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Microsoft To Ship Stripped-Down Windows In Europe: Page 3 of 4

Per Werngren, CEO of IDE, a Stockholm, Sweden-based Microsoft solution provider, held out hope that the software giant could reach a settlement with the European Commission, as it did with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001.

"I think it is time for them to start the negotiations again and reach a settlement, because this process might take five years to solve and European companies in the IT sector need to have this issue solved once and for all," Werngren said. "Uncertainty is always negative, so I hope the new EU Commission and Microsoft can solve this issue soon."

Last month, Microsoft settled with two key parties in the European case: Novell and the Computer and Communications Industry Association. After reaching cash settlements, both parties officially withdrew their support from the European case against Microsoft.

Removing the Media Player files from the Windows code will disable integration of rival, third-party media players from RealNetworks and others, according to Microsoft. One business professor that has sided with Microsoft throughout the case said the Windows remedy benefits no one.

"Both Microsoft and consumers lose as a result of this decision," said Nicholas Economides, a professor for the Stern Business School at Manhattan-based New York University. "Microsoft loses because it is forced to offer a stripped-down version of Windows in addition to the full one. Consumers lose because they will pay the same price for both."