Windows 7 and IE8

Windows 7 Beta shipped with a version of Internet Explorer 8, The final release of Windows 7 will ship in Europe without Internet Explorer in order to satisfy EU competition rules. Read more here

The reasoning goes that Microsoft gains unfair advantage by integrating its own browser with the operating system. Fair point, you might think. Until you think some more.

Imagine the ordinary Joe (or Jill) who installs Win7 and tries to access the internet. No browser. No problem, he (or she) can download Firefox, Opera, K-Meleon or any one of a number of independent browsers.

Except it is a little difficult to download a browser when you have no browser to access the internet ...

Windows 7 Beta and Windows 7 RC both shipped without an email client. No problem there, I had the choice of installing Outlook (from the Office 2007 suite) or an independent program. I chose Mozilla Thunderbird. That was easy because I had a web browser (IE8) installed.

The inclusion of IE8 (which isn't a bad browser by any means) would allow people who use a computer in the same way as a DVD player or a TV set to surf the net. Anyone with a little knowledge will realise they can install a different browser (or indeed any number of browsers) should they so choose.

And here is a little secret many IE bashers seem to forget. There is no need to jump through hoops trying to uninstall Internet Explorer. You just don't use it. Simple as that. It takes up no resources apart from a bit of disk space but it's still there should you ever need it.

As I said above, I set up Thunderbird for my email, but I know many people who wouldn't know where to start searching for a program, downloading it, installing it, configuring it and then teaching themselves how to use it. They just want a simple, familiar solution.

Though I sincerely believe Windows 7 is by far the best version of Windows yet, I can't help thinking it will lack something in the usability stakes for the non-technical user.

Windows 7 Release Date

22 October 2009

That is the date put out by Microsoft's Steve Guggenheimer. Upgrading from Vista will be an option but, to be perfectly honest, I would recommend a fresh install (after a full data backup, of course).

Microsoft have a track record of pushing operating system release dates back as the time approaches, but I feel they will hit this one - the product is good, there has been an unprecedented beta testing phase and (in my experience) the only problems may come with old hardware that perhaps should be replaced anyway. System requirements are reasonable so most systems running Vista at present should cope with Win7.

Read more:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2009/Jun09/06-02SteveGuggenheimer.mspx