backtop

Print E-mail del.icio.us 69 comment(s) - last by otispunkmeyer.. on Oct 16 at 6:25 AM
Microsoft makes changes to its Windows Vista operating system to conform to EU and S. Korean demands

Microsoft is giving in to demands from the European Union (EU) and will be releasing a stripped-down version of Windows Vista for that region. The company will also offer a similar version of Windows for the South Korean market in order to stave off further litigation.

"Microsoft agreed to make each of the changes that the Commission advises us today. Having made these changes, the company and (Microsoft Chief Executive) Steve Ballmer feel comfortable moving forward, feel confident that we are in compliance with our EU competition law obligation," said Brad Smith, an attorney for Microsoft. Whether the changes made will appease the EU remain to be seen.

Reuters reports "The Commission, the EU's executive, said it recognized that Microsoft had made the changes to Vista but declined to comment on whether it was satisfied, reiterating that it was not up to the EU executive to give Vista a green light."

A number of companies have expressed their concerns to the EU over possible anti-trust violations in Windows Vista. Symantec and Adobe complained about Windows PatchGuard and the XPS document format respectively. Likewise, in the United States, Microsoft has also come under fire from McAfee and was the subject of a rather negative newspaper ad.

Despite the changes made to the operating system, Vista's launch will not be delayed in Europe or South Korea. The company had once threatened to delay the release of Vista due to uncompromising demands from the EU, but everything appears to be on track as of now. As it stands, Microsoft is set on a worldwide volume licensee release on November 30.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
...
By AmpedSilence on 10/13/2006 4:43:36 PM , Rating: 1
I'm not a supporter of MS at all, but I have to say that i really don't like this move. I completely think that MS was right in this ONE (and let me repeat, ONE) issue.

I would have prefered to see what would happen if they withdrew from the market and made all versions of Office from here on out incompatable with Windows Vista and lower. As one of my bosses said, its not Windows thats driving sales, its Office. The total integration that Office in the workplace is prety crazy. Such a move would have probably changed the EU attitude.

Also, because of this move, I wonder how much more of a target the EU will become to viruses/worms/spyware.

Things to ponder...




RE: ...
By hannons on 10/13/2006 4:51:01 PM , Rating: 2
Not only that, but what about driving up the cost of the OS for the rest of us.

The EU just don't seem to get it. They impose specific guidelines for MS to follow, then MS does what they say. Money thrown away at a non-problem. Look at the sales of the Windows XP N version: practically nonexistent.

I guess that's what happens when politicians decide everything.


RE: ...
By Wwhat on 10/13/06, Rating: 0
RE: ...
By ecktt on 10/13/2006 11:33:38 PM , Rating: 3
Isn't it up the retailer to sell something or not? If there is a low demand for WinXP N why would they stock it for sale?


RE: ...
By Xavian on 10/13/06, Rating: -1
RE: ...
By therealnickdanger on 10/13/06, Rating: 0
RE: ...
By Tsuwamono on 10/13/06, Rating: 0
RE: ...
By ecktt on 10/13/2006 11:37:02 PM , Rating: 3
Yes, for all those who like a primitive mono-kernel with poor driver support and that requires you to go to run level 3 and re-compile the kernel for ever little thing, YES Linux for the win.


RE: ...
By cochy on 10/14/2006 3:39:23 PM , Rating: 1
lol


RE: ...
By Wwhat on 10/13/2006 10:04:12 PM , Rating: 2
Legitimate company that was sued more than once by the US governement and lost, but excuse me for pointing out the truth, go back to sleep.


RE: ...
By Varun on 10/13/2006 5:00:56 PM , Rating: 4
I also agree that the EU is out to lunch on this one. It doesn't sound like the antivirus companies got their way though, at least not as far as having direct access to the kernel.


RE: ...
By rcc on 10/13/2006 5:02:09 PM , Rating: 2
lol, it all makes sense really. You just have to remember that the EU exists to make sure that companies of members states get shares of work within the EU, or are given preferential considerations in contracting such work.

It's a hold over from the French attitudes in the 70s and 80s. In order to sell equipment over there, my company had to find a French company and put their name on the product instead of ours, before we could sell product there. Needless to say, that company got a cut on everything shipped there regardless of their involvement or lack thereof.



