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Would Windows be better without a bundled Internet Explorer?

Is it time for Microsoft to now unbundle Internet Explorer from the OS? Wouldn't Windows be a better and safer OS if users could choose the browser that best suited their needs?
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer

The EU has thrown another speed bump in front of Microsoft, this time charging the Redmond giant with crushing web browser rivals. Is it time for Microsoft to now unbundle Internet Explorer from the OS? Wouldn't Windows be a better and safer OS if users could choose the browser that best suited their needs?

I used to feel that IE was a core aspect of Windows and that removing it would put a hurdle in the way users getting online. Now I'm not so sure.  It wouldn't be hard to configure Windows to grab a browser of the user's choosing from the net and install it. Lazy users or those happy with IE can stick with the big blue E, those faithful to another browser, or just want to try out something new could do so easily.

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But there's no doubt that the unbundling on IE from Windows would be bad for Microsoft. The company has set high hopes on web services bringing in truckloads of cash, and Internet Explorer is key to these plans.

Thoughts? Would Windows be better is there was a "sans IE" flavor, or are things OK they way they are and the EU should stop tinkering with tech and get back to more important stuff?

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