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June 1st, 2009

EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows

Posted by Richard Koman @ June 1, 2009 @ 9:44 AM

Categories: Government technology

Tags: Microsoft Corp., Web Browser, European Union, MSFT, Web Browsers, Microsoft Windows, Internet, Operating Systems, Software, Richard Koman

Microsoft’s plans for Windows 7 to allow users to disable Internet Explorer don’t go far enough, the EU is thinking. CRN reports that the Wall Street Journal reports that the EU wants to force Microsoft to bundle other browsers - I’m thinking Opera and Firefox - with Windows. A startup screen would ask users which browser they want to be their default.

The story said the EU may require Microsoft to offer a so-called ballot screen that would give new computer users a choice of browsers and the ability to designate one as the default browser. It may also demand that Microsoft contractually require computer manufacturers to keep the ballot screen on the systems they ship.

My guess is Microsoft doesn’t go along with this plan and another brutal new season of EU-Microsoft litigation unfolds.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 333 Talkback(s)
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Doesn't Apply ship their OS with a browser preinstalled? Do mobile devices come with a browser? (Read the rest)
Posted by: duckboxxer Posted on: 06/13/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
This is war against MS  marchel@... | 06/01/09
AGREED! (nt)  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
re: War against MS  prof123 | 06/01/09
There is already...  Erroneous | 06/01/09
AMEN!. (nt)  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
And other people  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
Security problems  mikefarinha | 06/02/09
Which is why I agree  Michael Kelly | 06/02/09
Which is why I agree  owner@... | 06/02/09
Are you kidding?  fmcgowan | 06/02/09
re: and other people  owner@... | 06/02/09
Amen...No more crappage  pscjskirk | 06/02/09
Bull, MS isn't selling computers.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
Swap your Linux people for our Windows only clowns.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
They sell an OS with an unremovable browser.  B.O.F.H. | 06/01/09
So-called "unremovable" browser, et cetera  M.R. Kennedy | 06/01/09
3. You do not need IE to download a browser  Bozzer | 06/02/09
re: 3. You do not need IE to download a browser  M.R. Kennedy | 06/02/09
re:So-called "unremovable" browser, et cetera  owner@... | 06/02/09
@ owner  M.R. Kennedy | 06/02/09
They sell an OS with an unremovable browser.  owner@... | 06/02/09
You confuse 'default' with 'removable'!  B.O.F.H. | 06/02/09
Please do get technical.  Erroneous | 06/02/09
They aren't? Are you sure?  Zogg | 06/01/09
Two words  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
Yup, MS advertizing PCs. (NT)  Zogg | 06/02/09
(NT)  Zogg | 06/02/09
If you look at the end...  Erroneous | 06/02/09
re: War agaisnt MS  owner@... | 06/02/09
No, You.  SpikeyMike | 06/02/09
If EU really wants to enforce that..  lenohere | 06/02/09
re: War against MS  Alan.Gonzalez@... | 06/03/09
I can change the default now  xyxx1@... | 06/06/09
Yup, war against MS's war against the European consumer!  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
How about....  daMan25 | 06/01/09
You remind me of an American dude in a bar ...  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Ok.....  daMan25 | 06/01/09
It's too big a market to lose.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Wow....  daMan25 | 06/01/09
@DaBoy  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Good come back frothy..  daMan25 | 06/01/09
@DaBoy : Yeah I know.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
How about one comparison at a time?  MGP2 | 06/01/09
You forgot to wear your cowboy hat when you said...  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Once again.....  daMan25 | 06/01/09
Monoculture? Windows monoculture?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Looks like I hit a nerve.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
He made a fair point  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
He made a fair point?  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Here's his point...  wolf_z | 06/02/09
Your title was Here's His Point.  kozmcrae | 06/02/09
re:You forgot to wear your cowboy hat when you said...  owner@... | 06/02/09
How about....  DavidBassPlayer | 06/02/09
Yep, put Europe back....  Erroneous | 06/01/09
"Watch as unemployment skyrockets because of"  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I think your tea....  Erroneous | 06/01/09
We had houses before you even existed.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Yeah, there were....  Erroneous | 06/01/09
@Erroneous  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
There is something called sunlight.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
@kozmcrae  Erroneous | 06/01/09
@Erroneous : God Bless America!  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
@Erroneous  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Actually I was...  Erroneous | 06/01/09
@ Erroneous  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Try again.  Erroneous | 06/02/09
Realy  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
Hell no....  Erroneous | 06/01/09
I think your tea....  owner@... | 06/02/09
RE: Think for yourself  branchman67 | 06/02/09
RE:Yep, put Europe back....  whtsupnw@... | 06/08/09
You Fail  samalie | 06/01/09
I agree with you about ...  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I never once said  samalie | 06/01/09
It's just exerting OPPOSITE pressure.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Well  samalie | 06/01/09
