Microsoft Could Delay Vista in Europe

[Slimy]

Microsoft is pushing hard to get its next-generation Windows operating system ready for a public launch in January, but now it has a new hurdle: the European Commission has raised concerns about Vista. The Redmond company said a delay may occur if the EU demands changes to the product.

Microsoft has had a tumultuous relationship with the European Union after being found guilty of violating antitrust laws in March 2004. The Commission long accused the company of not complying with the ruling, while Microsoft has responded by publicly chiding regulators for ignoring key information.

The company was fined an additional 280.5 million euros in July for continuing non-compliance, and the Commission threatened to double that number if Microsoft did not get its act in gear. For its part, Microsoft has long asserted it is trying to comply with vague demands and says such fines are unnecessary.

But pressure from the Commission has not stopped with Windows XP. Back in March, the EU expressed concern regarding Vista's built-in Internet search functions and new document features. It warned that if it finds evidence of anti-competitive behavior, a new case against the Redmond company could be made.

Microsoft responded to the Commission and is awaiting a response, it said in a statement Thursday. "Once we receive the Commission's response, we will know whether the Commission is seeking additional product design changes that would result in delay in Europe."

"Generally Microsoft is targeting world-wide availability of Windows Vista for corporate customers in November and retail availability in January, with the exact delivery date to be determined by results from the final testing that is now underway," a company spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament is beginning to question the Commission's pursuit of Microsoft. A letter sent to Antitrust Commissioner Neelie Kroes by four MPs warned that Microsoft delaying or pulling products from the European market would only hurt the EU. However, Parliament has little jurisdiction over the antitrust Commission.

Source

[TokyoKiller]

LOL First the PS3 is delayed for Europe and now Vista :laugh:?

By the way, all you Europeans tell your EU to STFU!!

[jordanspringer]

the EU and everyone thats a part of it are all abunch a f*cking idiots, who cares. Microsoft should beable to put what they want on their OS, almost every part you can customize. Apple is allowed to put all their sh*t in their OS, windows should beable to, as well. they're just jealous

[Quillz]

LOL First the PS3 is delayed for Europe and now Vista :laugh:?

By the way, all you Europeans tell your EU to STFU!!

It's not that simple. If I understand it correctly, the EU works sort of like the FTC in the US, where the government regulates many parts of commerce and can keep a company from releasing products if they fail to adhere to set standards.

[Randolph]

EU for the win!1 LOL

[idoia]

The MS Windows and the PS3 division are working very close in this Europe case

[Brandon Live Veteran]

It's not Microsoft's fault if the EC think adding new features is "anti-competitive."

[Miuku.]

By the way, all you Europeans tell your EU to STFU!!

EU is beating Microsoft to the ground and we're supposed to be.. unhappy about this?

Go EU I say, kick their asses a little more - they deserve every hit.

[elaysian]

ha ha ha.

tell me another one .... no please do ...

what a load of rubbish.

this is software guys! its not like a hardware release where you actually have to manufacture units to sell.

if its released in the US it'll be available everywhere :yes:

[L3thal Veteran]

EU is beating Microsoft to the ground and we're supposed to be.. unhappy about this?

Go EU I say, kick their asses a little more - they deserve every hit.

Right... :whistle:

[Michael_C]

I hope they do it. Serves them right for all their bull****.

[Demian]

I hope this don't happen south america...

[Mike Mayer]

I like featureful programs (not bloated...)

EU :( They should chill a bit...

[Malisk]

Not sure what it'd be all about this time. This is just an article speaking of theories? Because Vista will already have former decisions applied to it already on release. Like EU's requested Vista "N" Editions and "Set Program Defaults". I have a feeling the OS will actually not be delayed in Europe after all, and this is a bit of a FUD article. It also just speaks of "could", and that can mean anything from totally unlikely and very likely.

[kinetix63 Veteran]

I think it's fair to point out at this stage that the EU are just the latest in a pretty long line of people who have attacked Microsoft under anti-trust laws. @ Jugulator - it was the USA that was responsible for "Set Program Access & Defaults", not the EU. To be honest, I am not surprised to hear this news, but seriously Microsoft should have thought about this earlier. I would have thought it to be common sense that if you've just been shafted for a couple of hundred million Euro's that it would make sense to say "Okay, this is our new product, you got a problem with it?" rather than risk being shafted for a few more hundred million.

