“So here we go again. An AP story out of Amsterdam this week reports that the European Union Commission has fined Microsoft the princely sum of $733 million. Why? Well, as many of you recall, Microsoft was supposed to offer Windows users in Europe a choice of browsers when they first setup the OS, or their new PCs,” Gene Steinberg writes for The Tech Night Owl.
“That agreement came out of a 2009 settlement, in which Microsoft paid a fine of 860 million euros (over $1.12 billion based on current exchange rates) to give customers a way to choose a browser other than Internet Explorer,” Steinberg writes. “You’d think that would have been the end of it, as this agreement seems one that’s fairly easy to fulfill, right? But not so.”
“According to the report on the latest findings, Microsoft failed to offer the browser choice on some 15 million installations of Windows 7 in Europe from May 2011 until July 2012,” Steinberg writes. “Microsoft admitted the transgression, saying it was a mistake, and evidently cooperated in the investigation.”
Steinberg writes, “The mind boggles.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, and likely even stupider.
From Vista to Zune to laughing at, and holding funerals for, the iPhone to the Big Ass Table, then Kin, Windows RT, Windows 8ista, Surface… the stupidity emanating out of Redmond seems limitless (unless their intent is to invent new synonyms for “crap,” in which case they’re certifiable geniuses.)
A fish is stupid from the head down.
Related articles:
EU fines Microsoft $733 million for breaking browser choice pact – March 6, 2013
Microsoft faces EU antitrust probe over browser choice SNAFU; Microsoft blames ‘technical error’ – July 17, 2012
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer loses market share in Europe after Windows ballot screen debut – March 22, 2010
Mozilla Firefox whines as Apple Safari gets top spot on Microsoft Windows’ EU browser ballot screen – October 16, 2009
EU regulators plans new strike against Microsoft; force choice of browsers upon Windows PC setup – June 01, 2009
Opera files Web browser antitrust complaint against Microsoft with EU – December 13, 2007
The only thing more amazing than the stupidity of Microsoft management (an oxymoron if there ever was one) is the placidity of the MS shareholders.
Well I wouldn’t be so smug about this (much as I REALLY wanna be!) since it wasn’t the sharpest thing Apple did not calling Apple Maps a Beta. Something that would have been a lot simpler to do than Microsoft’s browser choice. Or done a better job, maybe it was impossible, getting out new iMacs Q4 2012 and helped users and investors alike on that one. The difference is Apple learns from their mistakes but Ballmer just makes new ones.
Except in the iMaps fiasco, Apple shit-canned the doofus who created the problem. We see no such pink slips at microsoft.
I completely disagree! They’re stupid. They’re called smart! This kind of atitude in busuness is called that way. That’s another example where the crime pays well. In order for mafiasoft feel the pain, the fine must be 5 billion dollars.
Exactly. Who’ s the fool? The fool, or the fool who follows him?
-Obi Wan Kenobi
M$ is trying so hard to be relevant.
Yes.
They are executives after all.
They’re going to be EX-ecutives soon!
“Can Microsoft executives really be that stupid?”
is this a trick question?
Now we’re getting to the real question – Isn’t the question itself so obvious, that it’s stupid in and of itsel? Hmmm?
I was banned from this site for doing that!
“Can Microsoft executives really be that stupid?”
You have to ask?!
But you don’t understand, making such a big change at the core of the operating system is really really hard!
Microsoft executives are too arrogant and self-centered to be stupid. Abiding by that existing agreement did not help any executive’s bottom line. It was just an implementation expense that no one wanted to deal with… So no one cared.
Ummm. Somehow has to give a little credit to Eric Schmidt the mole that he realizes the only way to know how to create great electronic products is to sit in Apple’s board. At least he did that. But the actual Android UX experience still somehow crippled. Oh. It’s a Microsoft article…
I wonder what Google would have come up with if the mole had been on the M$ board?
BWAHAHAHA! What a thought.
Does M$ actually make money off of IE, if not then no they couldn’t be any dumber.
Not to mention the regulators at the EU. Trusting Microsoft to actually deliver what it promises, now THAT’s stupid.
Or maybe they are just letting Microsoft make the mistake, and fine them a lump sum of money. My conspiracy theory.
I like that conspiracy, I like it a lot.
Is that a rhetorical question?
Is MS too big for centralized management?
They knew full well what they were doing. Just waiting to see how long before they’d get caught and get away with as much as possible until they did. I told you, my Teenager could work for Microsloth. Has the same attitude!
On that MDN take, I think that’s an insult to fish. Ballmer is not that smart.
Why has MDN pulled my post about needing a better App from them?
Censorship MDN???
Sure, I love Apple and have anger issues with Microsoft, but…. How is Microsoft getting in trouble for only putting IE on Windows by default if it’s okay for Apple to only put Safari on Mac by default. I’m not starting an argument, I’m just interested in understanding the finer details.
The ruling was based on Microsoft’s illegal leveraging of the Windows desktop monopoly. Soon to be ‘former monopoly,’ that is.
If you don’t like Safari, download something else. Simple as that and then make it your preferred browser. I’m 70 years old and can figure that out for myself!!
It’s exactly the same on Windows. I’m black and I can figure that out.
“According to the report on the latest findings, Microsoft failed to offer the browser choice on some 15 million installations of Windows 7 in Europe from May 2011 until July 2012,”
Apple gives you a choice of browser.
Thank You Steven.
To paraphrase: hubris is as hubris does.
A shameless money grab by the European Union. You have just as much a choice of browsers on Windows 7 as you do on OS X. OS X comes with Safari. It’s there when you get the system. Windows comes with Explorer. It’s there when you get the system.
With OS X if you like you can download Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Camino, and others.
With Windows if you like you can download Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Camino, and others.
Every Windows install I do I make sure Firefox and Chrome are there.
Nothing to it. This is not about Microsoft this is highway robbery by a bunch of government thugs.
How can it be a “shameless money grab” when Microsoft entered into an agreement and then did not adhere to that very agreement.
OS X is a minor operating system and not one striving to be a monopoly operating system like Windows.
Microsoft can appeal the fine if they feel so inclined.
A wise manager always hires people to his staff who are smarter than he is.
That is why the executives of most major corporations are filled with psychotic self-absorbed idiots who are actually less intelligent than the grunts in the trenches.
Folks! Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Let Mister Softy go about their business, please!!!
Microsoft is ultra-stupid, and they are making their customers MAD!
I do not want Windows Vista, 7, 8, or 10. I want Windws XSP, because I lose the use of thousands of dollars of computer controlled hardware if I upgrade.
They don’t care. They want to squeeze more money out of everyone.
Nobody could ever do a 10 or 20 year study anymore, because the idiot hardware and software manufacturers can’t leave things alone long enough for those doing the study to replace failed computers with the same kind.
It’s time to void the copyrights and patents orf every company that forces upgrades onto customers by removing support and replacement parts..