Microsoft bestätigt: Windows 7 E gestrichen

Nachdem letzte Woche die EU Kommission mit der Meldung vorpreschte, Microsoft würde bei der Installation des kommenden Microsoft Betriebssystems mehrere Browser zur Auswahl stellen, zieht Microsoft nun nach.

Offiziell schreibt Dave Heiner, Vice President und Deputy General Counsil der Microsoft Corporation:

"To meet that goal, and in light of the Commission’s pending legal inquiry of our inclusion of IE in Windows, we decided last month that we would ship a unique version of Windows 7 in Europe—which we dubbed Windows 7 “E”—that would not include a Web browser. Instead, we decided to offer IE separately and on an easy-to-install basis to both computer manufacturers and users who wanted the Microsoft browser.

We have now decided to alter that launch plan. In the wake of last week’s developments, as well as continuing feedback on Windows 7 E that we have received from computer manufacturers and other business partners, I’m pleased to report that we will ship the same version of Windows 7 in Europe in October that we will ship in the rest of the world."

Dadurch ist die Einigung nun beiderseitig bestätigt. Auch Anwender in Europa kommen in den Genuß eines Windows 7 mit integriertem Internet Explorer, können jedoch direkt bei der Installation genauso gut auf Alternativen zurückgreifen.