For some reason the people in charge of this sort of thing do not think that Windows should come with Media Player or Internet Explorer…I am no fan of Microsoft but this seems like a stupid choice by the European Commission. How are these people supposed to get online? Are there CDs you can buy with browsers you can choose to install?
Since when? I’ve never seen a Greek version of XP or Vista with no IE and WMP
Microsoft’s proposed response to EU pressure:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31257252/ns/business-world_business/
This is where I read about it.
Some context to what exactly you are referring? So far, Windows in Germany has all the unneccssary additions.
As for how one gets online: PC Welt (the german edition of IDG magazine PC World) in their last test, went online with an unprotected PC and tried to download the latest version of firewall and anti-virus. It took them 45 minutes to download and install everything to make their PC safe, but after 5 minutes they had already been attacked by hackers and been infected with viruses. So their advice continues: if you want to go online, you buy the latest magazine or go onto an already connected and protected PC, download the latest Firewall (ZoneAlarm is Free and good) download the latest Antivirus software (like AV). While you are doing this, you can also download the latest Firefox or Opera. What’s the problem?
Same for media player : download free winamp or Real player.
However, both individual European governments, cities, police, etc. have protested against the all-inclusive grip of Windows when the new system was introduced (around 2003 or 5), and many switched to Linux instead, for several advantages.
Given the rising security problems in the internet, and the holes in IE, maybe the European Commission decided that if people would use more alternative browsers, it would help.
Microsoft is going to be offering “E” versions of Windows 7 that will not include IE or WMP. Why anyone would want this is anybody’s guess. As for how people are supposed to get online there are a few options:
MS will make IE available via CD/FTP and retail channels.
PC makers can bundle whichever browser they please
So chances are Europeans will still have a browser included when they buy a new PC. It may or may not be IE depending on where one goes.
But I’ll wager that Microsoft will continue to make their update site inaccessible to anyone running anything other than IE. 
As I understand it the EU ruling Microsoft must offer the option of buying the OS without the browser or media player. That is all. Then those who want the option of using another browser or media player can install other browsers or media players of their choice. I do not see the problem.
Two other options:
- MS will provide IE as an optional download via their Updater. Since IE is already provided via Updater, it may be that there is no change to the Updater client or server.
- OEMs will have the option to pre-install the E version and then bundle whatever non-IE browser they choose.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8096701.stm
They say they will ship without internet explorer. How would someone go about getting a browser from their computer? Couldn’t they just open a folder, type in a url and press enter?
Windows explorer browses the web. 
ETA: I just tried it and it redirects me to Firefox. I’m not sure what they’ll do about that.
Isn’t windows explorer the same thing as internet explorer when your surfing the web?
The problem is you can’t download, say, Firefox if your PC comes without a browser at all. You need to have at least one browser to start with. Yes, in likelihood any OEM with half a brain would make sure to include another browser on the system if they decided to use this cockamamie IE free Euro version, but sometimes OEM’s don’t have half a brain.
This reminds me of the time I bought a modem that wouldn’t work with my PC until I downloaded a driver. You can’t download a driver before the modem works, fools!
- Presumably vendors selling Windows pre-installed on a computer will include one or more web browsers on the machine: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Chrome.
- For people buying Windows, the article says “[Microsoft] would make it easy for PC makers and users to get at and install the web browsing program.” That could be via FTP (there are other ways that your computer access the internet besides a web browser!), or maybe getting a CD through the mail.
I’m on XP.
If I type in a web address (e.g. http://www.straightdope.com) in the “address” entry field in Windows Explorer, it calls up the default web browser for my machine (in my case Firefox).
Using Internet Explorer, if, in the Internet Explorer “address” entry field, I type in a Windows directory (e.g. “C: emp”), when I press return it calls up Windows Explorer.
You can download a browser using FTP if you know where to go.
We seem to have two threads about the same subject:
Obviously these new versions of Windows will come with a Gopher client instead.
I find this objection silly. If you are assembling computers you are expected to have certain tools, among them another computer. The ruling is made to control MS in the big scheme of things and is not concerned with whether it creates a minor inconvenience to someone who does not have the necessary tools.
It also used to be that I could tinker with the carburator in my car and that changed with the new laws and car electronics.
OEMs will decide what browser goes on there. Thats what this law will do. I doubt anyone will decide to sell windows without IE. They’ll just bundle more crapware on there. Yay for the consumer. Nothing like Firefox, Opera, IE, Chrome, Safari, and AOL browser all fighting for your html default. Perhaps they’ll legally mandate lynx and wget as your default.
Until the EU bureaucrats decide that ftp.exe is a monopolistic threat to some European FTP client.