Windows browser case withdrawn

[rpm]

Microsoft gives Windows users a browser choice

The European Union said Wednesday it is dropping antitrust charges against Microsoft Corp. after the company agreed to give Windows users a choice of up to 12 other Web browsers.

 

[alloytoo]

While it's posible to remove internet explorer in XP, certain (apparently unrelated) functionality disappears. One hopes that MS will release some patches to fix that.

 

[apogeeza]

Good news indeed. I'm really surprised to see that MS agreed to the open ended "10% Global annual turnover, without having to prove their case" clause. WOW. Bill's blood must be boiling by now.

 

[Kloofvreter]

I'm not a faboy of any OS, but this seems a but unfair. Microsoft being used as a platform by other companies to expose their own browsers? Hmm...

 

[porchrat]

I'm not a faboy of any OS, but this seems a but unfair. Microsoft being used as a platform by other companies to expose their own browsers? Hmm...

A browser is a browser, an OS is an OS. If they truly are separate then give the user a choice.

If IE is a superior product in the eyes of the public then this move won't impact on IE dominance and MS has nothing to fear. At least the browsers are now competing on an equal footing.

 

[apogeeza]

I'm not a faboy of any OS, but this seems a but unfair. Microsoft being used as a platform by other companies to expose their own browsers? Hmm...

Excuse me???? To which face do we speak?

 

[Kloofvreter]

Excuse me???? To which face do we speak?

 

[porchrat]

As far as I understand it he is trying to say your post is hypocritical. Let us examine it:

I'm not a faboy of any OS, but this seems a but unfair. Microsoft being used as a platform by other companies to expose their own browsers? Hmm...

You are saying companies should not be allowed to use the Microsoft platform to gain exposure for their browser.

What apogeeza is saying is that that is exactly what Microsoft is doing, using the Microsoft Windows platform (an entirely separate product) to gain exposure for Microsoft Internet Explorer (another entirely separate product) while at the same time denying other browser developers an opportunity to take advantage of this exposure opportunity.

There is no difference between the IE scenario and say Opera being included in Windows as a default browser with no choice being given and no way to remove it.

Hence your post is hypocritical. If I have erred could someone please point it out, also this is not intended as a flame and I hope you do not interpret it as such.

 

[Kloofvreter]

What apogeeza is saying is that that is exactly what Microsoft is doing, using the Microsoft Windows platform (an entirely separate product) to gain exposure for Microsoft Internet Explorer (another entirely separate product) while at the same time denying other browser developers an opportunity to take advantage of this exposure opportunity.

Why should other companies benefit from Microsoft's exposure? And what's wrong with them including their own browser with their product, and not another company's? And how are they denying exposure of other browsers?