Microsoft toes EC line: no IE in Windows 7 for Europe

Stephen Withers
Friday, 12 June 2009 06:20

IT Industry - Development

But there is a possibility that a browser developer might pay manufacturers to exclusively install its browser. The only companies likely to have sufficiently deep pockets are Google (Chrome) and Apple (Safari) - but its hard to see sufficient short-term benefit to keep shareholders happy. Opera  has admitted to not being able to afford such a course of action.

Europeans buying Windows 7 to install on existing hardware will have two main choices. They can either download the installer for Internet Explorer or some other browser and store it on an external drive (eg a thumb drive) or on removable media before they install the new OS, or they will follow Microsoft's "easy-to-follow" method after installation.

(Reportedly, Windows 7 E will not allow upgrade installations, so any existing copy of IE will be blown away when Windows 7 is installed.)

What we don't yet know is exactly how the consumer installation will work. One possibility is that an Internet Explorer icon will still appear on the desktop, but it will initially be associated with a tool that downloads and  installs the browser.

Microsoft has suggested that different arrangements might arise when the EC  processes are complete. Possibilities include bundling Internet Explorer and other browsers with Windows, or presenting the user with a choice of browsers.

"Important details of these approaches would need to be worked out in coordination with the Commission, since they would have a significant impact on computer manufacturers and Web browser vendors, whose interests may differ," said Heiner.

Opera, the company behind the EC action, would like to see Microsoft required to include a tool that downloads the user's choice of one or more browsers.

What do the chattering classes have to say about the EC's stance? Please read on.