Microsoft Offers Europe with Browser-less Windows 7

Microsoft Offers Europe with Browser-less Windows 7 according to CNET. Windows 7, a Windows new operating system. Microsoft's move to offer Windows 7 in Europe without a browser may help rivals, but it could make life more difficult for European consumers, particularly those who want to upgrade their existing machines.Have you imagined using an operating system wihout a browser? Probably not, since aside from Internet Explorer (IE) there are still a lot of browser who can still due the job and even perform better thatn IE.

CNET News, first reported earlier on Thursday that Microsoft plans to ship Windows 7 to both PC makers and retail stores with Internet Explorer removed. How do they get IE?

Now, most client will get Windows 7 on a new PC. Presumably, in that case, the computer maker will chose to add back Internet Explorer, include one or more rival browsers, or do both.
Indeed, that is what Microsoft itself is suggesting.

"Microsoft recommends that OEMs pre-install either IE8 or at least one other browser of their choice before distribution," Microsoft said in a memo to PC makers that was seen by CNET News. "If you do this, your end users in the European territory should be able to access the Internet without any additional steps or inconvenience."

This muat be real hassle comes for those who want to upgrade their existing PC to Windows 7.
Moving from Windows Vista to Windows 7 can normally be done via an upgrade that preserves one's applications and data. However, because it removes the browser, moving to the "E" version of Windows 7 can only be done with a clean installation.

At that point, users have a system with no browser at all. So if they want Firefox or Opera or any other browser, they have no easy way to get it. For its part, Microsoft plans to make it as easy as possible for them to get IE. It will offer it via CD-ROMs at retail stores and via FTP, an old file downloading technique that has been largely sidelined due to modern browsers.Aren't Microsoft is avoiding the fines?

J.P. Gownder, Forrester Research analyst said, that the result is something that is very unfriendly to the very consumers that the EU is allegedly trying to protect. The European Union said in January that it had reached a preliminary finding that the inclusion of a browser within Windows violated its antitrust laws.

Furthermore, He mentioned, "It's a disaster caused by poor regulatory oversight," he said."It's definitely regulation gone wild and it's not going to help the consumer."

Moreover, Matt Rosoff, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, said the software maker probably made the move in an effort to avoid further regulatory action on the part of the European Union, which said in January that it believed the inclusion of a browser in Windows was a violation of European antitrust law.

"I guess Microsoft has taken the preemptive move to avoid a big fine," he said. "The EU didn't ask them to do this. They are still fighting the statement of objections."

Watch the preview of Microsoft's Windows 7