PC utilities: Microsoft trying to do it all.Hint (Windows SP3)

Are you spamming the boards?

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=128775&messageID=1454667

Glenn

My take...

by John.Wilkinson  - 10/3/05 4:14 PM

I read it slightly differently...instead of Netscape being the default browser I read it as the user will be asked which browser he/she wants to set as default, Internet Explorer 6.0 or Netscape 8. I see this as a step up from the current situation, where the user is forced to use IE by default and few even know alternatives truly exist.

Microsoft has taken many hits before (US Department of Justice vs Internet Explorer, European Union vs Windows Media Player, etc) because they bundled and integrated their products into Windows and made it difficult for the end user to switch to a third-party product, such as Firefox or MusicMatch. From what I've read, HP is taking the exact oposite approach by giving the end users the choice Microsoft has refused to offer. HP already gives the user choices of ISP (they 'suggest' MSN, AOL, and Earthlink, among others), and I believe MusicMatch still comes pre-installed as an alternative music player. I just see this as taking the ability to choose one step further.

Just my 2 cents,
John

But...operative words there are

'during computer setup' and since most systems built by HP are ALREADY set up prior to shipment, the only time most consumers will be given that option will be when they use the Restore/Recovery disk to 'start all over'. HP systems are not like ordering from Dell or Gateway where they are built specifically by individual order with choices being made during the ordering process. HP systems are PRE-built and shipped to distributors for 'on their shelves' such as Wal-Mart.

And it will be interesting to see if the choice is actually there during a Restore/Recovery installation using PRE-designed disks such as they make now with all the propaganda installed by default.

TONI

Unfortunately

In reply to: Types of setup... by John.Wilkinson 

the assumption that their 'intentions are clear' is bogus as many computer purchasers never realized that quite a few new systems have the 'intention' built right into them and the recovery/restore disk is actually proprietary to having the same hardware still being installed inside the case or the new restore doesn't happen. This has forced the owner to replace broken or dysfunctional hardware with identical hardware directly from the manufacturer/vendor of the system rather than being able to purchase off the shelf somewhere else for bigger/better than original.

I don't trust HP's 'intentions' any further than some people trust MS but I don't expect to hear any outcries from that end of the table about this since it will be giving an 'option' to have Netscape instead for a change. I'll wait and see what happens after some people buy the HP systems and come in here to get help once they realize it's not the bed of roses HP is 'intending'.

TONI

Yeah, you are correct.

In reply to: My take... by John.Wilkinson 

And you also read it correctly.

You are wrong...

Microsoft was taken to court because Explorer.exe was the Windows Explorer, was Internet Explorer and was also the heart of the Windows Operating System, said that, it was impossible to uninstall Internet Explorer, not really because it can be done modifing certain keys at the registry & installing a standalone version of IE, but most users can't do that, also it was imposible to install Windows without installing Internet Explorer (that one really imposible), as you can see, that was illegal because there was no choice to have it or not for most users.

(NT) How is this 'doing it all' ??!?!????