Opera complains to EU about MS

[Rik]

El Reg is reporting that Opera are lodging a complaint with the EU about MS' tying IE to the OS and not following web standards.

"Opera is calling on the European Competition Commission to instigate two remedies on the software giant. Firstly, it wants Microsoft to unbundle Internet Explorer from Windows or to include another, alternative browser.

Secondly it asks the Commission to ensure Microsoft to follow open Web standards:

The complaint calls on Microsoft to adhere to its own public pronouncements to support these standards, instead of stifling them with its notorious 'Embrace, Extend and Extinguish' strategy. Microsoft's unilateral control over standards in some markets creates a de facto standard that is more costly to support, harder to maintain, and technologically inferior and that can even expose users to security risks."

Should be interesting....

[Lance]

For it's first point, it's just getting stupid. Where does it stop? Do we have games manufactures complaining about the games included with Windows? How about a writer of a defragmentation program complaining too?

It's not as if Microsfot stop you installing other browsers!

FOr it's second point, I agree.

[Rik]

I understand the business aspect they are getting at with point 1, Lance. The bundled IE does tend to shut out other browsers and certainly cramps their ability to sell the product (I bought Netscape many years ago, cost about £30).

[mrapoc]

What they need to do is upon install, ask you EXACTLY what you want installed

Such as

Do you want WMP? : Y [ ] or N

• 
  Do you want IE? : Y [ ] or N
• 
  Install alternative?: Firefox
• 
  etc.
  

[Rik]

That would be the ideal, Sam, with MS carrying the alternative offerings on the installation media.

[mrapoc]

Would save me from removing it from installation too

reference: www.nliteos.com and www.vlite.net/

[Glenn]

Lance, I think if I remember correctly MS brought the company that wrote the defrag prog after they took MS to court

[ducky22]

Opera, pfft - what a joke of a browser.

[Adam]

For it's first point, it's just getting stupid. Where does it stop? Do we have games manufactures complaining about the games included with Windows? How about a writer of a defragmentation program complaining too?

I'm willing to bet if Microsoft started to include some decent games, such as Halo, the game makers would start making antitrust claims. Though I also understand why Microsoft must bundle core software such as a web browser and a media player. I think the only thing lacking is that they make no effort to give their customers a choice, or even try to make them aware that there are other options.

[Simon]

Opera, pfft - what a joke of a browser.

Actually, it started off OK, but later versions are too bloated with gimmicks.