Microsoft's proposed browser ballot screen

I think it's ridiculous to see this as well, HOWEVER, seeing the actual proposal I'm a little more content with it knowing that the descriptions are coming straight from the respective browser's own home page descriptions, AND everything is spelled out for the user in a clear, concise way.

I know this in only a mockup, but you can see Opera trying really hard here with their description - *way* longer than the other browsers.... Really smacks of "Look at me! Look at me!".... I really hope that this does nothing to improve Opera's usage - I mean complaining about the Logos now? I just don't think they'd ever be happy

The logo complaint is silly at best. It IS their logo. It's as stupid as if Linux community would try to forbid use of "Windows" name/logo as it is "associated with operating system in users minds".. Stupid, really.

So basically all they are doing is setting the ballot as the first page seen when launching IE for the first time. Very simple for MS to set up and it doesn't touch any Windows components. I'm actually surprised that Opera hasn't demanded that it remain as the permanent home page for IE.

Has anyone noticed the typos on the ballot screen? I know its just a mockup, but jeez.

"Soon they will start microanylizing the pixel count." Best. Comment. Ever.

doharrow, And once again, here is the explanation. When Apple gains a monopoly in the OS space, and gets convicted of using that monopoly to squelch competition in the OS and applications market, THEN you will see the EU or some other regulatory body require Apple to use a Ballot screen. Until those conditions occur, I don't think it will be happening.

@panache1023 You could argue that Apple DOES have a monopoly as the OS manufacturer for Apple based hardware (now that it is possible to install Windows and indeed Linux on Apple hardware) Anyway, I'm not sure how the arguement about stiffling competition stacks up these days when all the browsers are now FREE - I mean, since Opera started giving away their browser didn't they have to change their tune from it being about "costing them lost revenue" (a very selfish, corporate attitude) to increasing "consumer choice", which may on the surface is all very "nobile" of them, but is still essentially the same self serving corporate idea repackaged. I actually had no problem with Opera before this debacle, but this has left a bad taste in my mouth about them and their browser. I don't care if their CTO was the man who created the CSS standard (and maybe that is one of the things driving their feeling of "entitlement")... I mean if they want more market share, then build and market better brower!! Firefox managed to get a real foothold in an IE dominated market - and they did it without having to go wailing like babies to the EU (even though they did get in on the complaint - they already had a sizable market share by then) Frankly, the idea of companies fighting like this over products which are just given away for free seems just ridiculous to me

I love Opera's mobile browser, but this is just unreal, and reeks of a company that just wont even try to compete in the marketplace.It is just beyond silly and insults the intelligence of all the people they think they will win over by forcing MS to do this. No Desktop Opera for me.

I love that Opera's logo looks like a big ZERO, just like the loser company. Maybe they should hire Darl McBride, I'm sure he could help then file a few more law suit to try to keep the company afloat.

"I love that Opera's logo looks like a big ZERO, just like the loser company." Number 1 mobile browser.

"I mean if they want more market share, then build and market better brower!! " Arguably, MS did that with the Zune, but nobody came for it. It's more than just being the best.

Ya with browsers in that order I doubt many would click on Opera. Maybe they shouldn't have charged for their browser way back in the past.

@Ocean "Arguably, MS did that with the Zune, but nobody came for it." Well, I can't argue with the fact that the Zune may be better than the competition (as I've never actually used one), but MS's marketing of the Zune has been *woeful* - I've *never* seen any kind of meaningful marketing of the Zune - online, TV, radio or any medium

Not sure how the Zune crept into this thread, but--I like mine. I like the Zune store. I listen to the MacBreak netcast on my Zune or in the Zune software. (I suspect not many MacBreak listeners do that.)

great, at this rate, in about a week we'll get a snark-tacular post from paul about microsoft yahoo search deal.

@Ocean Well, that was actually my original point: "build and MARKET a better brower" 2 separate actions.... IMHO, this ridiculousness with the EU could have a totally negative impact on the Opera browser and act as the worst kind of marketting - like I said, I for one would now not touch it with a bargepole

@Ocean I don't recall this being about the mobile browser. Doesn't change the fact they are still a loser company because they feel they can strong arm their way back into a market where they failed to compete. I don't know how Zune got in to the discussion, but by loose analogy, this would be like MS asking the courts to force Apple to let the Zune sync with iTunes. This, of course, would make MS a loser company. Compete or die. Opera is a bunch of losers.

Paul: Can you kick that retard off again? Apparently he's too moronic to have understood the reason why he was booted THE LAST TIME. Ocean, maybe all caps will be easier for your stupid @ss to read: THIS TOPIC IS ABOUT: ((((((Microsoft's proposed browser ballot screen )))))) NOT ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON, FIREFOX, ED BOT OR WHATEVER THE H3LL IS ON OCEANS BORD MIND OR WHATEVER LITTLE ANTI-MS BS YOU HAPPEN TO COME ACROSS. And Paul, can you make it permanent this time? People like this do not need to be rewarded with posting privileges if the cant seem to show any respect for you or this site.

"this would be like MS asking the courts to force Apple to let the Zune sync with iTunes" Considering that iTunes is garbage, that would be inconsiderate to their [Microsoft's] customers. "Opera could make the worlds greatest browser and it still could go nowhere." I think it's unfair for them to be allowed to claim that they give "the best browser experience available". I'm wondering what Apple has to say about that. ;)

"Under our new proposal, among other things, European consumers who buy a new Windows PC with Internet Explorer set as their default browser would be shown a ‘ballot screen’ from which they could, if they wished, easily install competing browsers from the Web." I don't quite understand something about this though.... I thought that OEM's wouldn't have any kind of restrictions on this, and they'd be able to install whatever they want. Is the EU now saying that OEM's now have to let default IE installations advertise the other products? This spells a major support disaster for OEM's that would likely be expected to support all the options that are provided to end users. I know I would never agree to that. What is installed on the computer from the factory is MY choice. I don't care to advertise alternatives. If a user chooses any additional software, I would relinquish software support to the end user.

Would this mean that Microsoft would have to provide update to all the browsers through Windows Update if you chose a browser that's not IE?

@Ocean "Master, you're going to ask that a lot of people be banned." Good. Start with you and work your way up.

"In the shot above, the browsers are listed by usage/market share, with IE first." You're in fact incorrect. The first icon is of IE8. Firefox has a larger market share than IE8.