Internet Explorer Drops WGA Requirement

Kelson writes "The Internet Explorer team has updated the installer for IE7. Mostly they've adjusted a few defaults and updated their tutorials, but one change stands out: The installer no longer requires Windows Genuine Advantage validation. Almost a year after its release, IE7 has yet to overtake its predecessor. Was WGA holding back a tide of potential upgrades, or did it just send people over to alternative browsers?"

A cup of wine

[nublaii]

Lets see how long does wine take to install ie7 now ;)

Alternatives...

[rvw]

Was WGA holding back a tide of potential upgrades, or did it just send people over to alternative browsers?

Not only alternative browsers, but also alternative systems. OS X and Ubuntu are gaining grounds. And Vista is a serious reason to consider those alternatives!

Re:The real reason uptake is slow...

[MrNemesis]

Same problem at my work. Loads of shitty web-based corporate apps rely on IE6-isms that won't work in IE7, resulting in the entire enterprise being forced to use IE6 (plus severe update lags due to inefficient and ineffective testing of patches). As such, we've had a couple of breaches via 0-day exploits targetting unpatched IE6 installs.

Yay for the Intranet Microsoft Built.

Oddity: IT staff don't eat their own dog food, and everyone uses FF whilst telling the users they can't have it because intranet apps "don't work with firefox". However, bring IE into the equation and the same staff will tell you "the app is shit and won't work with IE". Odd how such a pro-MS shop changes the burden of proof depending on whether the target is asociated with Linux or not

Re:ALTERNATE

[Foerstner]

Um...no, that's "alternative." If you're going to be a word-usage Nazi, get it right first.

Unless you're trying to suggest that they're switching back and forth repeatedly.

Oh, now I see...

[1001011010110101]

...why I got last night another proposal to install MSIE7.
I was like "WTF, I already said NO. And dont remind me again AGAIN".

Hope it finally listens =)

Re:Alternatives...

[Loosifur]

Amen to that. I just dumped Vista to dual boot Ubuntu and XP. I have a feeling that enough people are getting bitten by WGA to make even Microsoft notice. I also have a feeling that they're getting a little worried about the reception Vista has gotten.

Re:With ies4linux? A couple minutes

[mdm-adph]

Almost like that....except it has to be an Xbox360, the Xbox wouldnt pick it up - thats the only way I got it to work. Some College websites require IE and only IE....IE4Linux saves the hassle of windows.

I can relate with you there, but wouldn't a simple plugin like User Agent Switcher [mozilla.org] for Firefox work for you? It could fool a website into thinking that you're running IE, and I'm pretty sure that's all you'd need, because as far as I know, getting ActiveX to work under linux, even with IE4Linux, is a pain in the ass, and there's no guarantee that it'll work every time.

Re:Not likely

[thegnu]

While I was not 'just a kid' in a developing country (being a white american), I grew up and worked in IT in a developing country, and here are the problems with your argument:

1. I can get a Windows XP VLK disc from a friend. I have to download Ubuntu's installer over 28.8k (on a good day)
2. Preparatory schools will require Windows and many Windows applications without exceptions
3. I can't think of any other ones, but having three bullets is the least I can have for the desired visual effect.

But really. I think Ubuntu is an excellent alternative for those who can pull it off, but you have to get a Windows computer with a CD burner, get it online, set up a download manager, download Ubuntu over the course of a few days, then install a new OS that you don't know, and access the support community from a slow-ass Internet connection. So I think 'I live in a developing country' is a quite reasonable excuse.

In Mexico, once Microsoft introduced product activation and it failed a couple times for me, causing hours and hours of extra labor, I started suggesting to people that they not pay a week's salary (these are not the super poor people, mind you) on some crappy software, and instead just pirate the crap. It's a more user-friendly experience if you pirate it. You can install MUIs if you pirate the corporate version. It's really a no-brainer. Plus, nobody's going to investigate a dry patch of dirt in Mexico for software piracy.

Re:Alternatives...

[Gr8Apes]

Amen to that. I just dumped Vista to dual boot Ubuntu and XP. I have a feeling that enough people are getting bitten by WGA to make even Microsoft notice. I also have a feeling that they're getting a little worried about the reception Vista has gotten.

I think they're more than a little worried. The fact that they're allowing "consumers" to buy XP licensed boxes can only mean that consumers were opting for non MS OS installed boxes instead of Vista. Rather than risk their revenue pipeline on forced Vista upgrades, they've opted to continue the flow via XP, hoping to stem the shift to something else.

Then you get to read the stories about DirectX10's massive failure on this round, and you'll see why they're worried. There's not a single reason to upgrade to Vista for anyone. HotHardware's reviews pretty much state that DX10 universally sucks despite their outlook on upcoming DX10 games (Only 1 game was truly playable in DX10 mode with all DX10 bells and whistles turned off. In all cases, the DX9 mode of the games were very playable, and DX10 modes resulted in lethargic framerates that destroyed playability). Creative deep six'd the audio portion.

Probably the most damning thing I saw was in a Fry's add: 4GB Vista memory kit. The perception for consumers is that you need 4GB to run the pig. Not good.