Windows7How

Windows 7 in Europe

September 9, 2009

Microsoft and the European Union, especially its branch for protection of companies and customers from monopolistic behavior of individual corporations, have a long history of conflict. Most of the arguments that have gone before the court have been concerning the automatic installation of the Internet Explorer with the OS, which resulted in huge advantage over the other internet browsers. These past years the lawyers from Microsoft spent countless hours in front of judges and commissions trying to explain that users could uninstall Internet Explorer if they wanted to and afterwards simply and effortlessly download and install another browser and use it in Windows working environment. Since the Anti-monopoly Commission thought otherwise, the clash was unavoidable and the fines were severe. That’s why, the people in Microsoft started thinking of ways to please the strict rules of the Anti-monopoly Committee and at the same time try not to endanger the corporation or its products.

They came up with a solution to distribute the new operating system Windows 7 in Europe as a special edition. The difference between these European editions and the editions for the other parts of the world was to be in the exclusion of a default Internet Browser. The moment the operating system was started a Ballot Screen would appear offering to the users links for downloading the most known internet browsers. The users, then, would be left with a choice to download and install the browser they found most appropriate. This solution pleasantly surprised all of us, especially the European Committee who praised the decision but promised to analyze it in detail before approving it. These were the only good news for Microsoft. And they didn’t last for long.

The first problems came with the companies that were selling computer systems based on Windows. These companies predicted that the addition of E-Edition would result in total mess, confusion and dissatisfaction among the customers and ultimately lead to fewer sales.

Also, according to the information we got, the users in Europe couldn’t upgrade their current operating system; they would have to uninstall it first and then install the new E-edition. This led to a new set of problems for Microsoft and in order to appease the users, they have come up with a Solomon’s solution (called after the emperor Solomon, who was known for his wise decisions).

It seems now, that Microsoft has rejected the E-edition and will release in Europe the same editions as in the rest of the world since they can’t continue waiting for the European Commission to accept the Ballot Screen as an appropriate solution. If the committee accepts the solution, Microsoft might realize their plan with the E-Edition but in a slightly different way. Namely, a software package, through already established internet connection, will be sent to all of the users located in countries in the European Union. If the IE is set by default on a machine, a Ballot Screen will instantly appear and offer the users to download and install another Internet Browser or continue using the one they have. If Internet Browser other than Internet Explorer is being used, then the Ballot Screen won’t appear. Microsoft clearly states that they won’t have anything against it their partners, which are in the business of selling hardware, install another Internet Browser. According to Microsoft, this encouragement is more than fair, since they are actually, in a way, advertising the products of the competition.

If everything turns out okay with the Ballot Screen project, then Microsoft is willing to go one step further and implement this system in the machines that already have XP or Vista installed and fix the ongoing issue with the Anti-monopoly Committee once and for all times.

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Tags: e-edition, internet explorer, monopoly, operating system, uninstall windows, vista, windows 7, xp