Microsoft to Europe: No Browser for You!
How '90s is this? The EU is still bugging Microsoft about Internet Explorer, proposing that Windows 7 should come with a raft of different browsers from which users could choose. Microsoft's answer? Well, we might politely call it a raised digit here in the U.S.: No browser for you, Europe.
Seriously, Microsoft is saying that Windows 7 in Europe won't have a browser included at all, although the company says that there will be a way for users to get a browser should they, you know, want one. Of course, the vast majority of Windows 7 machines sold will have some sort of browser on them -- possibly more than one -- likely bundled by an OEM.
And maybe that's not a bad way to handle things. Take the browser decision out of the hands of both Microsoft and other browser makers, and let OEMs decide what they load on their machines. As for which browser(s) OEMs choose, well, there will no doubt be a back-room deal or two cut for that. We can't imagine who might have an advantage there...
In any case, the predominant take here is that a browser-less Windows 7 will make upgrading a huge pain. But, if we're honest, the reason we linked to that last article is because we find the image in it hilarious.
This is another entry altogether (and it probably will be one of these days), but we've never really figured out why industry types obsess so much about browsers and browser market share. How are these things even monetize-able (if that's even a word)? They're free, after all. We understand very well how companies make money through advertising, Web-based services, cloud services and the like, but the browser...well, it just seems like a shop window rather than something you'd buy in the shop itself: Important, maybe, but in the end really not that big of a deal revenue-wise. But we digress. Again.
What's your take on the browser market? Do you care about it at all? Send your feelings to lpender@rcpmag.com.
Posted by Lee Pender on June 17, 2009 at 12:02 PM