And, sure, those alternatives do not make it obvious that its Internet Explorer browser is part of what those buyers have on their machines. But don't think it has changed the way the game is played one iota, when it comes to how Microsoft will continue to deploy its browser. And don't think for a minute that Microsoft has somehow been humbled by these court proceedings. But only one even removes any part of the browser from Windows 95. The other leaves every single piece of IE code in the operating system.
Users can install the browser on their own, if they know how to find it.
Or, worst case, they can download it for free, from Microsoft's Web site. But, the two new options are basically irrelevant. No hardware manufacturer to date has expressed any interest in any of the alternate versions of Windows 95 that Microsoft proposed prior to Jan. 22 or on Jan. 22, according to chief counsel William Neukom and chief operating officer Robert Herbold. Which means, quite simply, that Microsoft and computer makers will continue to do business as usual. At the same price.