There's another way  Beat a Dead Horse | 06/01/09
re: I agree with you about ...  M.R. Kennedy | 06/01/09
RE: Forcing themselves on the market  branchman67 | 06/02/09
"when the rest of the world is open"  Erroneous | 06/02/09
What I wish Microsoft would do...  MGP2 | 06/01/09
They'd have to honour existing systems...  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
The same Russia...  Erroneous | 06/02/09
Proper Technology  rcrd | 06/02/09
re:Yup, war against MS's war against the European consumer!  owner@... | 06/02/09
EU??? PYEW!!!!  t5j1sr | 06/04/09
They're "multinational" companies, hence offshoring too.  HypnoToad72 | 06/01/09
In the end, we all win in this war...  goff256 | 06/03/09
EU is Nuts!!  MarkWB | 06/03/09
war against MS  hasan@... | 06/03/09
Get a clue  zkiwi | 06/03/09
Or to force EU companies that deal in Linux  GuidingLight | 06/01/09
Do you understand what's going on?  SpikeyMike | 06/02/09
so stupid!!!!  pupkin_z | 06/01/09
Yes they were, that's why this is happening.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  bobfastner | 06/01/09
What a crock of ********!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
It's simple.  nizuse | 06/01/09
Or say screw the EC.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
And if you're wrong  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
I am not.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
Hey, as long as they are aware of the risks  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
A US company trying to hold European governments to ransom?  Zogg | 06/01/09
Ransom?  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
I don't care if MS does pull out of Europe.  Zogg | 06/02/09
Commercial Suicide  Bozzer | 06/02/09
Um, I think your math is screwed up  wolf_z | 06/02/09
You question my maths when you cannot even read!  Bozzer | 06/02/09
RE: You are funny.  Bozzer | 06/02/09
There was the little matter of Kuwait...  wolf_z | 06/02/09
Preferably the latter.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
You have a choice Ax.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
You'll have him giving birth to transgenic kittens next!  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
But, you forget that MS gets no advantage from the bundling with the  DonnieBoy | 06/01/09
You ship Opera  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
Due to extending HTML specs to IE ONLY...  SpikeyMike | 06/02/09
IE did it.....  Erroneous | 06/02/09
When ??  Aussie_Troll | 06/02/09
Then the $750 million paid ot to AOL/Netscape  zkiwi | 06/02/09
MS Undocumented APIs Game Playing  no_zd_user_name | 06/01/09
Agreed.  nizuse | 06/01/09
get real. There is no OS alternative for general consumer market  pupkin_z | 06/01/09
Not if you're ignorant and brainwashed like ...  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Being blinded by faith is thy strength...  Ceridan | 06/01/09
Which ethernet card? Which Ubuntu version?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Adverage joe.  Ceridan | 06/01/09
Average Joe can't fix Windows drivers either.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
If "they want stuff to work without any problems.."  Ole Man | 06/01/09
@Average Joe can't fix Windows drivers either.  Ceridan | 06/02/09
@ALL : Distro to Try: Linux MINT  SpikeyMike | 06/02/09
Slight correction, Mikey  Ole Man | 06/02/09
Linux has been ready for over three years.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
It's not... yet  Ceridan | 06/01/09
Windows isn't ready.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Depends  Ceridan | 06/02/09
Ummmmm....  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
They conveniently "forget" that.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
So you were able to run DX10 games on the PC?  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
I was able...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
Next time try thinking before you type.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
LOL...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
Linux MINT is ready NOW  SpikeyMike | 06/02/09
Undocumented API's?!  jmiller1978 | 06/01/09
It doesn't matter...  edwards.wb | 06/01/09
True, its obvious the EC can't buy a clue.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
Give all of your money to Halliburton today.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Stupid generalisations...  Ceridan | 06/01/09
Can't buy a clue?  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
"So, MS is getting their comeuppance"  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Uh?  Ceridan | 06/01/09
If Apple get big enough ...  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
...  Ceridan | 06/01/09
Choice.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Funny Qutoe from Dietrich T  BroGnorik | 06/01/09
Yes  no_zd_user_name | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  Loverock Davidson | 06/01/09
For once you're right Loverock.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Your crazy....  Ceridan | 06/01/09
LOL, wouldn't that be a sick irony of human nature?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Unfortunalty that's how humanity works....  Ceridan | 06/01/09
64 bit machine?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Hey frothy..  MGP2 | 06/01/09
HEY MGP2  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
MS's stubborn refusal to allow users to remove IE completely  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
NO ONE wants a OS without a browser.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
I never suggested they did  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
You expect him to understand that?  B.O.F.H. | 06/01/09
