No Windows 7 upgrades for Europe

[The News Bot]

Europeans will not be able to upgrade directly from earlier versions to Windows 7, says Microsoft.
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[conan]

I honestly can't decide if the EU commission or MS have shot themselves in the foot over this one. It seems to me that one of the two have but I guess we'll have to wait and see how things develop.........

I would rather have IE installed and a free upgrade, I'm sure most users would, which I guess is what MS are relying on.

[eric pisch]

doing a clean install of any new OS is always the right way to go

[Jonstone]

What they should is make MS do is bundle the other browsers with windows 7 and let the user decide which one to use, but I'm sure MS would hate that idea

[rovex33]

Originally Posted by eric pisch

doing a clean install of any new OS is always the right way to go

Yes, but you dont have to have the older version installed, you just need to have the old versions disc In that case the upgrade is a clean install.

[winstn60]

Its clear to me that Microsoft are getting their own back on the EU comissioners after they imposed that riduculous fine IMHO on MS for uncompetitive behaviour. They have effectively penalised everyone of us in Europe thank you very much EU. Instead of wasting their time and MY money on court cases that they clearly don't understand and are just following the US lead which was equally flawed argument. Don't think I'm overly pro MS here I'm just telling it how I see it and looking forward to 7 replacing the very poor Vista incarnation.

[markmc2k9]

This might be a silly question but how will we be able to get an alternative browser if we can't go on the web at all since IE isn't installed? Doesn't that make it impossible to say download firefox?

I'm guessing IE8 will come down a windows update so therefore you will be forced into getting it anyway?

[phenomenon67]

Originally Posted by markmc2k9

This might be a silly question but how will we be able to get an alternative browser if we can't go on the web at all since IE isn't installed? Doesn't that make it impossible to say download firefox?

I'm guessing IE8 will come down a windows update so therefore you will be forced into getting it anyway?

'Apparently' you will have the option to download the browser of your choice during the win7 install.

[David Mackenzie]

Wow, what a mess. Why on earth should it be a problem for Microsoft to bundle THEIR OWN web browser with THEIR OWN operating system?!

Apple bundle Safari with Mac OS X, and in fact, the new version of OS X enables enhanced features in Safari. Isn't this also "anti competitive"? It seems outrageous Microsoft are being treated this way.

[conan]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

Wow, what a mess. Why on earth should it be a problem for Microsoft to bundle THEIR OWN web browser with THEIR OWN operating system?!

Apple bundle Safari with Mac OS X, and in fact, the new version of OS X enables enhanced features in Safari. Isn't this also "anti competitive"? It seems outrageous Microsoft are being treated this way.

I think the reason they picked on IE is that its just about the only piece of windows that an "average" user can easily replace. The brunt of the argument is that Windows dominates the PC OS market, but most people make that choice themselves. The only thing (or one of the few things) they can pick MS up on is the browser, any other part of windows may start to cause OS problems.

[winstn60]

Originally Posted by conan

I think the reason they picked on IE is that its just about the only piece of windows that an "average" user can easily replace. The brunt of the argument is that Windows dominates the PC OS market, but most people make that choice themselves. The only thing (or one of the few things) they can pick MS up on is the browser, any other part of windows may start to cause OS problems.

You have to also remember that MS were forced to 'unbundle' IE from the OS. It's like being sold a car with free doors that come off easily so you can fit some other free doors from someone else! The thing is they aren't really free though the new doors come plastered with adverts etc with the promise of go faster stripes etc but they really want to steer the car in their direction after all

[David Mackenzie]

I agree totally Conan, what nonsense, there are plenty of free Linux distributions for those able to find them, and there's Apple for the less technically inclined (but admittedly wealthy) people. People go to Windows for a reason.

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

Wow, what a mess. Why on earth should it be a problem for Microsoft to bundle THEIR OWN web browser with THEIR OWN operating system?!

Apple bundle Safari with Mac OS X, and in fact, the new version of OS X enables enhanced features in Safari. Isn't this also "anti competitive"? It seems outrageous Microsoft are being treated this way.

its very dangerous

if you control the web browser you control the internet

MS have for a long time deliberately made IE have extra non standard functionality and then used that in things like web outlook, to force IE use

control the code control the web

thanks to die hard firefox users (and others) the jigs up now


Back in the old days when i started work everyone used word-perfect and lotus123

eventually MS got windows to a decent commercial state with 3.1, and people wanted it and where buying pcs with it on.

I worked for unisys at the time for us to sell windows 3.1 on our new PCs we had to sign an agreement saying we would not sell wordperfect or lotus

within a few years office had taken over the world

[David Mackenzie]

I worked for unisys at the time for us to sell windows 3.1 on our new PCs we had to sign an agreement saying we would not sell wordperfect or lotus

That part is certainly very, very greasy, and yes, I think IE is a naff browser (not as naff as it used to be though).

[LFC_SL]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

Wow, what a mess. Why on earth should it be a problem for Microsoft to bundle THEIR OWN web browser with THEIR OWN operating system?!

Apple bundle Safari with Mac OS X, and in fact, the new version of OS X enables enhanced features in Safari. Isn't this also "anti competitive"? It seems outrageous Microsoft are being treated this way.

Hypocritical as it may be, but as I have said with Art 82 acting to tackle abuses of a dominant position and couple with the current Notice in effect, only Microsoft would be targetted