Current location: Home Expo events Microsoft Settles with EU - No to Fines...

Microsoft Settles with EU - No to Fines, Yes to Browser Ballots!

Posted by Daniel Shain

Comments
0
Likes
0
Dislikes
0

10274_main_BrowserBallot.jpg

Microsoft and the EU have settled on terms regarding the antitrust issues inherent in Microsoft's browser practices. Microsoft will now offer a non-partisan ballot of browser options for new and existing users of its Windows operating system, and in return, the EU promises not to fine the living daylights out of the company. Everybody wins!

If anyone is wondering whether the browser ballot idea sounds familiar, it does. It was back in July that Microsoft accepted this solution to the lawsuit leveled against it by Opera (and later joined by Mozilla, Google and others) that its bundling of Internet Explorer with every version of Windows was unfair and stifling to competition.

There were some initial hang-ups over the structure of the ballot. According to the EU, MS and they had quibbled over whether the ballot should appear in an IE tab and whether MS should get to set the order that the choices appeared. In the end MS lost the argument - the ballot gets a dedicated window(pdf) and the browsers are displayed in random order, ostensibly removing bias. Earlier speculation that logos were going to be removed due to the iconic nature of IE's blue "E", which we thought was dubious from the start, seems to have been ignored.

IE will still be pre-installed on all computers, but this system will enable users to easily choose among other leading browsers to use instead if they choose. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Opera will be prominently displayed, with seven others - AOL, Maxthon, K-Meleon, Flock, Avant Browser, Sleipnir and Slim Browser - visible only if the user deigns to scroll to the right. Given that the first 5 browsers account for roughly 99% of all browser market share in the EU, that seems fair to us - many of the latter seven browsers we hadn't even heard of before.

Much of the further reading we've done has suggested that this is an indication of the EUs growing power globally, as well as acknowledgment of the seriousness of their billion dollar fines (despite paying off AMD, Intel could still be hit with a big EU fine as well).

According the the EU, "greater competition between web browsers... should lead to more innovation." Sounds good to us. The ballot law will go into effect in March, with all new and old copies of Windows 7 getting the ballot from then on. Further, all existing Vista and XP machines will receive the ballot within the next 5 months. The ballot will come in the form of an automatic software update, which will be available for 5 years, and every six months the choices available will change based on market research.

How much do you think this will shake things up? A lot of people are downplaying expectations, based largely around this argument: Savvy users who want to switch already have, and non savvy users, by and large, are just going to stick with IE. This might have a fringe effect then, but isn't a blockbuster move. What do you think?

Read more: NYT, Arstechnica, EU.
Reactions: Opera, Google, Microsoft.

Rate this article

Most Popular Laptops at Pricegrabber.com

Model    
1. G71-340US Notebook [+] Best Offers  
2. Mini 210-1010NR Netbook [+] Best Offers  
3. Pavilion Dv6-2150us Notebook [+] Best Offers  

Add your Comment

Verification Code
Verify (type this text in the box below the image)

Newsletter Sign-Up

Most Popular Laptops & Gear

  • 1. Pavilion Dv6-2150us Notebook

    Pavilion Dv6-2150us Notebook

  • 2. Inspiron Mini 10v Netbook - Customizable

    Inspiron Mini 10v Netbook - Cu

  • 3. MacBook Notebook

    MacBook Notebook

  • 1. EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR Digital Camera Kit

    EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR Digita

  • 2. EOS Rebel T1i Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/...

    EOS Rebel T1i Black SLR Digit

  • 3. D90 Black SLR Digital Camera Kit

    D90 Black SLR Digital Camera K

  • 1. iPod Touch 64GB Black MP3 Player

    iPod Touch 64GB Black MP3 Play

  • 2. iPod Touch 8GB Black MP3 Player

    iPod Touch 8GB Black MP3 Playe

  • 3. iPod Touch 32GB Black MP3 Player

    iPod Touch 32GB Black MP3 Play

  • 1. UN55B8000 55" LED TV

    UN55B8000 55" LED TV

  • 2. 42LH30 42" LCD TV

    42LH30 42" LCD TV

  • 3. EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR Digital Camera Kit

    EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR Digita

Powered by
PriceGrabber.com

Reviews & News by brand

Latest Updates

  • ASUS Eee PC 1000HE

    The Eee PC has a slightly faster Atom processor and a faster FSB compared to the previous models. While this is not enough for anyone to upgrade, it could certainly attract first-time netbook buyers. Read More

  • Dell Vostro A860

    When price and performance must share in compromise, few laptops on the market readily answer the call of duty. When it comes to getting high quality at an affordable price, the Dell Vostro A860... Read More

  • Dell Mini 9

    By now Dell has a full range of netbooks in sizes 9", 10", and oddly a 12" model, of which we’re looking at the smallest 9-incher here. Read More

More Reviews

More Top Lists

  • Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2009

    Yet again, Apple's professional geeks will offer up sessions and hands-on code probing and testing at Moscone West in San Francisco. The dates for 2009 are June 8-12. Read More

  • E3 Expo

    The E3 Expo - also known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo - is the one trade show to visit to get the latest news from the computer and video games industry. Read More

  • CeBIT - Hannover 3-8 March

    Unlike CES, CeBIT is open to the public, so there's no need to be a press or industry affiliate to have a look at this massive trade show, which is the largest in the world. Read More

  • International CES 2009

    Find out all you need to know about the 2009 International CES. It features 2,700 exhibitors, including companies who manufacture products or provide services for the audio, digital imaging, home... Read More

  • Mac World Conference

    Make sure to make a note about the Macworld Expo at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, January 5-9. If you're a Mac user and wish to meet equivalent people in the industry this is the place for you. Read More

More Events

More Apple

More Linux

More Microsoft

Editor's Choice

  • Weird, Extraordinary and Record-Breaking Laptops

    Here are the laptops that break one record or another, be it oldest, ugliest, cheapest or just very out of the ordinary. Read More

  • Top 10 Technologies of 2008

    Laptopical's T.J. Aaron summarizes the breakthroughs in technology of 2008. As we are nearing the end of 2008 - find out what made his Top 10 of the most successful and talked about technologies of... Read More

  • Top 10 Netbooks

    The netbook world has gotten increasingly crowded, and until the massive popularity of the form factor wanes this trend will only increase. Beyond Asus and Acer, major corporations like Dell, HP... Read More

Latest Laptopical.com tweets

  •  

Follow Laptopical.com on Twitter