That's only the start, though...  MGP2 | 06/01/09
I can buy Word without buying Excel  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
Funny, you AREN'T "buying" IE  wolf_z | 06/02/09
Just because you don't get an itemized bill of sale...  Zogg | 06/02/09
MS will never trick the EU, we're too technically savvy.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
????  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
Aren't you talking about Europeans here? Savvy my a$$.  transposeIT | 06/01/09
Were you that guy in the bar?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
DING! We have a winner!  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
You forgot to take off your monolithic Microsoft hat.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Wrong...  Ceridan | 06/01/09
sudo apt-get remove  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I read and reread your short response.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Ubuntu is the shining example of "Linux for the average user"  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
Actually ...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
You honor me with your clumsy insults.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Like nlite of vlite?  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
LiquidLearner---WHAT???  BroGnorik | 06/01/09
Prove it  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
If MS pays for the damages their shoddy beta crap causes  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Microsoft MUST draw a line and say NO MORE.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
he, he, he...  Linux Geek | 06/01/09
Cite actual instances with links!  B.O.F.H. | 06/01/09
EU MUST draw a line and say NO MORE.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I agree with you Ax.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
Wise words  nizuse | 06/01/09
What, like the EC would care?  zkiwi | 06/01/09
If I was MS, I'd go one further  croberts | 06/01/09
They'd be glad to  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
Many developers put IE on Linux anyway  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
rofl  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
No, I didn't say that.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I generally agree...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
It is not built....  Erroneous | 06/01/09
As far as...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
And most of the software...  Erroneous | 06/01/09
No Intel CPUs and no MS software in the EU.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 06/01/09
Not a smart move...  nizuse | 06/01/09
yea sure they will,  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
You must be an American.  nizuse | 06/01/09
You must not run a business...  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
Are you clinically obese too?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
And your point is?  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
@JoeMama. Eating more doesn't make you right.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
@ Frothy....  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
@JoeMama. Sorry, I didn't assume you actually were.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I'm an American too.  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
meh....  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
@JoeMama : "compete in an unfettered marketplace"?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Being a monopoly isn't illegal  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
Ah yes...  MGP2 | 06/01/09
@ JoeMama_z  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
@ MGP2  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
He makes a good point.  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
Win10  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
HMMMMM  jdbukis@... | 06/02/09
As long as you're counting posts...  MGP2 | 06/01/09
Yeah, I've been busy today.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Busy?  MGP2 | 06/02/09
Careful for what you wish for  Quebec-french | 06/01/09
i would love to see that happen...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
A technology spring clean  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Yeah ...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
Juvenile post.  B.O.F.H. | 06/01/09
Well EC /EU as every right ot do what ever they want inside there border  Quebec-french | 06/01/09
That doesn't make them right  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
ok the right place to MR kelly  Quebec-french | 06/01/09
Agree, and Michael, the EU action doesn't exceed the crime.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
I'm not talking about the fine  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
What value the lost competition?  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Law enforcement  freeasinmarket | 06/01/09
Actualy  jdbukis@... | 06/01/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  mwagner@... | 06/01/09
Yes  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
Making MS not be MS is necessary.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
That's a more appropriate punishment  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
I agree  NoThomas | 06/01/09
MS created the situation with their bundling and API games.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
because...  Linux Geek | 06/01/09
Well, MS has been forcing users to take IE for years now, why is what the  DonnieBoy | 06/01/09
According to you  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
Yet another collosal waste of time.....  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
