to worry about viruses or trying to fix problems on their computers. That’s because “everyone in the company has a Mac,” explains IT manager Carlos Del Castillo. “It gives the scientists all the tools that they really need.”

Didnt they recently advise people to start buying anti-virus software for macs lol

[toml245]

It's probably just a reason to fine Microsoft large sums of money.

[Dreaming]

The only feasible alternative would be when your computer installs, it has a content manager like ubuntu that says 'which browser would you like to install' and has a list of opera, safari, ff, ie - all the main ones really. Then you install, go through alllll the other software on your PC, then every individual app spends half an hour updating itself, and voila.

But that's silly really, the current 'Install Windows, www.google.co.uk, 'Get Firefox', download..open' works for me. Anyone who doesn't care about using internet explorer probably is happy with it the way it is.

Why don't Honda get sued for using a Honda gearbox in their cars? Shouldn't they give you the choice whether you want one from another company? Isn't that just a bundled goody, and is anti-competitive to all the fine gearbox makers out there? (I don't actually know about cars, but it's a metaphor )