Pick Your Browser: Microsoft Shows Off Ballot

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
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!
 
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
"forcing" apple users to use safari is the same thing as microsoft and ie...

There are still a bunch of sites that absolutely require ie though, so if you don't have it you'd be unable to view and use certain websites or content.
 
They all should add this, yes. There is no reason why not. It's a better solution and we still can't uninstall IE, because EU only now said something. If they said something back with the 98 time, we might be able to completely remove IE by now.
 
It's just imbecile to say: "if you don't like don't buy" because, in the end, you don't have choice. Computers is all about communication. You must exchange docs, worksheets, programs, else computer is just a big calculator. Programs could be completely incompatibles. In fact, Microsoft IE, specially Quirks mode made web applications incompatibles between another browsers. It amplify lock-in effects. Windows OS achieved "lock-in", so it benefit from the "switching costs" that preclude customers from switching-over to competing solutions. Browser ballot is just about justice.

Best regards,
Rodrigo

 
I agree that if Microsoft has to give users a choice of browsers other than IE, all other operating systems should also have do this. Mac, linux, Windows, you name it. I'm not a fan of IE at all, but I don't think its too hard to surf to a site and download something different like Firefox. If they're given a window like the one shown above, I can almost guarantee you that a user will pick the first listed one. The average person doesn't know one browser from another.
 
IMHO I believe Microsoft has every right to bundle "their" browser with "their" operating system as they see fit. On the other hand, Microsoft should also loosen the integration enough to provide an easy uninstall without repercussions (example: Windows Update feature). This will give users a real choice without having to worry about loosing any functionality that is dependent on IE. If the end user isn't knowledgeable enough to understand they have a choice then they deserve to be bound to IE.
 
[citation][nom]schizofrog[/nom]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.[/citation]
In a sense, I agree, but a big part of free trade is the ability to compete on a fair playing field and to let the best product win. I don't agree with the EU's solution, as it adds even more injustice. But the sentiment of having IE being able to be uninstalled or deactivated should be at the discretion of the user who is, by de facto monopoly, forced to used Windows in many cases. That is what anti-Trust laws are supposed to be for, to break up de facto monopolies that hurt the market. However, when the US courts dealt with the case, MS was guilty of anti-competitive practices, yet, the courts didn't issue a sentence that solved the issue. I am glad the EU did something, but it was the wrong thing. The US had the power to break up MS because they are headquartered here. All the EU can do is manipulate the licensing of MS' software.
 
Maybe someone should really find the motive behind this decision of the EU? Maybe there's a money trail somewhere OR they were losing a battle and decided to make MS pay in a certain way, just to save face...
 
[citation][nom]schizofrog[/nom]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.[/citation]

Agree 100%, nobody should be required to do this. Just because they have the most popular (best) OS out they are forced to do things others are not required to.
 
My understanding is that IE cannot be removed from a windows system. In my view this is the anti-competitive behavior, simply having bundled software is fine, preventing me from removing said bundled software is not fine.
 
If all of these "choices" are free, then how are any of the products competition to any of the others? If there's no money involved, then there should be no complaints from anyone. The only thing being affected here is marketshare, which is money but in a round about way. I agree that none of the companys should be forced to do this but if one is, they all should be. The only people that would know the difference in any of the browsers are people like we have here and they will install whatever they want. Heck, I'm running 3 of the listed browsers on my machine personally.
 
Fairness is a term co-opted by the sycophantic politically correct ***** whipped movement that has totally emasculated so much of modern society. Why not put an option to sort the listing alphabetically and by market share and so on and so on... dumb, just dumb. I use Chrome, period, the people who should never touch a computer keyboard and they are the vast majority stumble and fall when presented with choice like a deer caught in the headlights.
 
"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?"

This is question two. First we must ask question one; should Microsoft have to do this?

I don't think they should because next they'll have to have a ballot for media players, then firewalls, then desktop gadgets. Anyone who doesn't know there are alternatives in the first place is just going to get overwhelmed.

Lets also remember that these "alternatives" can partner with companies like dell and hp to get their software pre-installed and set as default. windows shouldn't have to worry about their competitors problems.

But why stop at Microsoft, how about making the big video game makers publicize other games on their marketplaces. yes, I should be able to download WOW from steam without WOW paying for publicity. But then again why doesn't WOW have advertisements for games on Steam? oh, we should require all companies to advertise their competition!

THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS LOST ITS MIND!

 
well you can remove safari from a mac without any repercussions you can even under snow leopard installation chose not to install it if you do a custom install. You cant do that with internet explorer they have that thing sewn up tight in their os.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom