The European Commission is launching two new anti-competition investigations against US computer giant Microsoft. The first will look at whether Microsoft unfairly ties its Explorer internet browser to its Windows operating system. In the parallel investigation, the Commission will look at the interoperability of Microsoft software with rival products. Note: Remember the OSNews comic? Here is a new comic, which, for now, is attached to the story it relates to. We are working on a separate section for the comic, but until that is done, I will sporadically publish comics this way. I have a whole stack of comics ready for when that section goes live - and you can see the name for the comic too, if you look "closely". Enjoy the new comic, titled "Hawaii".
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Member since:2006-01-06
I agree with your comments; however, let's be honest here: How many users would (a) actually know about the existence of other web browsers, (b) would care, (c) would install an alternate browser? I would argue that the percentage would closely mirror the current install base of FireFox; after all, nothing is stopping the current Windows user population from downloading and installing FireFox. But since the ones who know about and want FireFox have already installed it, how has the preinstallation of IE on their boxes hindered them? Answer: It hasn't. So, really, what is to be gained here, other than architectural sugar?
As I've said previously, I believe that, if the EC orders MS to produce a version of Windows that doesn't contain IE and offer it to consumers, nobody will buy it -- just like what happened when the EC ordered MS to decouple Media Player from Windows. In my opinion, the EC is really barking up the wrong tree here ... and, seriously, it's so 1999 to even care about web browsers...
Member since:
2006-06-09
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As your statement bundling is quite often in the consumer's best interest.
It's all subjective. To be precise, only each consumer knows, and every consumer have their own position on such topic.
wget. Debian apt-get. Update Manager. Or whatever an operating system these days call his online packages download feature.
Thanks god, you don't need a full bloated web browser to save an URL response into a file! As you don't need a pre-installed packages installation framework.
At least there is no reason any operating system should needs those. If they're, that's a design issue. Or purpose, in some case (aka lock-in design). Like with Microsoft Windows Update who required Internet Explorer, couldn't show you what packages are available without opening a full web page and refused to use your default web browser. All designed by Microsoft.
Badly or on purpose, your call.
Long live to Zero Install or similar systems!