Windows 7 - No browser included.

[wellies]

Microsoft plan to supply the stand-alone versions of Windows 7 without Internet Explorer or any other browser. This has drawn criticism from the EU who say that said it would prefer to see consumers offered a choice of browser.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/06/12/technology/AP-EU-EU-Microsoft.html?_r=1

 

My sympathies lie with Microsoft. They just can't win. First they get criticised/fined/vilified for unfair practices. So they learn from this and don't include Internet Explorer with Windows 7. Then they draw criticism for not including a choice of browsers that can be installed. You can bet your life they'd be criticised even if they did that.

 

Give me Windows 7 without a browser and I'll have one installed within 15 minutes. We all know there are ways and means. Talk about criticising for the sake of it.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Might be a sly move from MS and they'll end up charging for it or some obscure angle.

[Tootech]

I agree with you Wellies - I'm not Microsofts biggest fan, but the world needs browsers, so whats wrong with shipping with a native browser?

 

The EU criticised that for years, and maybe MS did take Netscape off the map. All said and done, other browsers survived and we have a good choice these days.

 

Looks like they are playing a bit of a game now, and who can blame them?

[samuria]

What no one has thought is how do you get a browser? Many people are not very good on pc's so how will they get a browser as normally you open a browser to download Firefox. Opera etc. With no browser you can not get one unless you can download it on another pc.

Alright if you know pc's you could use ftp but on some old adsl modems you have to use a browser to setup the modem to get onto the internet in the first place.

 

They should have set an option to install some browsers and let users choose on install then everyone is ok

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Samuria,

I tried to answer this question, here-

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/windows-7/7260-windows-7-and-no-browser.html

 

However of course, not a lot of use for someone who has never had a computer beforehand!

In a case like that, should it arise, I can only suggest that a Browser can be acquired from a friend or other persons computer.

 

Hopefully though most manufacturers will include a browser when they install Windows 7 at the factory.

[Quacker]

Out of interest, has this now changed? - my new machine came with IE but no mail browser (as expected). Is it possible it was added by the shop to get me started?