Europe is no less!
I'm not going into politics here (and remember that I am no official voice from Microsoft), I just want to give a message to Windows followers in Europe. As many of you already know, the European Commission has decided that distributing Internet Explorer does not allow for fair competition from other companies that make internet browsers.
According to this position, Microsoft has announced that the Windows 7 version distributed in the EU will NOT have Internet Explorer preinstalled, while making it possible for the user or the PC integrator to install it.
This "distro" (argh, the EU will end up making Windows appear more like Linux) will be called "Windows 7 E" and will be available at the same time as Windows 7 in all the world. However, it will be very easy to get Internet Explorer 8 into the pack as it will be distributed for free.
In the past, Microsoft made available ways for the users to install other browsers and choose the default one for the system. Apparently, this was not enough for the EC.
As I said, I did not want to get into politics here, but to my eyes this only makes harder to the end user to get the best experience in the market. This is not really a choice of browser, this is making Windows require more setup steps, what means more cost (more of your time installing things). It is simply uneven that other OSes can have their chosen browser integrated… I've not heard about any other OS developer to have to follow such regulations.
What to do then? Well, one thing is… watch your euro-commissioners… you voted for them… you should have the right to question their decisions… (now, for instance, they have gave you extra work to do with every new computer)... but we all know that won't be enough.
The right thing to do is this: When you buy a computer with Windows 7 preinstalled… make sure that you're getting Internet Explorer 8 with it… cry hard for it and don't let they fool you with any "E" specific OS… the manufacturers will have the option to give you IE preinstalled, so ask them to put it there!
The installation process will be, surely, very easy, but why do you have to install your own browser when you have the right to have the best one preinstalled? If you're not able to have your browser preinstalled, ensure that you get that PC with the CD or DVD to install it, and ensure that CD comes from Microsoft (we don't want that installing IE results now on installing a bunch of announcements in your desktop, right?)
For those fortunate that travel to other countries outside the UE, there might be another option… buy your PC in a country that sells the COMPLETE version of Windows, not a fragmented one,
In the past, a similar legal action ended up in Microsoft releasing a "N" operating system, this meaning without Windows Media Player. This version will keep being distributed as well, so if you see a Windows 7 N or a Windows 7 E, know you're buying a great product that will only be "fully functional " once you install things up for yourself.
I don't like this "linuxation" of Windows… I normally see a lot of people's computers in the field and I can clearly see them using other browsers when they want to… It is not clear enough that having a default option is anti-competitive. I wonder if next time, the EC will force Microsoft to deliver Windows without a compressed file utility, networking, or without file managing tools because somebody prefers to use other products available instead. This "do it yourself" windows would be as difficult to manage as most Linux versions and as dangerous as they are because there would be very difficult to track which attack came through which component.
As with Windows N, the future will tell us… it has a very small market share (yes, Media Player rocks) maybe in the future we'll see how people gets Windows without the "E" as they get it today without the "N", but we have the politicians happy.
As I said before.. this is MY position… Microsoft’s official position can be found in the following source:
http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009/06/11/working-to-fulfill-our-legal-obligations-in-europe-for-windows-7.aspx.
This blog post, by the way, was made on a Windows 7 computer WITH Internet Explorer 8 :)
Currently a consultant for Core IO technologies for Microsoft Services in Spain, Mauricio is certified in various Microsoft areas and titles covering messaging technologies, security products and operating systems, but also products and areas such as MSF, MOF, ITIL and project management.
Born in Medellín, Colombia in 1972.
Since very young, very interested in computing, science fiction and high technology.
Studied Systems Engineer at EAFIT University where also made a specialization in International Businesses and an MBA.
Moved later to Madrid, Spain, where studied for a master in Telematics Engineering, at the Carlos III University.
Inmersed in Microsoft technologies since 1994 (Microsoft Mail and Windows for Workgroups) in various scenarios of deployment, support, design, implementation, et al.