Although equally I think Microsoft should be finding a way to sue the EU for the development time and costs that Windows XP N took. I don't even know anywhere that stocks it, let alone anybody who's bought it.

[thefonz]

What is the issue here anyway?

Before it was IE - however you are not FORCED to use IE in windows. Anyone doing a spot of research would realise that there are better browsers (Opera / Firefox) to use.

Same with their media players - so the issue really isnt that microsoft forces you to use their products. I think the issue is more that the EU want to flex their muscles a bit; MS is an easy target recently and so they've picked on them.

jordanspringer makes a good point: why does nobody attack Apple for forcing people to use their branded software? Oh right, I forgot - Apple can do no wrong.

[FlibbyFlobby]

I don't which customers the EU aim to benefit though all this hassle. Windows XP N didn't benefit anyone except some media player companies who are almost online de facto standards anyway. The EU is like that busy body do gooder who doesn't have anything other than their own personal grievances to go on.

[krazycasey]

It's good that the arrival of Vista in EU is delayed. I wouldn't risk my computer to install Vista anytime soon! Probably when they decided to release it in EU it will be better! Vista is just a hype..nothing more!

[zeroday]

Man, the EU have a big mouth. I wished they'd STFU and let MS release as planned. :(

[Simon Thulbourn]

If you saw a massive pile of money in a room that was unguarded would you take some? Of course

The EU sees Microsoft in this manner and is taking all they can, there's nothing wrong with the features Microsoft add into Windows.

Microsoft are only supplying the same functions that Apple is providing or Linux has from a fresh install, the only problem is that Microsoft have more money than Apple & Linux (all of them combined). For every Microsoft product installed on a new computer Apple will have one, but that skips under the radar, I'm pretty certain that it's because Windows is the dominant OS in the market, so what do you think the EU will do? Pick on the biggest and greatest (This is only going by figures NOT peoples personal views).

A product comparison to Apple OSX:

Windows Media Player - Itunes

IE - Safari

Outlook Express (Windows Mail for Vista) - Mail

The list could go on...

Anyway, the point is Windows before it's stripped out by the EU has all the same functions and features as OSX

To hold up Vista in this way is totally wrong, I don't care if WMP is bundled with Windows, infact it's probably the best media player for windows (assuming you have the correct plugins and codecs).

[betasp]

You can't compare Apple and MS. One has been found guilty of having an ilelgal monopoly and the other has not. The rules are therefore different. Please, do some research or at least take a class or something....

Remember, the EU is just trying to protect the average consumer.

[Slimy]

You can't compare Apple and MS. One has been found guilty of having an ilelgal monopoly and the other has not. The rules are therefore different. Please, do some research or at least take a class or something....

One is x times bigger and richer than the other :rolleyes:

Now on the front page: https://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=34984 :)

[John Ericson]

One has been found guilty of having an ilelgal monopoly and the other has not.

But isn't the talk about "illegal monopoly" bull****? I can understand that murder or theft is illegal, but should being successful be illegal? Sorry, I just can't see how it's a crime.

Remember, the EU is just trying to protect the average consumer.

By ripping of the average taxpayer for something they might not even agree too!

[markwolfe Veteran]

Microsoft are only supplying the same functions that Apple is providing or Linux has from a fresh install, the only problem is that Microsoft have more money than Apple & Linux (all of them combined).

If I recall, Apple is being investigated for similar things related to iTunes in Europe.

And your reference to Linux is completely, how do you say.... wrong.

Linux distros package optional components, from independent third-party sources, and from several different ones, at that!

Not the same. If you think it is, you have a skewed perspective that needs addressing.

[Vykranth]

Remember, the EU is just trying to protect the average consumer.

That may be the root of the problem: my opinion is that the EU has been a little bit over-zealous.

I agree that consumer-protection is important but in 2006, there are plenty of alternatives to WMP, IE, WLM or even Windows.

Everything the EU commision is doing regarding Windows now sounds out of time.