Microsoft: EU Deal Will Require 'Significant Change'

[Socnom]

Summation of what the EU is telling the business world.

"If you are a dominating force in your market category and you want to do business with our countries, you must pay us off."

This is what Capone's Chicago empire would look like if it was made up of countries.

 

[sailfish]

This is something the Europeans have to deal with and doesn't bother me in the slightest.

One, it's not like MSFT will be significantly financially affected by this; otherwise, they'd forgo the European market. Two, this is a typical bureaucratic non-solution to an over-wrought issue, i.e., I doubt that this selection option will have much affect on the European browser mix and certainly not the worldwide browser mix. Three, my guess is that in a few years, this kludge of an option will have gone the way of the dodo bird.

 

[Guest]

This Euro trash just shows why I left Europe... dictatorial socialist asshats!
If I were president of MS, I would pull all sales from Europe, and cancel all support for all European versions of the OS... we'd see how long Europe would go then without the major OS in all their businesses and critical systems.
F.. Europe!

 

[Guest]

I wish they would fine them for fucking up css and keeping web development in the stone age instead. Oh and for IE6. They should be fined heavily for IE6. And maybe beat a little. With a strap.
Maybe fine them for IE7 also. And a little bit for not supporting hover. And a little for css3 being useless for another three years until ms can get their act together.

If anyone actually _wants_ to use IE; by all means let them.

 

[technuttso]

WAW!!... to all those comments that put EU on the wall of shame. The monopolistic behavior in business must be stopped as they are not legal here in EU. The EU Parlament aka Congress in us finally start to function whit all his organisms of control and administration, therefore 10 years ago it was impossible to correct or administrate such issue. But in '90s the American legislators or Court have done nothing as the only powerful enough organisms to protect the consumers of such practice. Still today the American Congress protects business interests and not people (consumers) interests.U think that US is the most free country on this world..then think again, u are free only too choose what the system give u as a choice. Is the American way.(See all those tobacco,food-meat-OGM,etc issues that u have in U.S.).These "crazy" UE just tell MS to give the opportunity to choose from a different products.
A browser is a "NEED" for a computer user, is not an optional, but most consumers are not informatics guru and they don't have a clue of the existence of the others browsers. Most of the consumer are those ho behave like xenorm says. At the beginning are less educated and they use IE even if it sucks big time and they stuck with it.
I live in EU and is not a perfect place but the consumer starts to be more protected after the mistakes of the past. Here the change start to happens. Here the lobby practice don't have the power , not yet anyway.

 

[technuttso]

WAW!!... to all those comments that put EU on the wall of shame. The monopolistic behavior in business must be stopped as they are not legal here in EU. The EU Parlament aka Congress in us finally start to function whit all his organisms of control and administration, therefore 10 years ago it was impossible to correct or administrate such issue. But in '90s the American legislators or Court have done nothing as the only powerful enough organisms to protect the consumers of such practice. Still today the American Congress protects business interests and not people (consumers) interests.U think that US is the most free country on this world..then think again, u are free only too choose what the system give u as a choice. Is the American way.(See all those tobacco,food-meat-OGM,etc issues that u have in U.S.).These "crazy" UE just tell MS to give the opportunity to choose from a different products.
A browser is a "NEED" for a computer user, is not an optional, but most consumers are not informatics guru and they don't have a clue of the existence of the others browsers. Most of the consumer are those ho behave like xenorm says. At the beginning are less educated and they use IE even if it sucks big time and they stuck with it.
I live in EU and is not a perfect place but the consumer starts to be more protected after the mistakes of the past. Here the change start to happens. Here the lobby practice don't have the power , not yet anyway.

 

[bystander]

"Still today the American Congress protects business interests and not people (consumers) interests."

This is where the blue collar person seems to miss the boat IMO.

Without the businesses out there, we wouldn't have jobs to fill, which feed us. If all the "evil" businesses disapeared, you'd be out in a field living off the land.

These businesses are built by people, and ran by people.

 

[bystander]

Protecting business rights, does help us all.

(and don't misunderstand me. I'm a blue collar worker too.)

 

[cookoy]

Furthermore, if Microsoft breaks any of its commitments, the European Commission could impose a fine of up to 10 percent of Microsoft's total annual turnover without having to prove any violation of EU antitrust rules.

Microsoft, you've just handed over your wallet to the EU. Good Luck!

