Firefox chiefs not happy with Windows 7 browser ballot screen
There we were thinking the Windows 7 Web browser issue was over. But apparently not. Microsoft has proposed a ballot screen for Windows 7 users so they can each individually select their browser of choice during installation. Fair does, surely. Not so say the people in charge of Mozilla, the community behind Firefox.
Opera and Mozilla complained to the EU about the fact Microsoft include Internet Explorer as an integral part of the Windows operating system. The EU agreed this was unfair and set about persuading Microsoft to change this practice.
Microsoft originally decided to cull Internet Explorer from European copies of Windows 7 entirely, hence Windows 7 E was born. However, Microsoft then acquiesced to the solution the European Union originally proposed – a ballot screen offering a choice of the most popular Web browsers to be presented to Windows 7 users during install.
Everyone should have been happy at that point, especially British consumers who are now set to get cut-priced copies of Windows 7. But believe it or not, Mitchell Baker, chair of the Mozilla Foundation, and Harvey Anderson, the foundation’s general counsel still aren’t happy with the arrangement.
In a recent blog post, Baker complained:
Even if everything in the currently proposed settlement is implemented in the most positive way — IE will still have a unique and uniquely privileged position on Windows installations. It is always there, often with prominent placement in the user interface. Choosing another browser as a default doesn’t change this. Contrast this with all other browsers who aren’t available without separate installation.
While Anderson also blogged about the situation, complaining:
The proposal should be modified to expressly state that Microsoft cannot use Windows Update to trigger any ‘Make IE the default’ consideration unless the user launched IE intentionally and not just as a requirement of another process. Obviously this will take some thinking, and to make it really work, we would strongly recommend that the proposal include a Microsoft commitment to work with browser vendors directly in an informal group, including the commission, so the ballot implementation can be informed by the knowledge and experience of other browser providers.
Seriously? This much discussion and in-depth moaning about what should essentially be a solved issue is completely over the top and without merit. And that’s not coming from someone who loves everything Microsoft does. I actually use Firefox as my default Web browser and have done for years because I prefer it to Internet Explorer. But Baker and Anderson beating this dead horse is making me wonder whether I should give IE 8 another chance.
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August 22nd, 2009
Seriously. I personally think MS should just tell the EU to fsck off.
They should offer their product for sale, and if the EU commissioners don’t like it they can not buy it. Buy a PC with linux or a Mac and shut up.
And any competent OEM can replace the browser, as can other browser install processes, so if there I’d customer demand they will do so.
August 22nd, 2009
you may prefer firefox to IE but i think you your still being very biased due to a little bit of patriotism for your american company.
At the end of the day, theirs no point in creating a ballot screen, if microsoft can just creat a auto-update by default to add IE in afterwards even giving people the option to, is a option the others dont have, and is simply microsoft again taking advantage of the fact your on a windows OS,
Do believe in what EU are doing ?
Dunno, i dont really have a set opinion on the matter, im all for competition, but forced competition for something that is free already does kinda feel like protectionism for a couple of companies, it wont bring down prices, however it will create innovation, so it might eb a good idea,
If the EU decide to do it, then i think firefox have every right to complain if its not done properly e.g Microsoft Updates,
August 22nd, 2009
also just wanted to note, i am aware your not american Dave, you are however the most pro-american person in the world thatisnt actually american
August 22nd, 2009
It was idiotic for the EU to do this in the first place. It’s a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. I could see a point if Microsoft had blocked other browsers from Windows.
Microsoft is losing users of IE because other browsers do a better job. Anyone that knows what a browser is will seek out another and install it. People who don’t will make a choice, see a unfamiliar interface and be irritated and pissed.
This was just grandstanding.The last decade just called and wanted their issue back.
August 22nd, 2009
this is the worst case of ‘cut the other down se we look good’ that i have see. If Mozilla and Opera want’s their browse of choice to be installed , why not create their own operating system?
August 22nd, 2009
While I do use IE I truly don’t get all this talk about which browsers to use. My mail box is certainly filled periodically with browser recommendations – web pages touting one browser or the other. I believe people are fairly smart and do not need to be led around by the nose. Is the user community so dumb they cannot make a decision? And don’t get me started about what is presented in some install screen; I choose not to have some applet installed all the time when I am installing an application.
Do we think Microsoft is the only one who gives the user the choice of IE versus another browser? What about all the companies who have struck a deal with Google, Firefox and other browser companies to have their browsers and toolbars included in upgrades and new install of their applications? Some which as done so “sneakily” that the user doesn’t even know it is being doe, since the request looks like it was a part of the application install, or placed on some obscure screen.
If I am given a choice at install of a new or updated OS to select a single browser, great! Also, please give me the choice of installing more than one. I agree that when doing an update Microsoft should not ask if I want IE to be the default browser, yet I should also be smart enough to answer no if I don’t want it to be the default.
This type of discussion and blog has been going on long enough. Enough is enough! I am sure there is some other issue Microsoft is doing that people don’t like and that can be focused on as being bad for the community at large. If someone could at least pick one that would benefit the user community and not carry even a hint of company involvement for a company’s sake, I would whole heartedly be objective in my view. Until that time, I must side with the user community and get on with life.
August 24th, 2009
@Ben,
“this is the worst case of ‘cut the other down se [sic] we look good’ that i [sic] have see [sic]. If Mozilla and Opera want’s [sic] their browse [sic] of choice to be installed , why not create their own operating system?”
A very compelling argument indeed. I assume that you are a Windows user?
August 24th, 2009
Don’t run IE!
IE has administrative system access above your permissions as ‘admin’, thusly permitting exploits to your Microsoft system, by any of the millions of Microsoft Virus!
Always run one of the many Open Source browsers! Yes, to SeaMonkey, Firefox, Opera, as your browser, with Thunderbird, to replace Outlook!
Yes, Outlook also has FULL admin privileges!
All my other computers run the many BSD and Linux distros… safer, faster, better, because they, like Noah’s Ark, were built by passionate believers!
Titanic was built by “Professionals” for profit.
I choose the former, as should you!
August 24th, 2009
I will prefer Firefox or Opera or any other browser instead of IE.
IE really ShUCKS.
IE is the worst ever browser of the universe.
Sorry IE users but it is the truth and you will agree with me too just try Firefox/Opera/Safari/Chrome once and you will get the result.
IE won’t be back on its previous position.
August 25th, 2009
Does anyone honestly car that IE was included. As soon as a I do a fresh install of windows I download Firefox.
This is a complete WASTE of time, money and effort that all parties involved could put towards something more productive.
August 25th, 2009
Does the EU require Apple to remove Safari from the Mac OS?
Everyone’s just pissed because Netscape (which is now Firefox) didn’t win the browser wars in ‘95 and they want round 2.
Also, the U.S.S. Constitution was built by professionals for profit and it’s still in use today. I guess completely unrelated analogies don’t work after all.