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By George Norman - Software News Editor

Added on 27 Jul 2009(360 Views)

The annoying thing about Windows 7 E, the Windows7 version that Microsoft plans to market in Europe, is that it comes with no Vista to Win7 upgrade path, meaning that you will have to perform a fresh installation of the operating system, and no web browser. Internet Explorer, the browser that Microsoft always bundled with its Windows-based OS will apparently be missing from Windows 7 E. No problem, said we at FindMySoft as we detailed 3 easy and convenient means of installing a browser on your freshly installed windows 7 E.

Microsoft has now changed its mind and announced that Windows 7 E will be shipped with IE after all - probably. Probably because Microsoft has how proposed (and is waiting for the verdict on this proposal) to implement a change in Windows 7 E that goes something like this: if you purchase a new PC that comes with Windows 7 pre-installed and IE set as the default browser, you will be presented with a “ballot screen” asking you if you would like to install other browsers on your machine.


“The European Commission can confirm that Microsoft has proposed a consumer ballot screen as a solution to the pending antitrust case about the tying of Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser with Windows. This followed extensive discussions with the Commission which centred on a remedy outlined in the January 2009 Statement of Objections whereby consumers would be shown a "ballot screen" from which they could – if they wished - easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer. Under the proposal, Windows 7 would include Internet Explorer, but the proposal recognises the principle that consumers should be given a free and effective choice of web browser, and sets out a means – the ballot screen - by which Microsoft believes that can be achieved,” said the European Commission (EC) in a statement.

On top of that, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) no longer have to ship their hardware with IE8 as the default browser. They can install other web browsers and they can disable IE if they want to.

The European Commission said it will look into Microsoft’s proposal and will “investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice.” So basically we are all now waiting on the EC to give this proposal the thumbs up or thumbs down. I can image some nervous nail biting in Redmond right about now.





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Tags: Microsoft, Windows 7 E, Europe, Browser, European Commission

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