Microsoft failed to offer users a web browser choice

Slootvreter said:
Why is it a problem? Why should Microsoft provide a free distribution platform for other browser manufacturers?

EDIT: Why don't they just, while they are at it, give you a choice of registry editors, file compression packages, etc etc?
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Windows media player should also get the boot, there are much better options out there.

Microsoft should also offer a linux install over windows while they are at, just to be sure they won't have to fork out millions.
 
greg0205 said:
Yep, but riddle me this... If you buy a machine with Windows preinstalled or load it on a new machine, what app do you have to run to get to Chrome, Firefox or Opera?
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Ah, so you want Microsoft to carry your expenses?

Of course there are ways to install a browser without using IE. I've done it many, many times, starting in the days before there even was an IE.

• LapLink
• Diskette drive
• CD
• Flash drive
• External hard drive
• IR transfer
• Bluetooth
... etc
 
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killadoob said:
Windows media player should also get the boot, there are much better options out there.

Microsoft should also offer a linux install over windows while they are at, just to be sure they won't have to fork out millions.
Click to expand...

Yeah but they will have to be sure to include all the different distributions of Linux just in case some poor bitter soul feels left out.
 
Slootvreter said:
Why is it a problem? Why should Microsoft provide a free distribution platform for other browser manufacturers?

EDIT: Why don't they just, while they are at it, give you a choice of registry editors, file compression packages, etc etc?
Click to expand...

That's why I said I'm not sure what the real answer is for anyone... From the EU's ruling in '09: "Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice." The solution there was this 'tho I've never seen it in action on a Windows machine.
 
milomak said:
microsoft were using their dominant market position in the OS market to force a choice on people in the browser market. most here of course will easily just install a browser of choice. but for many that assumption cannot be made.
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+1
 
Arthur said:
Ah, so you want Microsoft to carry your expenses?

Of course there are ways to install a browser without using IE. I've done it many, many times, starting in the days before there even was an IE.

• LapLink
• Diskette drive
• CD
• Flash drive
• External hard drive
Click to expand...

I remember those ;)
 
Arthur said:
Ah, so you want Microsoft to carry your expenses?

Of course there are ways to install a browser without using IE. I've done it many, many times, starting in the days before there even was an IE.

• LapLink
• Diskette drive
• CD
• Flash drive
• External hard drive
Click to expand...

Oh wow. You are so smart.
 
Hmmm... so browser choice in dominant players means ballot box in ios sometime soon then?
 
It's not a "requirement" to use IE to download Chrome. You can download the full installation file from a Software Distribution website like Cnet.com and use it to install a browser to any PC, even one that doesn't have internet access (yet). I've done it a few times before. When I'm reinstalling Windows to someone's PC, then I only unplug the LAN cable from my own PC to test the other PC's internet connection once everything has been installed. Consequently, I end up using Chrome to test the internet connection, and not IE. But then, I'm in the minority.
 
killadoob said:
Force you say? Did they block other browsers? I have always been able to install another browser, i have never felt like i am forced to use explorer.
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Firstly you are probably more PC literate than a lot of Windows users. Secondly, what about things like Windows update, etc. IE was even hooked into the desktop when this case first started. A lot has changed since then but that doesn't excuse Microsoft's behaviour at the time. The were predatory and did the same thing with Office. Other browsers may have picked up market share now but at the time IE went from 0% to 95+% and that was only due to one thing. They even had contracts at the time prohibiting OEM's from pre-installing firefox. That sort of behaviour should never be acceptable.
 
shogun said:
This may have been an issue 10 years ago, but people are so used to installing applications that this has become pointless.

Do they want windows to boot up and say "Hi, have you tried these browsers?". If so... which browsers get preference? Should apple not be forced to do the same on their devices? Why does safari get its button on the menu on iDevices? Shouldn't that be a "choose browser" button?

This is getting a wee bit ridiculous.
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TelkomUseless said:
agreed.
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Dont agree. Going around to many of my clients I see IE everywhere. When asked why they have that browser.... they ask what a browser is. They do not know any better.
 
MiY4Gi said:
It's not a "requirement" to use IE to download Chrome. You can download the full installation file from a Software Distribution website like Cnet.com and use it to install a browser to any PC, even one that doesn't have internet access (yet). I've done it a few times before. When I'm reinstalling Windows to someone's PC, then I only unplug the LAN cable from my own PC to test the other PC's internet connection once everything has been installed. Consequently, I end up using Chrome to test the internet connection, and not IE. But then, I'm in the minority.
Click to expand...

Why bother though? It requires a lot more effort to remove IE from the Windows install package than it does to just open up IE, download your preferred browser and set it as default.
 
greg0205 said:
That's why I said I'm not sure what the real answer is for anyone... From the EU's ruling in '09: "Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice." The solution there was this 'tho I've never seen it in action on a Windows machine.
Click to expand...
You in the EU?
 
Arthur said:
Ah, so you want Microsoft to carry your expenses?

Of course there are ways to install a browser without using IE. I've done it many, many times, starting in the days before there even was an IE.

• LapLink
• Diskette drive
• CD
• Flash drive
• External hard drive
Click to expand...


^ agree with this



Riddle me this... If they placed Firefox for example as a pre-installed option... wouldn't Chrome and Safari users complain? What about poor old Flock users? Is their user base too small? Do they only support the big players? Is that not unfair and grounds for the smaller players to sue them?

What if there's an inherent security flaw... now they get pounded for bundling another vendors' security flaws. Do they have to support that software? What if I have a browser and I want it bundled?

The only alternative is to not bundle anything, and have a "download service" where users need to download a browser of choice (and those vendors need to register with the service). Then the problem becomes that I can't even browse a website on my new machine after buying it before downloading a browser! But apple and android users can do this? Why not windows.

It all just becomes ridiculous after that.

On the apple note... just because their hardware comes bundled with their OS, doesn't mean their OS should be able to play by different rules. It's still and OS, and as an apple user, you are still forced to use their browser. Market dominance shouldn't factor into it, and if it did, then Apple should definitely be held to the same standard now that they are so popular.
 
Abe said:
Firstly you are probably more PC literate than a lot of Windows users. Secondly, what about things like Windows update, etc. IE was even hooked into the desktop when this case first started. A lot has changed since then but that doesn't excuse Microsoft's behaviour at the time. The were predatory and did the same thing with Office. Other browsers may have picked up market share now but at the time IE went from 0% to 95+% and that was only due to one thing. They even had contracts at the time prohibiting OEM's from pre-installing firefox. That sort of behaviour should never be acceptable.
Click to expand...

Why SHOULD OEM's distribute any other manufacturer's browser on Microsoft's money? And if someone is not computer saccy enough to download another browser and set it as default, why would they even need another one?
 
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