Microsoft Has No Plans to Appeal EU Fine

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christop

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I really don't see why this is a big deal. Apple uses safari and it is ok. I only use explorer to download chrome. People are not forced to use explorer as their main browser.
 

yeungl

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I always download my favorite browser? There is nothing wrong. EU is trying to leech of $$ from American. Dislike this kind of practice.
 

_Cubase_

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[citation][nom]christop[/nom]I really don't see why this is a big deal. Apple uses safari and it is ok. I only use explorer to download chrome. People are not forced to use explorer as their main browser.[/citation]

Exactly! I have no idea what the EU's problem is. Last time I checked: when I bought a Ford, I wasn't asked if I wanted Hyundai floor mats instead!
 

visa

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So where do these funds go to? Should they not at least be distributed to the people that purchased Windows. Somehow I think the lawyers will make out just fine on this one.
 

XngXtuHl

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I would in place of Microsoft for this, remove stupid ballot screen
and add in setup of Windows ask user "Do you want install Internet Explorer" yes or no
or release version of Windows without IE installed, nobody going to buy this
 

itpro

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Microsoft will simply make up the difference by charging more for their products in Europe. Europe is already one of the most expensive places on the planet to do business, and this is just another tax. Like all taxes, it gets passed on to the consumer.
 

silverblue

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Here's an alternative - bundle the latest copy of as many browsers as possible on the disc so the choice is immediately there... then complain that nobody else offers the same freedom of choice, thus sparking off court cases against Google and Apple. Microsoft can then say they have gone above and beyond what they were required to do.

As for this fine, I fail to see as to how Microsoft's opposition was THAT affected. We're not stupid over here - we do know how to go looking for browsers, and I'm sure most level headed individuals wouldn't mind using IE in a limited fashion in order to procure their ideal browser...
 
Key failing of the EU is their argument that the consumers are "forced" to use IE. It's set by default, yes, but no one is forced to use it. Windows doesn't preclude other browsers from installing or running. Now, trying to get another browser working well on iOS or MacOS? Totally different story.
 

blurr91

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[citation][nom]christop[/nom]I really don't see why this is a big deal. Apple uses safari and it is ok. I only use explorer to download chrome. People are not forced to use explorer as their main browser.[/citation]

Europeans need to be told what to do because of decades of socialist policies. /sarcasm

EU just wants money, like all governments. And we keep letting them get away with it too.
 
G

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house70, I don't remember any other software company having to promote competition's product.

I dont recall Apple forcing their software on any third party hardware, Apple only does this on the hardware that they brand. Microsoft should not be allowed to force their OS on any PC OEM, or any version of their OS. The US government has turned a blind eye tords the M$ monopoly for too long and M$ should be banned from being able to dictate its OS, or version of OS on any third party OEM's computers. It is time to break up the M$ octopus!
 

blurr91

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[citation][nom]BreakItUP[/nom]I dont recall Apple forcing their software on any third party hardware, Apple only does this on the hardware that they brand. Microsoft should not be allowed to force their OS on any PC OEM, or any version of their OS. The US government has turned a blind eye tords the M$ monopoly for too long and M$ should be banned from being able to dictate its OS, or version of OS on any third party OEM's computers. It is time to break up the M$ octopus![/citation]

3rd party isn't even allowed to sell hardware with Apple stuff, talk about strongarming...

Since when has MS forced OEM to not sell anything. Dell has for years sold PCs without Windows. I have bought a Gateway PC without Windows. There are nearly a dozen OEMs selling Chromebooks now.

Let's see...how many OEMs sell PCs loaded with MacOS? Oh, NONE! OEMs can't even make a Windows PC that looks like a Mac. Why? Apple would sue. And Apple has a much deeper pocket than OEMs.
 

alextheblue

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[citation][nom]XngXtuHl[/nom]I would in place of Microsoft for this, remove stupid ballot screenand add in setup of Windows ask user "Do you want install Internet Explorer" yes or noor release version of Windows without IE installed, nobody going to buy this[/citation]They can't. I've been over this before, but basically MS offered to release an IE-free version of Windows. The European Commission rejected this idea and forced them into the browser ballot, which is completely ridiculous. Please note this doesn't affect OEMs at all, only retail copies.[citation][nom]BreakItUP[/nom]I dont recall Apple forcing their software on any third party hardware, Apple only does this on the hardware that they brand. Microsoft should not be allowed to force their OS on any PC OEM, or any version of their OS. The US government has turned a blind eye tords the M$ monopoly for too long and M$ should be banned from being able to dictate its OS, or version of OS on any third party OEM's computers. It is time to break up the M$ octopus![/citation]Hey genius, OEMs are free to install whatever they want. Or haven't you noticed OEM machines coming with junkware preinstalled? If an OEM wanted to, they could preinstall Chrome, Firefox, etc. They don't force anything on OEMs. But you clearly don't realize that the past and present EC fines against MS only apply to the retail non-OEM versions of Windows.

