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Microsoft Agrees To EU Browser Ballot Screen

Posted by kdawson on from the vote-early-and-often dept.

An anonymous reader sends in coverage from Ars Technica of Microsoft's capitulation to the EU, after European regulators requested that Redmond bundle multiple browsers on new PCs. "Microsoft has decided that the last thing it needs in this economy is some combination of the following: fines, legal bills, and a delay of Windows 7. It has offered to adopt the European Union's preferred solution for browser competition: a browser selector screen at startup."

5 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Google Chrome by akcpe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Here's something I think is interesting but haven't heard mentioned. Since Google Chrome is a likely candidate for the "browser ballot" I can see a scenario such as this: Most people have no idea what a web browser is to begin with as evidenced by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ Clearly many people think that "Google" is a browser rather than a search engine. This seems like a great way to exploit that percentage of the population by offering this "browser ballot". Many people will see "Google" and think "Oh! That's what I normally use. I'll choose that" Thoughts?

  2. Re:I wonder what choices they will pick? by gbjbaanb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If I was them (and I'm a nice person, so this comment is written purely as an exercise in evil :) I'd do it like they so the search provider option:

    Choose your internet browser:
        1. Microsoft Internet Explorer, optimised for Windows 7 (tm). Microsoft recommends IE8 for super-fast and safe internet surfing.
        2. A different browser. Note that Microsoft corporation has no control over other browser's safety, speed or features. Packages listed may not be as suitable for Windows 7 (tm) as other browsers, users may use one of these at their own risk.

    option 2 takes you to a list of alternatives, with another option to go with IE8 (of course)

  3. Re:Ballot screen? by markdavis · · Score: 3, Interesting

    > "OK, Joe...which engine do you want in your new Chevy? A Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan, or Honda engine?"

    If Chevy had 90% of the market, were declared a damaging, predatory monopoly, and you could load a new engine as easily as a browser...

    sure, why not?

  4. Re:IE will still dominate by MathiasRav · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm currently using IE7, [. . .] It. Is. Bad.

    I hate to ask this, but... why are you still using it?

  5. Re:In before the morons by marsu_k · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Oh yes, bleeding-edge W3C specs. Like CSS level 2, which was released in... 1998! Yes, I'm aware of CSS 2.1. I'm aware MS supposedly supports it. Yet 99% of the time, IE (in its various incarnations, this includes IE8 as well) is the only browser that gives me headaches when developing cross-browser sites. I really wish it would die a already.