Pick Your Browser: Microsoft Shows Off Ballot
Which browser would you choose?
For the last year or so, Microsoft has been fighting claims from Europe that bundling Internet Explorer with Windows is anti-competitive. The EU argued that, because Windows has the most common operating system, it was unfair that Microsoft force all those users to use IE without first informing them of their options.
MS and the EU recently came to an agreement that said the software giant had to offer users a choice via a ballot screen with the top five browsers listed along with a brief description. Unfortunately, Opera and Firefox still found reason to complain. The two said that with Internet Explorer appearing first on the list, Microsoft still had an advantage.
Today, Microsoft is showing off the final revision of its browser ballot screen. Each European user will be presented with this screen when they try to connect to the Web for the first time:
Do you think it's fair that Microsoft should have to give Windows users a choice when it comes to browsers but Apple does not? Let us know in the comments below!
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Do we care what browser Mac use in a Windows world?
I think its Microsoft's software, why can't they bundle their software? If people want to get rid of IE, they should be able to, and they should be able to download and use a different browser. If you don't like how Microsoft does things, don't buy their software, or don't use it and download what you want. If you are going to force this kind of thing though, do it consistently and make Apple give a choice too since right now, they have everything bundled together.
Can Safari be removed from OSX?
Isn't the question asked in a twisted way? 'Is it fair?' Apple's whole business model is about removing as much user choice and flexibility as possible to minimize user error and therefore improve the perception of stability and usability.
Besides, MS only created the ballot because the EU twisted their arms.
A more appropriate question would be:
"Is it fair that these 5 major browsers get preferential treatment to any new developing ones?"
i think what i am seeing here should get no complaints from any of the browser companies, it seems completely fair in how its implemented.
I still don't agree with MSFT marketing third party apps. As someone said before, maybe during the installation of the OS they should advertize Mac OS X and Ubuntu.
Yes it's fair... Apple can kiss my a$$ for not having flash..
& Jane will they release the results form the ballots. which is more popular the the other..
BTW Firefox 3.6 FTW!!
i need a ballot screen for notepad app, calculator app, paint app, defrag app, ......
I think it's total crap.
Why should Microsoft have to offer you a competitor's product? Internet Explorer is a feature that Microsoft includes for free. If you don't like it, then don't use it. I don't see what the big deal is. I dare the EU to present ONE other instance where a company is forced to market their competitors' products.
I'm all for competition, but this is going too far.
I don't understand why this is such an issue. MS doesn't prevent anyone from installing another browser on the system. Also, all these browsers are free, yes? Then who gives a crap whether one is used over another. There's no fighting over money here, just claims that they have the most popular browser.
Tgis issue was stupid back then and it still is. But, yeah, since Apple have a monopoly with Mac OS on Apple computers, they should be forced to do the same thing with the browser. After all, isn't the purpose of this fight top give users the absolute choice?
Double standard, the iphone os should also be forced to offer a choice of browsers.
What date is Apple being forced to roll this out for OSX?
Oh, right. They're NOT.
EU = money grabbing hypocrites.
Eventually the EU should treat Apple the same way. I hope so.
DEFINITELY NOT FAIR!
Apple should also follow the same treatment!
FOR EXAMPLE:
Is it fair that you can ONLY use iTunes to sync your music to your iPOD? I for one would love to use Windows Media Player for that, but it's not an option (that's why I bought a Zune). I'm pretty sure that by EU standards Apple has a monopoly on mp3 players.
EU = money grabbing hypocrites.
i'd say EU = Money SUCKING Suckers
Ugh. I think I'm gonna get rid of the internet.
Can Safari be removed from OSX?Isn't the question asked in a twisted way? 'Is it fair?' Apple's whole business model is about removing as much user choice and flexibility as possible to minimize user error and therefore improve the perception of stability and usability.Besides, MS only created the ballot because the EU twisted their arms. A more appropriate question would be:"Is it fair that these 5 major browsers get preferential treatment to any new developing ones?"
I completely agree.
Microsoft makes no attempt to prevent me from installing a different browser, I have the freedom to do so whenever I want... So again I don't see the point of any of this.
Honestly, without sounding overly condescending, the people this 'option screen' is targeting probably don't know/care about the alternative browsers and quite frankly this will confuse them more so than just giving them the default they're used to. Anyone with some computer savvy skills will have picked their preferred browser by now and if not, they have the ability to do it if they so choose.
This is actually pretty stupid, most people when they purchase a computer do it through an OEM, leave it to the OEM to do this they are in a much more flexible position to do this. As for retail copies, I think most people that are ever going to be in a position to install a retail copy are going to find this ballot screen an extra useless step.
In my opinion I think too many people on here are looking at things from the wrong angle. Apple should NOT have to do this... Microsoft should NOT have to do this either. If everyone is made to do a bad thing does that justify the action and make it good? NO! But this is the real world and especially in the world of business, things are not fair. Who cares? You know the rules... play the game. Asking questions of fairness is absolute nonsense.
I don't know how EU can make an example of the a company like Microsoft and yet not make it a rule for everyone else.
Yes, Microsoft is guilty of monopolizing the browser space; but so is Google and Apple. Why not bust them too?
apple is a joke!
Do people who can't figure out how to install a third-party browser after the Windows install completes need a prompted choice? Some of these other (not IE) browsers have other stumbling blocks. Remember when it wasn't so easy to install Flash in FireFox unless you installed it outside of the broswer before going to a Flash enabled site? There are still a significant number of people on the internet using IE 6. They either don't know what browser they are using or are on a locked-down corporate desktop or don't understand there's a security issue around using an antique browser.
this whole browser issue is so stupid ... Microsot should be able to ship windows with whatever THEY want in it. If you dont like it, DONT buy it ...
And i use Firefox.
whether it's good or not really depends on how you look at things. if you are used to using microsoft bundled products then it's good that you don't have to install additional software for you to be productive.
i think it's good to let user choose which browser to use, if IE didn't contain so many security holes. but the ironic part is that firefox is not too secure itself and people that know about the security holes are likely able to download a browser of their choosing.
Is it hard to use IE one time just to download your favorite browser? It's their software. You aren't forced to buy it. Third party software companies shouldn't even complain. Windows was generous enough to allow compatibility of other browsers to work on an OS, which THEY CREATED!
As long as IE isn't an integrated piece of Windows and be removed without issue if desired then they should be able to bundle away. They should not be required to offer other solutions. OSX, Unix, and every version of Linux I have used came bundled with a browser. If MS must give options then the others should too. Besides, as much as I hate to say it, IE (8) is currently the most secure browser out there. Others have some nicer and better implemented features but aren't currently as secure. I think it is just nit picking.
If you make it for one, you ought to do it for all the OSes out there.
Now, since Windows has such a big market share, it makes sense that they get to do it first.
The idea sounds amazing for any OS in the planet, giving you the CHOICE to use any browser you want right of the bat.
Cheers!
Is it fair that you can ONLY use iTunes to sync your music to your iPOD? I for one would love to use Windows Media Player for that, but it's not an option (that's why I bought a Zune). I'm pretty sure that by EU standards Apple has a monopoly on mp3 players.
noodlegts +10 to attack!
I think it should be both worlds. Other options should be included but they should have to pay microsoft for the rights to do so. This shouldnt be forced onto microsoft it is their software to begin with.
Your cable company sells you their internet and offers you their modem but they dont MAKE you use it. well unless its comcast but we wont get into that right now lol