The European Antitrust Commission just reported that Microsoft has offered to pre-install rival browsers on Windows 7 – which is due to be released in October. This proposal was offered by Microsoft as a solution in Europe to settle the pending European antitrust case regarding Microsoft’s bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows.
Under Microsoft’s proposal, a “ballot screen” would be presented to the user when they first booted up their computer. The ballot screen would give the user the ability to select which browser they wanted to use. Also, computer manufactures like Dell would be able to install competing browsers and set them as default should they wish.
The European Commission’s press release reads:
The European Commission can confirm that Microsoft has proposed a consumer ballot screen as a solution to the pending antitrust case about the tying of Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser with Windows. This followed extensive discussions with the Commission which centred on a remedy outlined in the January 2009 Statement of Objections whereby consumers would be shown a “ballot screen” from which they could – if they wished – easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer. Under the proposal, Windows 7 would include Internet Explorer, but the proposal recognises the principle that consumers should be given a free and effective choice of web browser, and sets out a means – the ballot screen – by which Microsoft believes that can be achieved. In addition OEMs would be able to install competing web browsers, set those as default and disable Internet Explorer should they so wish.
Although this is a proposal and the European commission hasn’t made any final decisions, I am in favor of such a measure. I think presenting users with the decision when they boot up their computer is a very good thing. It will not only move to rid the world of IE, which many have been calling for, it will also serve to educate the masses on what a browser is. I know many of us take it for granted but the average person still doesn’t know what it is. This is scary given the fact that the browser is becoming an integral part of our computing experience as many things move to the cloud.
I couldn’t agree less!
I should be up to your own which browser you want to use. A choice like “IE or Firefox” is a step in the wrong direction.
What about Google Chrome? What about Opera? What about Safari or Seabird an so on?
A duopoly is not what we want, like a monopoly, it’s not the optimum. Just a little plugin and Microsoft grabs you statistics again! Won’t talk about match fixing.
There must be a choice between at least the five most popular browsers! That’s my opinion!
Or the best possibility: a free “browser cd” released by the eu with every browser on it coming with every Windows.
Or that’s to expensive for a just market?
I wonder if they will offer all browsers that are for example mentioned here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_web_browsers
Wonder if Lynx will be included in the ballot screen :).
Strangely, no one seems to give a damn when Apple does things Microsoft is sued for…
What about apple? Do they have to offer a choice too?
We don’t care wich browser is pre-installed…. until it’s not coded with feets and respects the web standards!
Microsoft had a dig a hole for themselves to give option uninstall IE in Windows 7 which decreases their browser share considerably,if this option is there before Microsoft’s IE could not have such major share in Browsers .