EC rejects Microsoft's browser promises

theregister.co.uk

8 points·robin_reala··6 comments

MS's move basically means that the OEMs get to choose which browser to install, and they are the biggest channel which sells Windows.

This leaves the small portion of users that buy "shrink-wrapped" Windows, but these guys probably know what they're doing as they're by definition installing an OS, and so are capable of choosing.

So I don't see how the EC can comment that "Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less."

They could have already removed it if they saw the need. I hgonestly don't see how this will affect anyone but users of boxed copies of Windows. Not only will they not have IE, but they will also have difficulty in downloading Firefox et al.

I imagine the EU may make Windows present a choice of non-IE browsers to use, so no download is required.

Is the EC unhappy with the lack of consumer choice, or are they unhappy with the course consumer choice has taken?

Consumers WANT to have applications bundled with their OS. In the minds of the average computer user, there is no difference between operating system and set of pre installed applications.

If Microsoft chose the other way and provided a set of alternative browsers with its OS 1) Would they be required to provide tech support as well? 2) Who whould chose the browsers that'd go in there?

The Commission statement dryly notes: "Rather than more choice, Microsoft seems to have chosen to provide less."

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