These OEMs are free to install another OS, too, for that matter. Basically, MS does not do what you accuse them of. You clearly have no idea what a REAL monopoly looks like, but that's because you're a product of modern society - spoiled, self-entitled, and willfully ignorant.
 
[citation][nom]_Cubase_[/nom]Exactly! I have no idea what the EU's problem is. Last time I checked: when I bought a Ford, I wasn't asked if I wanted Hyundai floor mats instead![/citation]

The EU is broke
 

freggo

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The Problem is not so much that IE is bundled, but that it is so integrated that you can not even remove it; and there is clearly no technical reason for this!

Funny how everyone complains about the fine (it is a penalty to discourage Big Corporate misbehavin' again!); and this from the Land where people file $100.000.000 lawsuits over hot coffee and such.


 

martel80

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For all those EU haters, don't forget that Tom's comes from Germany. :)
If Microsoft wants to do business in EU (which they obviously do, otherwise they would simply abandon EU without paying any fine), it has to comply with whatever crap EU imposes. The choice is Microsoft's, no one is forcing MS to remain in the EU market.

I'm not advocating EU regulations, but MS was given enough time to do something about the situation and they failed. That's why they have to pay the fine. Not because they ship IE in Windows.

According to Wikipedia, EU's budget is "€864.3 billion for the period 2007–2013". The fine is like 0.05 per cent of it (or 0.4% of annual budget). What a grab! :lol:

Edit: sorry, I fail at maths sometimes.
 

downhill911

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Funny to see how many people vouch for Microsoft and IE, are actually people using that crap?
My set up my antivirus so it will not even let IE to connect to the internet. Firefox all the way!
Also it seems that American but-hurt nature comes to surface when they need to comply with other country (EU) rules. Maybe you could send some drones for defensive attack.
 

unionoob

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for everyone who wonders why are they doing this to Microsoft and not anyone else. It is because of Microsoft market share, it is like 80-90% of PC's use Windows. If Apple Mac OS and iOS share would be bigger then 50% they would get same problems what is getting Microsoft with there Safari, but because large portion of Smartphone market is being controlled by Android, Apple can get away with it, same with Microsoft Mobile, they can force people to use IE and block others because there market share is very small.

European Union is doing it because someone have grown too big in market and pretty much control that sector. That's why EU is watching such huge companies like Gasprom, Microsoft so they don't kill there market with there dominance there in that region.

And if if MS won't pay, EU can even ban MS Windows sales in EU and make them loose very big market, EU have even invested millions in research for new OS what could fight Microsoft Windows.

-Sorry for my terrible English :)
 

back_by_demand

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2 stories, about the same thing, an hour apart, from the same author - what the hell has happened to this website? Standards are seriously dropping
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Just a point to note, regarding the car analogies, most of the counter-arguements are that no car manufacturer has a 90%+ market share so the car radio doesn't have to have an enforcement
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Let's imagine that one day, maybe after Toyota, GM and Ford complete a vast merger, that there is a single company that does have 90% market share for cars - you think it would be acceptable for the factory pre-fitted radio to not be fitted at all and the dealership to be forced to offer you a choice of radios that come from Hyundai, Mazda, Fiat, Citroen or Volkswagen - and if they do not offer you this choice and you roll out of the dealership with a garden variety radio, the EU can deem it fair to fine manufacturer the equivalet of 50% of the purchase price of the car
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Car radios have intrinsic value, they use radio stations to push advertsing at us the same way websites do
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IE has no intrinsic value and derives no money from advertising - ad revenue come from the search engines you use and the web sites you visit NOT the browser you use - IE derives no money from advertising, lead generation, affiliates, selling data, freemium or royalties
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Firefoxs sole source of income is royalties derived from advertising on search engines, so IE and Firefox do not even compete in the same revenue market - to use the car analogy again the other thing they have in common is they both have 4 wheels, but IE drives on a rally track and Firefox drives the NASCAR circuit
 

Blazer1985

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Yup, but we, as tom's hardware readers are no regular users. We are programmers - developers - power users at least... We can defend ourselves from almost every kind of monopoly. Regular users aren't probably aware that other Explorer alternatives exist. (Still doubtful about Microsoft's guilt)

Beside that.. EU haters, don't worry about us taking your money with lawsuits, think about making wars for oil.
 
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