Then the EU must assert equal and opposite pressure on the OEM's  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
and that benefit's consumers how?  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
No it's proven to not work. Software is open to abuse  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Have you always been such a troll?  JoeMama_z | 06/01/09
I saw enough of Windows and MS tactics  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Let the OEM's include the other......  Erroneous | 06/01/09
Ahem!  kozmcrae | 06/01/09
With all the messages deleted, the talkback doesn't make sense now.  osreinstall | 06/01/09
Indeed. It seems to be the ProNoAxe Police tho.  nizuse | 06/01/09
A lot of those went too.  osreinstall | 06/01/09
I agree  NoThomas | 06/01/09
I know. I read it  osreinstall | 06/01/09
Note to ZDNet Police:  nizuse | 06/01/09
Yeah, and that Fr0thy bloke.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Maybe we should give NoAxe his own blog  nizuse | 06/01/09
Mr Kelly you have a point there but  Quebec-french | 06/01/09
I am not proud of the wrongs my country has committed  Michael Kelly | 06/01/09
But wait, MS has said they get zero advantage having the browser bundled  DonnieBoy | 06/01/09
All the web developers would grow back hair.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  ccpeters | 06/01/09
Let the war begin:  Ceridan | 06/01/09
"MS has bent over backwards for the EU for years"  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Other than your main thesis being just plain wrong...  zkiwi | 06/01/09
criminal "plans" to change his life and stop with manslaughter business  freeasinmarket | 06/01/09
They're busy leveraging for the web now.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Unintended Consequences  jbroche18 | 06/01/09
bundling  freeasinmarket | 06/01/09
Does FF, Opera, Chrome or Safari offer a managed browser?  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
I don't disagree with you  jbroche18 | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  freeasinmarket | 06/01/09
So the EU wants to force the world to use Windows Bloat/crapware edition  georgeou | 06/01/09
Or maybe, in a more rational universe...  Zogg | 06/01/09
OEMs should be the ones doing it  LiquidLearner | 06/01/09
You don't get what you pay for with Microsoft.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Excuse me? I mentioned 3 *browsers*!  Zogg | 06/02/09
Central planning  seosamh_z | 06/02/09
Are you suggesting that OEMs never update their websites?  Zogg | 06/02/09
EU isn't forcing the world to use Windows George.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
Fight the good fight...  BFD | 06/02/09
Where does it end??  NoThomas | 06/02/09
Well, rather than complain...  zkiwi | 06/02/09
double standards  jdbukis@... | 06/02/09
That's irrelvant  zkiwi | 06/02/09
Why not force the computer manufacturers to supply the alternative browser.  osreinstall | 06/01/09
I have wondered that to..  NoThomas | 06/02/09
I can even do that.  osreinstall | 06/02/09
EU SUX.....  Nsaf | 06/01/09
OK, then  BroGnorik | 06/01/09
Huh?  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
That's YOUR problem.  fr0thy2 | 06/01/09
As do I...  Dave32265 | 06/01/09
done for free  robbieharrison@... | 06/02/09
Free is ...  Dave32265 | 06/02/09
Sorry, my reply got tangled in yours...  robbieharrison@... | 06/02/09
Here is another good idea  BroGnorik | 06/01/09
Microsoft and Linux  Keywalker4God | 06/03/09
@If "they want stuff to work without any problems.."  Ceridan | 06/02/09
Why? Is Opera too pathetic to get anywhere in life by itself? [nt]  Qbt | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  JohnDoeSuperman | 06/02/09
LOL @ EU  bran.murray | 06/02/09
RE: Toe the line?  branchman67 | 06/02/09
You are missing the point...  Dave32265 | 06/02/09
Rulz  Keywalker4God | 06/03/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  antidotcb2 | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  Gis Bun | 06/02/09
The real problem and solution  brooksgr@... | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  owner@... | 06/02/09
Woudl you hold this sentiment if it was another company?  B.O.F.H. | 06/02/09
Active-X  MCP_Divemaster | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  Boxarox | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  dwd1949 | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  PlayFair | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  mercenaryali@... | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  rawdibob | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  richardmitnick | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  bill.andersen@... | 06/02/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  jfreedle2@... | 06/02/09
EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  fredf@... | 06/02/09
Other Browsers  The 'G-Man.' | 06/03/09
Why not?  Keywalker4God | 06/03/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  davechilds_2000@... | 06/03/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  Budster1 | 06/04/09
RE: EU wants MSFT to put other browsers in Windows  johnelehn@... | 06/08/09
Apple  duckboxxer | 06/13/09

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  • Here to help you with your Document Management Needs
  • Doc is an enigma. Born to a Russian ballerina and a German electrical engineer, he grew up in various locations in the United States. He’s seen the insides of more brands, versions, and generations of printer and printer-related hardware than almost anyone.
  • To learn more about this mysterious figure check out his blog on ZDNet and his Workspace on TechRepublic. You’ll be glad you did.
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