Microsoft: Afraid of IE's Dominance? Let's Put It To A Vote.

Posted by Daniel Shain

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You can't rig a democratic election, right? Microsoft's proposed browser "ballot" will let European users choose their browser at startup, which will (they hope) put the antitrust suits to bed.

The browser ballot comes in response to one such antitrust suit filed by Opera, and you can be sure they're not the only ones grumbling about how IE is bundled with every release of Windows. Although Microsoft had earlier said it would rather release its new OS with no browser at all than include its rivals alongside IE, it has since recanted and come up with the ballot idea.

Windows 7 users in the EU would see the above screen at startup, with the current mockup displaying logos and a brief description of a number of different browsers. The user then furrows his brow, strokes his imaginary beard, assumes a wise tone of voice and serenely decrees "that one!" Just like that, the user can choose his browser and the domination of IE becomes a matter of free will, not MS bullying... right?

Opera disagrees. They don't want the use of logos. According to them, the big blue 'e' of IE has become so associated with the internet by so many users that including it doesn't give the other browsers a fair shake. Not a bad point - in that it's true - but I haven't made up my mind about whether I should roll my eyes at their nitpicking or commend them for being thorough. Frankly, this seems like a pretty good deal they're getting from MS already, no?

It's worthwhile to note that Microsoft will be including the proposed ballot via Windows Update on XP and Vista computers as well.

Regulators will hmm and haw about the ballot for a little while, but I have a feeling this or something like it will pass.

Via windows7news

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