Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 Users Can't Uninstall the Edge Browser

https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-confirms-windows-10-users-cant-uninstall-the-edge-browser

by rukshn • 5 years ago

20 14 5 years ago

again? why does this shit keep happening?

kiwijamo• 5 years ago

I can confirm Android users can't uninstall the Chrome browser. I can also confirm iOS users can't uninstall the Safari browser.

anoncake3• 5 years ago

Android users can't uninstall Chrome, therefore it's fine if Windows users can't uninstall Edge.

Windows users can't uninstall Edge, therefore it's fine if Android users can't uninstall Chrome.

_zfxr• 5 years ago

Anything can be uninstalled with a live linux distro I tell u whut.

simonh3• 5 years ago

I have a hard time getting upset about this to be honest. All our desktop frameworks and libraries include rendering components nowadays, it's not unusual for system components to use these in their UI. Microsoft already has several significant products like VS Code and Teams build around the chromium rendering engine and the next version of Outlook will likely be an Electron app as well apparently.

Beyond that, a desktop OS without a browser installed is largely a dead duck. Most people install browsers using a browser. The first thing I do on a new Mac or PC is launch the default browser to download Chrome or Firefox.

Browser technology is a core OS function at this point and being able to launch a browser has become an essential capability users just expect to be there. Platform components, support processes and some applications might rely on it being there. Imagine a user installing Firefox then deleting Edge, then forgetting about it and deleting Firefox, or Firefox becoming unusable due to an extension or malware. Suddenly the user is functionally locked out of the internet. I think Microsoft has a legitimate interest in making sure users can't easily get themselves into that sort of situation.

anoncake3• 5 years ago

You don't need a fully featured browser to download another. All you need is a minimal one without tabs, without extension support, without bookmarks, history or any comfort features – just one web page and the url bar.

npwr• 5 years ago

So, just some basic: HTTP implementation, TLS, Render engine; JS API, V8, ... ??

I'd say that is a big piece of software already.

simonh3• 5 years ago

Sure, but as soon a we accept we need a browser it becomes a pretty weird argument to say it has to be kept minimal and can't have convenience features.

tanseydavid2• 5 years ago

I use Chocolately to install browsers on new OS instances.

peet2521• 5 years ago

As a teenager, I remember getting a distinct sense of accomplishment for wiping every trace of Internet Explorer from my computer.

Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 Users Can't Uninstall the Edge Browser

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