Bloatware

Just what your computer needs:

The European Union is considering forcing Microsoft to distribute rival browsers as part of Windows, the software maker disclosed in a regulatory filing this week.

As part of its quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission filed on Thursday, the software maker offered more details on the EU's statement last week that it believes Microsoft's inclusion of a browser in Windows violates antitrust law.

Microsoft said that the EU is considering forcing computer makers, known as original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to offer multiple browsers with new Windows PCs.

Lest you think this is all about helping the poor defenseless consumer, please disabuse yourself of such a quaint notion:

Microsoft also noted that the EU is also seeking to "impose a significant fine based on sales of Windows operating systems in the European Union."

Does an individual who is unhappy with Internet Explorer yet totally incapable of finding and downloading any number of readily-available, non-Microsoft, and free web browsers actually need to be engaged on the internet in the first place? A user cull via digital Darwinism might be what we all need anyway.

Added bonus to help insure the European consumer bureaucratic class with job security for years to come:

And that's not the only area where Microsoft faces further EU action. Microsoft confirmed that an investigation into Office may still be ongoing.

"In January 2008, the commission opened an additional competition law investigation that relates primarily to interoperability with respect to our Microsoft Office family of products," Microsoft said. "This investigation resulted from complaints filed with the commission by a trade association of Microsoft's competitors."

Note to Redmond, consider the Gazprom solution.