News Windows 7 to make IE optional

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2009/03/09/windows-7-to-make-ie-optional/1

Microsoft has confirmed plans to introduce functionality within Windows 7 that will allow in-built packages - including Internet Explorer 8 and Media Center - to be disabled.

 

I can understand their mentallity. If they allowed this at startup, I can imagine people thinking "I use Firefox, I don't need IE", disabling it before Windows was installed, and then finding they have no way to download FF. Besides, I doubt many people will object at having the option later in the process, just having it at all is a huge step forwards.

 

I'd bet there will be a third party app released to remove the files of the disabled packages.

 

Good news i'd say, even if it is post install.

 

IE is still going to be part of explorer though, esp since removing it entirely would break winblows update... A move in the right direction though, now they just need to remove the stupid SKU's

 

I'm looking forward to the RC, I've been impressed by 7 so far.

 

About bloody time...

 

Finally a bunch of steps in the right direction, I'll definitely be replacing my XP with this.

 

If it's post install then you still have to install Internet Explorer so how does this differ from the option to remove Internet Explorer on Windows XP in Add Remove Programs -> Windows Components?

 

the problem with IE, though, is that there's a number of Microsoft services that REQUIRE IE to work properly - Microsoft Exchange I'm looking at YOU!

We use Exchange Outlook webmail access at work for machines not set up to use Outlook properly, and it only works with Internet Explorer, if you use anything else it strips it down to the "light" version which is almost useless

Until things like this are rectified then Internet Explorer is actually a required parallel install...

 

Which would explain why it's an post-install dialogue...

I saw and used the dialogue in 7 already and I think it's great.

 

finally ..

 

The XP option just deletes the shortcuts, leaving iexplore.exe intact. In Windows 7 it actually deletes iexplore.exe.

The API components will remain so Windows Update and Explorer will continue to work, but iexplore.exe will be deleted.

Any files removed will be kept in a "staging area" so they can be easily re-enabled without having to hunt down the DVD.

 

Good direction, but 7lite will be necessary as with every windows to remove the bloat. But, as it was said in many places over the time - future belongs to more open, modular systems. Good thing that Microsoft is trying to do something actually useful after all the time, but we'll see if it it works out.

 

I'm still waiting for news on that modular OS Microsoft are developing. Read about that roughly 6-9 months ago, sounded amazingly interesting.

 

Um, that's Vista/7. Vista is a componentised OS if that's what you mean, and 7 extends on that by only keeping specific components of the OS running which are in use, hence less memory is used(a very lehman's explanation).

 

No, that's not what I meant. I read an article about a completely modular OS by MS. I can't remember the name, couldn't if you'd put a gun to my head, sorry.

It was based around a kernel, that just ran the absolute minimum configuration and everything else could be installed as a module... pretty similar to some *NIX distributions.
Will try to find a link to that... will take a while though.

//edit: I read it would probably be more of a proof of concept than ever making it to retail. Shame.

 

Their problem, smart people have a survival kit in the form of a USB drive, CD, DVD, or Floppy, loaded with the basics anti-virus, firewall, BROWSER, and a few other choice programs.

 

I think you mean "lay man's."

 

one small step for Micro$oft.... one big step...........