Microsoft was forced by the EU to do something about its position on the browser market. The European Commission fined Microsoft huge amounts until it changed the distribution of its Windows operating system and its components. This means that it can’t sell Windows 7 within the European Union with Internet Explorer 8 installed. Microsoft was first said to skip the browser, which caused riots, but instead it looks like it will offer a browser buffet.
When you install a European copy of Windows 7 you will get the option of installing one of the 10 most popular browser on the market, directly in the operating system.
The developer of Opera, Håkon Wium Lie, has revealed, in talks with DailyTech, his view of Microsoft’s current proposal, which means that all browsers with a market share over 0.5% will be on the list users get to pick from, with a limit to 10 different browsers.
“This is good news, we think, that Microsoft put this proposal forward. This will give users access to more browsers. It’s good news for users. It’s good news for browser makers. And it’s good news for web standards.”
Microsoft’s proposal requires an active Internet connection during the installation since you have to download the browsers, thus they will not be stored on the disc you get from Microsoft. Something Håkon is a skeptic of, but at the same time it is a working option.
The final word hasn’t been said yet since EU still hasn’t shared its views on Microsoft’s “buffet proposal” but it has been positive to such an idea in the past. Something most users can be happy about.
