*meh* This doesn't bother me.
Anyone who actually buys an operating system and has the know how to install it isn't going to be phased by putting firefox on a USB key. If Windows 7 Install prompts me, I'll pick one, but I've no qualms about finding a browser elsewhere.
The only change is really going to be the OEM builders- and which browsers they choose to support when pre-configuring a system. Which, because people are stupid, will probably be IE with the possibility of others.
I think this will end the 'row' with the EU commission - it's pretty much what the EU guys were asking for.
As for whether it's right of the EU to ask this of them or not: try to think of it this way. If a buggy browser, with a history of security exploits and incorrect rendering of web pages had achieved majority use by virtue of being included with software, it would hurt the end users. Factoring in consumer ignorance, you could easily make a case for the inclusion of alternatives and education of consumers so they can make an informed choice.
Now the EU Commission lose me at this point: If it were back in the IE 6.0 days, MS getting slapped and told to fix IE so it works properly, or risk the forced introduction of alternatives would make sense to me. But the new IE is a very competent browser in my eyes, so I'm not seeing the 'harm' to consumers.
The monopoly laws try to look out for the little guy, but the alternative browsers are all free, and I'd see more ethical dilemmas raised from creating a "Browser Marketplace", where you pay for a more secure, effective browser, and if you don't want to you deserve to be a victim of fraud?? No thanks.
Anyone who is computer literate can make their own mind up about which browser to use, I'm glad we all agree on that - I'm just happy I have the option to uninstall IE now, especially after MS lied about it being unremovable in the past.
Now let me nuke MS Hearts, Minesweeper and Internet Checkers.
tl;dr
- EU Commission are getting what they asked for.
- People who are ignorant don't deserve shoddy security and improper display of web pages, BUT
- Doesn't make sense now IE is actually worth using.
- Won't actually help the consumers who won't see Windows 7 for another 5 years, nor the PC-literate who know enough to get an alternative when they want.
- ^^Because of this, no matter how much Hi-5ing that takes place as a result of this; the actual change to the 'consumers' who would have otherwise been impacted on by using IE out of ignorance is actually quite a small number imo.
