The difference with the WMP thing is that they didn't make Microsoft include competitors to WMP in their Windows install; they just made them not include WMP. No one can make Microsoft include a competitor's software; they can just make them not include something. Another difference is that you can exclude WMP and still be able to download it and install it if IE is on there. But you can't exclude IE and still be able to download and install IE with no web browser. Again, there's no way MS will ever include a competitor's software in their install. Sure IE is downloaded for free, but only for authenticated Windows users. IE makes up part of the Windows experience, even if other browsers are better.
About the Opera not being GPL thing. My point had nothing to do with Windows. My point was that that is why Linux distros don't include it. Usually Linux distros only include GPL software unless something is necessary that doesn't have a GPL alternative.
Linux Distros do include Opera though. It is included in the Synaptic Package Manager along with a slew of other browsers. It is only Firefox that comes preinstalled. But you dont HAVE to use Firefox in order to get a new broswer installed and running to connect to the internet in Linux. You can install Oper os many others first.
ah, but you see there is an advantage with it installed......
it's installed and ready to use.
It can bring you aaaaaaany where you want, and has brought maaaaaaany people to mozilla, opera, and in the very slim case, netscape...which i really liked using in the early days
i'm sure my netscape navigator gold cd is laying around somewhere....
Umm No. Because of the fact that you dont NEED to connect to the internet to get the installers. I ahve all of the installers on my PC. A fresh install of either XP or Vista and i already have Firefox, Safari, Opera, SeaMonkey or any other browser that i want WITHOUT having to open IE.
Again you folks are taking what i said and twisting it. M$ does not make any money or gain anything from having IE. IE is installed yes. But the fact of the matter is IE is so intertwined with Windows that removing it causes many machines to crash. So how is it fair?
"But you cant connect to the internet"
Read this carefully.
YOU DONT HAVE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET IN ORDER TO GET A INSTALLER.
Yes AOL pays money to OEM to include their software. But there is no way to say that M$ would
LOSE money by having the IE, Firefox and/or Opera installer jsut sitting on the desktop. M$ wins either way. It is
STILL WINDOWS that you paid for. It is still their OS you are using. So what if you dont use IE. It is free anyways. they make more from the searches on Live.com anyways compared to the amount of money IE brings in. Wait IE doesnt bring in any money. IT IS FREE..
So are you kind of understanding what i am saying? Yes there would ahve to be some work to be done to include the installer for Firefox and Opera to the Windows install. Yes some license issues would ahve to be worked out. But there is no way that Mozilla or Opera would deny it. Windows is still the most used OS out there. To deny them having their installer on the desktop at install would be the worst move they could make.
Plus not doing it is not competitive. Which also can be brought to the attention of the USA Govt saying that they are being a monopoly in this area. It can be done. It isnt that hard. **** if i can create a XP install CD with Opera already on there. I think M$ can figure out how to get 3 little installers in there.
