Opera chief unimpressed with Internet Explorer switchoff
The head of the firm which sparked a European Commission investigation into Microsoft’s promotion of Internet Explorer says plans to make it an optional feature in Windows 7 don’t go far enough. Opera’s Jon von Tetzchner maintains that Windows should treat all major browsers equally.
The EC recently have Microsoft extra time to respond to charges that its bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows gives the browser an unfair advantage and harms competition. The delay came shortly after Microsoft confirmed users of Windows 7 will be able to switch off Internet Explorer.
Von Tetzchner is among those who suspect the move is a Microsoft attempt to stave off threats that it could be forced to give users a choice of browser during the installation process. The Microsoft proposal would mean Internet Explorer is still installed with Windows and the relevant files will remain on the machine even if the user switches the ‘feature’ off.
In an interview with Computerworld, Von Tetzchner said the best way to ensure consumer choice is for Microsoft to “offer other browsers. How exactly that would be done tactically isn’t up to us, but consumers should have an equal choice of browsers.”
Neither Google nor Mozilla, both of which have become involved in the EC case, are commenting on the Microsoft proposal.
That’s not the end of Von Teztchner’s criticisms, though. Speaking to The Register, he complained about Microsoft’s decision to allow Internet Explorer 8 to continue displaying pages which, while compatible with previous editions of Internet Explorer, are not compatible with general web standards as followed by other browsers.
He says Microsoft’s dominance means it should have used its power to force website designers to follow the standards. In his view, not doing so simply benefits Microsoft at the expense of rival browser producers and the overall concept of web standards.
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March 18th, 2009
Quick someone call the waaaambulance
March 18th, 2009
How hypocritical is this man?
Why is he singling out Microsoft, when everyone else also bundle internet browsers with their OS?
Why doesn’t he also cite Apple for bundling their very own Safari with the Mac OS, or Canonical for installing Firefox by default in Ubuntu Linux?
I remember the days when Microsoft was roundly criticised by all and sundry for not including essential system utility software with DOS and early versions of Windows. Can you imagine the ridicule that would occur they launched Windows 7 without a browser or email client?
Internet connectivity software stopped being an optional extra a long time ago. It is now a fundamental and integral part of any modern OS, and the developer of any OS should be allowed to bundle whatever of their own software they feel is necessary to provide basic usability.
March 18th, 2009
Exacly, I want it in there.
Sure I use Firefox also But I want IE also.