Common sense prevails... thank goodness.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/264655/microsoft-abandons-windows-7-e-edition-for-europe.html

It's just a shame that the idiots in Europe can't make any kind of logical decision. The end result of their interference is that we're paying more for less.

If I was in charge of MS, I'd be inclined to say "if you can't make your bloody mind up what you want from us, then stuff you - it's not worth the aggravation so no Windows for eu. If you want it, you can buy the American version and like it."

It was actually Opera that were whining so much, which is a shame really

Oh well, full upgrade version of windows 7 for me then would have been nice to get the fresh install one instead... I can handle installing a browser lol

Ah, but which one, fin?

Not Opera, I assume?

Oh yes, I'm sure the shareholders at Microsoft would be very happy at losing 500 million customers (and thus revenue). The EU holds all the cards - they control who can trade in 27 countries.

Funnily enough I use Opera I use it because I can sync my bookmarks with my mobile phone which is great

lol, the odd couple!

Well I don't care what browser my OS comes with, I'll need IE for banking as sites dont allow other browsers and I'll install another browser for less memory usage when I have a load of tabs open, simple as that really

And if 500 million people were told they couldn't import Windows, I don't think "the EU" control would amount to a hill of beans.

The EU have no jurisdiction over a US business. They can ban imports, but that would not be popular. People would still buy Windows and completely ignore their stupid rules.

Hmm, I use Firefox and Safari for banking, always have. I'd never use IE for banking!

As I've repeatedly said, the EU caved into Opera for no real reason. This action is too little, too late.

Microsoft's share has dropped from nearly 99% to around 60%, depending on whose statistics you listen to. If they've lost nearly 40% market share, it doesn't sound like the market needs any artificial help. The problem is, whilst Firefox has come from 0% to over 30%, Safari and Chrome have come from zero to several percent, overtaking Opera in the process...

That means, the company that has lost out the most is Microsoft, so they don't need any remedial action.

Opera is the only company that has failed to capitalise on the move away from using Internet Explorer. It seems they are looking at regulation at a way of alternative advertising. But the winners will probably be Firefox and Safari (maybe Chrome). I doubt it will make much difference to Opera's market share.

Whilst the first case against Microsoft was justified, although the WMP part of the case was, again, a little bogus (why didn't they go after IE, Solitaire, WordPad, Editor etc. at the same time?), the current case shows how badly the EU Commission need informed and non-partisan consultants working with them.

It's a good idea Apple don't have an inbuilt browser or otherwise The EU would have to be fair and punish them for doing the same as MS.

If Apple also held a 90% stake of the computer operating system market, then yeah, darn right the EU should. But they don't, so it's immaterial.

It's why their app store is being looked into

So if you don't have a big market share it's alright to flout the EU rules then!
The size of their market share does not prohibit them from following the same rules as any one else. Otherwise the EU law is unfair.
If it's wrong for MS to provide a free browser with their software then its equally wrong for Apple or any other software company.

The EU specifically said "Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice."
The issue is not about a free browser; that's an issue Opera have conjured up.
AFAIK, Safari isn't tied to the OS in the same way, although elements of the OS and other apps/services do use the WebKit engine.
Certainly Apple used to ship both Netscape and IE.