RE: ...
By Wwhat on 10/13/2006 10:06:55 PM , Rating: 3
Yes and america would never dream on strongarming and making rules to stem trade that affects their economy would they? perhaps you should read up on that a bit and see how many regulation america has before you embarrass yourself even more?


RE: ...
By Ringold on 10/14/2006 12:38:10 AM , Rating: 1
If you'd educate yourself first, you'd see who the lesser of the two evils is on terms of free trade, and it isn't the United States.

Now, none of us can hold a candle to Hong Kong, but we're closer to that ideal than the EU.

And I wouldn't say the EU represents a 'holdover' from French attitudes of the 70s and 80s. I'd say it pretty accurately reflects attitudes of 2005 and 2006! Remember, France tried to tinker with their socialist labor laws I think it was last year and what happened? Insane riots.

I like the random socialist rant I heard someone say on CNBC this morning talking about the markets over in "socialist land"; "That's the problem with socialists, not only do you have to invite them to the party but you have to pour the drinks for them." (refering to the global rally -- global for everyone but some socialists).

Anyway, don't embarrass yourself, comrade Wwhat.


RE: ...
By Wwhat on 10/14/06, Rating: 0
RE: ...
By Ringold on 10/14/2006 12:44:18 PM , Rating: 1
Oh yes, the economic prosperity, the low unemployment, the stability, the constant flow of innovative new products and information, and an ever increasing amount of luxury services affordable by even those at the bottom of our economic food chain! How Horrible! And oh, those poor, poor lazy people at the bottom, how horrible it is that they are held responsible and get only what they seek in life, how wretched.

Yes, I'll go turn pinko right now, how silly of me!


RE: ...
By cochy on 10/14/2006 3:43:44 PM , Rating: 2
Ridiculous arguing over what social system works best. Since they are ALL far from perfect. Good of you to remind people to vote Bush. Oh wait he's not running in the next election.


RE: ...
By DWarp9 on 10/15/2006 8:26:38 AM , Rating: 2
As to whether or not Microsoft is attempting to push third-party vendors off the market by locking down the kernel, I would like to quote Scott Field's article http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsvistasecurity/archive...
quote:
It's important to note that Kernel Patch Protection applies uniformly to Microsoft products as well as third party products. No code is allowed to modify the kernel using unsupported patching techniques. Security products developed by Microsoft only have access to the same supported interfaces that any other vendor would use.

I cannot see how debate can continue in light of that fact; Microsoft cannot be giving itself an unfair advantage over third-party security vendor (eg. Symantec and McAfee) when the same restrictions apply to their own proprietary software.

On another note, I find it amusing you label us "socialist land". I live in Denmark, where we can pride ourselves of having the worlds highest income tax, namely 60%, plus a vat on goods at 25%. Nonetheless we are one of the richest countries per citizen as well.
That's enough politics for now.

That being said, I hold a more liberal view on things, and I dislike the morale that this anti-competition legislation seem to promote: That succes should be punished by imposing insane demands on you behavior.
The only difference between Microsoft, Apple and various major linux distributers are their market shares. All of them bundle media players, security features and document creation apps with their OS.
It seem to me the unfair advantage is given Apple and linux distributers, since they may include software with their OS, whilst Microsoft may not.

It seems to me aswell that the whole discussion is somewhat rhetorical: The average Joe using Windows will not care what software he uses for various applications as long as they function well enough. He may even not be aware enough of security risks that he'll download additional protection. For him integrated security is a good idea.
If, like most of this forum, you are educated on how to protect your computer and prefer another set of security utilities, then it shouldn't be a problem downloading them and supplanting Microsoft's.
I think the small nuisance it is for us to download uninstall Microsoft software is a small price to pay for a lot of more secure computers in the hands of Joes around the world. Joes who isn't even part of McAfee or Symantec target market.


RE: ...
By DWarp9 on 10/15/2006 9:06:21 AM , Rating: 2
Amusing notion:
Instead of locking down the kernel via PatchGuard, let it reside on a ROM chip bundled with Windows. Perhaps a PCI-e card with superfetch RAM and kernel ROM?


RE: ...
By mariush on 10/13/06, Rating: -1