 

[Guest]

sudo apt-get install firefox

 

[technuttso]

[citation][nom]bystander[/nom]"Still today the American Congress protects business interests and not people (consumers) interests."This is where the blue collar person seems to miss the boat IMO.Without the businesses out there, we wouldn't have jobs to fill, which feed us. If all the "evil" businesses disapeared, you'd be out in a field living off the land.These businesses are built by people, and ran by people.[/citation]
Not all business are "evil", I was running my business some time ago, a small family business . That was a people business. Today's real big business is all about profits and people don't give a damn if this could hurt at long term as long as today feeds. Even with a she... food.Business built by people, and ran by people is a nice slogan, even a nice logo for some lobby campaign but is a long dead idea. Sounds like a socialist crap today. U don't need to call evil the business practice...this is the capitalist way, and until now is the finest way to earn a decent living in the human history... But wi all

 

[Guest]

Browser BAH
There are other places where controls should be put into effect. Maybe an API that would allow third party browsers to 'intergrate' into the OS in the same capacity that IE does. Adherance to standards witin their protocols and fines and penalties and ceases where they put their proprietary crap in APIs and protocols. Modlarity within the OS following all the philosophy of OO programming we were taught rather than this binary blob we are fed with.

And their media play still sucks. I use XBMC Windows edition and this is way better. XBMC will even play ISOs (even rips of RedBox DVDs) with no problems. Windows media center throws up stupid codec errors for alot of the files I try to play where XBMC just plays them.

 

[beayn]

They need to be consistent and enforce this for all operating systems. A law should not just apply to one company just because it has a larger market share. Any Linux distro or OSX should also have a browser ballot from now on.

 

[beayn]

They need to be consistent and enforce this for all operating systems. A law should not just apply to one company just because it has a larger market share. Any Linux distro or OSX should also have a browser ballot from now on.

I wonder if the browsers are included on the Windows disc or are they simply links to download? If they're included on the disc, that's completely wrong as well until it is included on all OS discs.

 

[back_by_demand]

[citation][nom]mariushm[/nom]Yeah. The problem is Apple is not a monopoly, Microsoft is. Rules change when one is a monopoly. Wikipedia is a wonderful thing, look for "monopoly" there and get a clue.[/citation]
You are a fuckwit, when you buy an Apple, everything about it is a monopoly. You buy their OS and you have to use their hardware, their browser is bundled and mandatory. You have the iPod you have to use iTunes to transfer songs to it.

When you buy Windows you can buy your PC anywhere or even build one yourself, also if you desire you can run Linux instead. Should you continue with Windows you may have IE installed but have no restriction on any other software. You can install any browser, any media player, any email client.

By monopoly if you mean Windows has the highest market share of users, could it be because it's popularity is linked to it's ability not to look like an elitist snob? Fuck Apple and the EU.

 

[IzzyCraft]

"Furthermore, if Microsoft breaks any of its commitments, the European Commission could impose a fine of up to 10 percent of Microsoft's total annual turnover without having to prove any violation of EU antitrust rules."

Yeah they already proves they don't have to prove shit or be non bias committees to fine you 10%


Don't you find it funny that they say it's unfair for Microsoft to have their own browser as the solo thing on their own OS

Isn't what they are doing the complete opposite of fair, they are giving advantage to all of the other browers.

Also what sets a browser up to be on the EU little browser board?
Who decides that the EU, so no microsoft is the EU's product?

Wait what's fair again? i'm confused.

 

[jamesedgeuk2000]

This is why decisions on technology should NOT be made by people who dont understand the technology >.>

Next they will go after Volvo for not offering Ford engines in their cars 😛

 

[backin5]

The EU swings and misses. A browser that comes with an OS contributes to the problem, but is not the main issue.

The main issue is that browsers don't adhere to internet standards, and as result web sites might not work with your browser of choice.

If the EU should enforce anything is that browsers and web sites will all be compatible, thus guaranteeing that people can access every web site using whichever browser they want.

I am not a Microsoft fan at all, despite the fact (or rather, because) I use Windows, but this EU decision is stupid, and shows that the EU doesn't really understand the problem.

 

[technuttso]

In fact Volvo is a Ford constellation thing from 1999. Ford own now Volvo, Mazda and many others, so there u may actually find many Ford motors,or Mazda under the hood of a Volvo.Not only Volvo motors.
But u all miss the point. EU don't ask to eliminate the IE from the system by any means. It just ask to put a choice on browser field. Like i said first, there are many people at first contact with a computer that buy this computer just for internet use and have no idea of existence of some other browsers. When u go to buy a PC in supermarket u don't have choices but MS based computers (like 99%). No others OS makers good or strong enough. OK...but MS fill u up just this CRAPPY IE like the only choice that u have now as a starter. And this is not right from the point of view of the EU.
When u buy a car u have the possibility of a choice, any way, jamesedgeuk2000, your comparative is out of line...is like EU impose at system builders what CPU type\brand to use. What was your point ??

