I suspect this is a move by Microsoft to hit back at the European Commission, who have hit them hard with big fines ($1.4 billion) for being monopolistic etc.

Initially this will be good news to the European Commission – it looks as if Microsoft are removing their browser to give people the choice of downloading and installing an alternative, such as Opera or Firefox.

But did they really think this through?  When the European Commission take delivery of their shiny new Windows 7 PCs, they will have no browser with which to download their favourite browser.  Of course there’s nothing to stop them from downloading it using another PC, but by complying with the EC’s wishes, Microsoft have cleverly introduced an annoyance that is bound to cause an uproar.

Anyone who upgrades their PC from a previous version of Windows will, of course, have their favourite browser already installed.  But new Windows 7 PCs will not have one.

And there’s another twist to this.  I just installed Windows XP SP2 on a new hard disk.  I fired up Opera to go and download SP3, and it wouldn’t let me.  It insisted that I use Internet Explorer to obtain the Service Pack.

I doubt whether that’s going to change with Windows 7.