RSSMicrosoft to Ship WMP-Free Windows
By Nate Mook | Published January 24, 2005, 12:13 PM
Microsoft is on track to ship a version of Windows without its bundled media player within weeks, opting not to appeal an interim ruling by a European court. As reported by BetaNews, the WMP-free packages were tentatively dubbed "Reduced Media Edition," but Microsoft has not yet announced pricing or marketing plans.
European OEMs have already received the new Windows with retail versions expected to hit store shelves soon. It is not likely the new slimmer Windows will be available outside Europe.
In the decision handed down in December, the European Union denied Microsoft's request to halt antitrust remedies levied last March, which included a 497 million euro fine and a demand for Microsoft to strip Windows Media Player from its operating systems.
The EU order also called for Microsoft to begin licensing communications protocols from its Windows Server line to third parties.
"The evidence adduced by Microsoft is not sufficient to show that implementation of the remedies imposed by the Commission might cause serious and irreparable damage," the court said in a statement after the December ruling.
Microsoft will, however, continue to appeal the case at large "on the merits of the Commission's decision." Redmond remains confident that the EU ruling will be overturned entirely.
"We are encouraged that the Court has recognized that Microsoft has a number of powerful arguments that must be considered in the full appeal," the company said in December.
A big mistake and abuse from the European Comision I woud not buy a windows without a media player.
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|If you don't like Windows, don't use it! They knew what they were buying, this is about the almighty EURO.
I hope Microsoft INCREASES the cost to Europeans.:)
Sieg Heil to the EU. :)
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|By all means slag off the EU if you're so petty, but less of the Sieg Heil mate!
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|How hard is it, to just simply tell people not to use something? Why does a company have to go to the trouble to actually remove it..
WMP is installed. OK. Do you have to use it...noooooooo. Cars came with cigarette lighters, you didn't see people complaining they wouldn't take delivery of an automobile simply because it had a stupid lighter pre-installed.
People and their damn hang ups. *OTHER* people suggested its appearance that's how it got there in the *FIRST* damn place. I distinctly remember When Windows 95 first came out, one of the biggest complaints was "Doesn't come pre-installed with a media player". People pitched a fit, now years later, they don't want it pre-installed. Make up your damn mind!
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|What's worse is I know several people that were upset that the FIRST version of Windows 95 didn't even come with a web browser...these lawsuits are about money, not about MS media player stealing market share from Real or whatever. Heck, most store bought pc's come with Quicktime, Real Player, PowerDVD, and MusicMatch, so why the heck are they complaining? MS needs to sue their a$$es for forcing their products to come preloaded on Microsoft's OS. Now if you buy a Dell or HP computer it will have Real Media Player, Quicktime, PowerDVD and Musicmatch installed, but no WMP. Is that not unfair to Microsoft?
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|I agree. Windows is their product. Who's anyone to tell them what they can or can't include in it. Thats like Ford being told they aren't allowed to put in a stereo in their cars because its unfair to other stereo manufacturers (admitted they don't manufacture them at ford but its the concept).
What interests me is will users of Reduced Media Edition (big up MS for trying to put people off it!) be able to install WMP from the internet at a later date. In which case, if they pay less for their copy of windows, shouldn't they have to pay the additional price to install media player. And I suppose in that case, thats making it into a commercial product and not the piece of freeware that it is.
Boooooo to the EU
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|I would prefere a bonus disk that included, along with microsoft's applications: 3 competitors browsers, media players, office suites, antivirus, firewall, anti-spyware/adware, image and sound editing. All of them would be optional to install, including MS's versions. This would not be expensive or hard to do, especially if they used freeware for the 3rd parties.
I took a look at Mandrake Linux, and interestingly enough, not only did they provide a few competetors for many things, such as those listed above, but you have an option to install (or not install) just about anything you want that is included with it's 3/4 disks. WOW! My other comptuer is a GNU/Linux box
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|though ford doesn't manufacture stereos, i think it is a good example, except it would have to be all the car manufactures that remove the stereo and what not, then there would be 2 versions of each model, one that has everthing and one that is bare-bones. In the car world is a bit different though. Lets say auto-mans (short for auto manufacurers) were force to remove tires, seats, stereos, speakers... That would leave us with a choice of who we can get those parts from, the car would probably be a bit cheaper too.
The part where we run in to trouble comparing cars to computers, is that there are many software out there that is free, where there are either no, or few car parts available for free. That and then it would be hard to personally add that part, where software is very easy in install. The expense of customizing a car would greatly increase. http://www.sf.net profides many software add-ons for free.
You might not, but there are many out there that demand a bare-bones windows for this reason. The government is responding to those people. It's not like windows can only sell that reduced media version, there will be the one that includes WMP and one that doesn't. For once we are starting to get a choice!
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|Lets not force companys put seatbelts in cars any longer either.
See how well that blows over.
I'm glad it's gone, now if they can remove IE, MSMSGS, OE, and all the other fluff out of their server products and make it OPTIONAL in their desktop products I'll be a happy customer.
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|The problem here is that you CAN REMOVE the stereo from a ford, AND you can order one from the factory without any radio at all if you want.
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|That is a PERFECT example: I would like to be able to do that with windows... maybe if MS would voluntarily give you an option of what to include in windows, they wouldn't run into these troubles AND have happier consumers.
I could see it now, one would go to ms.com, click on the link to buy windows. That link would then take you to a webpage, where you can place or remove checkmarks next to items like paint, notepad, and wordpad. Even if the price is the same for every variation, at least you'd be getting what you want and nothing more/less.
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|All I could ever ask for, worst case it was all bundled on an optional disc 2.
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|You CAN remove WMP and msmsgs if you really want to. Considering most people who uses Windows are newbies. I'd really suggest instead of having options to ADDing WMP and MSMSGS when you install, should have options to REMOVE WMP and MSMSGS when you install. but, seriously, after XP SP2 or something with the setting defaults, you can literally make msmsgs and wmp not appear at all, (except the files are in your computer). Okay, maybe the files are in there, but it shouldn't bother you since it's not going to make your PC less secure if you're not running it. Why bother about having not in there at all? My computer, which is a NEC one, came with... about 5Gb of stupid softwares and it took me almost an entire week to uninstall all those crap. I suggest to get a Dell to my friend, but he says, "Dell lacks too many cool stuff, I need to get NEC cuz of all those cool softwares.." seriously. Lot of people prefer all those fluffy add-ons, many SERIOUS PC-users do not want those things in there. Most of THESE users are those who knows enough computer to download firefox and play around , etc... If you know how to use a browser other than IE, you should be able to look online and find a way to edit the registry and take out WMP or MSMSGS entirely out of your computer.
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|you know whats funny is all of you sound like you want to be able to have an OPTIONAL COMPONENTS dialog like they used to have in 9x. well FYI people you CAN not have wmp installed, and msmsgs, and OE. although you cant remove IE because its built into the kernel you DO have a choice, albeit more complicated, to NOT install wmp, windows messenger, and outlook express.
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