 

[back_by_demand]

How much is each of the competing browsers paying for the advertising they get in the Choice Screen?
None?
How much has Mozilla paid to advertise it's product elsewhere?
Will it's advertising budget now be diverted elsewhere now it no longer has to try so hard?
Will the K-Meleon browser suddenly find that when millions of unsuspecting users try billions of websites all the crappy flaws that IE and Mozilla have spent years and millions of dollars patching, that K-Meleon is a giant piece of shit that should never have been given the time of day?
Will the 14 combined global users of Maxthon, K-Meleon, Flock, Avant and Sleipnir please stand up?

 

[sorin7486]

Welcome to the absurdity of capitalism and of the so called "free market" economy... but at least the EU has the guts to do something about it. I'm sure glad to be living on this side of the pond.

Funny thing how so many people think that if MS would sell windows without a browser it would somehow bring the end of us all.. I guess PC vendors can put all that bloatware on your computer but somehow people imagine they couldn't install a web browser. Or that you can know enough to install windows on your computer but somehow be stuck when it comes to installing a browser. It seems to me you have to be terribly lazy of both mind and body if you can't see beyond this problem. But then again some cultures encourage that.

Oh and all those that shed a tear for MS right now please tell me something: what happened to competition ? Or do you think that whoever is on top has the right to be there without challenge ? I don't think this decision makes much sense really but such is the system that we live in.

In the end it's not like MS is a completely innocent victim here.. you really have to be naive to believe that. And it's not like they're forced to do something completely horrible... all they have to do is give users choice. Isn't that what it's all about ? ... freedom of choice ?

 

[Manos]

[citation][nom]coonday[/nom]This statement right here strengthens my belief that the EU is one of the most confining, dictatorial, and evil governing bodies I've ever seen.[/citation]

Did that really come out of you...? An American? and to think that im a European and from the only Greek guys that deffend the American's and American ways in every convo ever sine i came back to Greece but please, dont run too fast and trip on your shoes..

There is a huge difference of reality with the immature way you see it. So lets not let the matter step the way you started it cause you really wont like the sad truths.. Sepcially when there are way more important matters than the MS one to prove who is being a dectotor when it comes to goverments..

Simple fact. The EU from their extended effort to keep even corporates and companies fair and THEM not allowed into dictatorish movements into the competition, by them seeing MS that way ( which I dont when it comes to the browser personally, Im with you but its a result of them overreacting ) they overdo it, they take it a step further and make an ass out of themselves. In order for them to be anything like the retarded accusations of yours they would have to force MS to shove a European solution in there and not themselves or something..
Anyhow, Im personally finding this whole thing unessessary too. But dont be ignorants and so naive please... You are having ppl out of the US readint hose comments and its just funny other than a bit sad lol.

 

[back_by_demand]

This statement right here strengthens my belief that the EU is one of the most confining, dictatorial, and evil governing bodies I've ever seen.

Totally agree, the EU has been rammed down the throats of the voters (or not in the case of the UK).
Whe the Irish were offered the vote to ratify the treaty or not they said no. The EU waited then made them vote again, eventually they got a yes, but it is painfully clear that they would have kept asking and making them vote year in and year out until they caved in and got the answer they wanted. The UK never had a vote on the issue and Gordon Brown, (who no one voted to be the Prime Minister either), ratified the treaty whilst giving the finger to the electorate, the majority of which didn't want to ratify the treaty either.
The EU President was shoehorned in with no input from any of the 500 million EU citizens.

The EU is about as Democratic as Stalinist Russia or Hitler's Germany.

 

[eddieroolz]

[citation][nom]JamesSneed[/nom]This is over 10 years late. A bit before MS killed off Netscape would have been a good time for this. Now its just pointless bit of control the EU is imposing on MS. I guess we have MS to thank for the free browsers since back in the early 90's you had to pay for a browser. I am hoping 10 years from now IE has lost most of its market share at the hands of open source.[/citation]

I hope you enjoy that Netscape which you shelled out $60 for, in your dream world. Broswers wouldn't be entirely free if it wasn't for IE.

 

[back_by_demand]

[citation][nom]eddieroolz[/nom]I hope you enjoy that Netscape which you shelled out $60 for, in your dream world. Broswers wouldn't be entirely free if it wasn't for IE.[/citation]
That is a good point, if a browser is free like Firefox, supported entirely by sponsorship and the EU says IE is anti-competative...

Is it right that a business model based on charitable contributions be given free promotion at the expense of a company that has spent billions in development?

Now that MS has to include them to make things fair, wouldn't it be fair to ask them now to give MS a payment for it's inclusion on every disk printed, or at the very least, a payment for everytime it is selected at the choice screen?