Is Microsoft's browser ballot really random?

Browser ballot, what a load of nonsense.

Why don't the numpties in Brussels do something descent to earn their crust.

By a_byrne22 on 1 Mar 2010

seriously

Seriously, I don't think I will ever meet a single PC user who will care about this at all. I mean seriously, people have better things to do with their lives then search for a web browser.

So in all honesty I think this has all been a waste of everyones time. Also I think it's ridiculous that they have to offer rival browsers with their OS, it's like asking Tesco to sell food on behalf of Asda, same principle.

By 00lissauers on 1 Mar 2010

What they should have enforced is removing Internet explorer - and all the code and fluff it pollutes Windows with - from Windows, now and in the future.

Browser ballot screen? Utter nonsense that does not address the real issue.

By bubbles16 on 1 Mar 2010

*slow handclap*

Oh, bravo, bubbles16...and I assume that you'll be demanding the removal of Sarari from OSX installs or Chrome browser from ChromeOS with equal fervour? That ship sailed 10 years ago, and you know what? Microsoft were right. Hand a PC to a normal user now and tell them they don't have a web browser. Then see what their reaction is. They won't be impressed, will they?

By nichomach0 on 1 Mar 2010

Just caused confusion

My girlfriend was presented with the browser ballot screen after a Windows update and though her PC had been infected with a virus!

I explained to her about the new EU ruling but to be frank she really couldn't care - she just wants to surf the net by the easiest possible means.

All this "My browser is better than yours" stuff is for techies with too much time on their hands!

By cyberindie on 1 Mar 2010

In all honesty

Most people will stick with IE as its what they know, the people who use different browsers are people who are generally more technologically clued up about computers and this does nothing for them as they can just go and download the browser before hand anyway.

By Deathtaker27 on 1 Mar 2010

Change the Record bubbles16

So what is this "fluff" you want taking out of Windows in addition to Internet Explorer.

By chapelgarth on 1 Mar 2010

aside from the rotten bugs and security risks

I can't see what Microsoft is doing wrong, I know a lot of users who wouldn't know what a browser is, which is best (at that time) and how to install it properly even if they were guided. I do think however that Microsoft should resolving leaks and bugs far more quickly as well as including a basic antivirus tool as standard.

By Dr_Zeus on 1 Mar 2010

Website developers nightmare?

Just looked at the list of browsers in the ballot - it includes the well know but also:

K-meleon
Maxthon

And a few others I'd never heard of!

While in theory they should all be standards compliant - the reality they'll all have their own little quirks.

For me as a web developer having to deal with 10 different browsers and their quirks is a nightmare!

I can just imagine someone phoning me to say "Your software doesn't work on Maxthon v1.2345"

I'm just praying everyone chooses one of the big 3 browsers.

By cyberindie on 1 Mar 2010

@Dr_Zeus

They do provide Microsoft Security Essentials for free, and can you imagine the howls from your McAfees, Nortons et al if they put it in as standard?

By nichomach0 on 1 Mar 2010

I remember McAfee and Norton having a hissy fit with Vista's Kernel protection.

By james016 on 1 Mar 2010

@nichomacho0

I use essentials, again I would know a lot of folks who wouldn't know about it or where to get it.

IMO it should be in there as standard and easily displaced by a competitors product at installation time.

By Dr_Zeus on 1 Mar 2010

@nichomacho0

I use essentials, again I would know a lot of folks who wouldn't know about it or where to get it.

IMO it should be in there as standard and easily displaced by a competitors product at installation time.

By Dr_Zeus on 1 Mar 2010

Waste of time...

I've had the ballot screen pop up on a few of my PCs already. In each case, i've chosen IE8. Why? Two fingers to the EU and Opera! If I want to change my browser I'll do it on my own, I don't need a ballot screen, thanks but no thanks EU!

By rjp2000 on 1 Mar 2010

I must say rjp2000, your ability to utterly miss the entire point in your quest to get some rather tired anti-EU sentiment in there is very impressive. Bravo!

By Aspicus on 1 Mar 2010

"I must say rjp2000, your ability to utterly miss the entire point in your quest to get some rather tired anti-EU sentiment in there is very impressive. Bravo!

By Aspicus on 1 Mar 2010"

Please enlighten us as to what point has been missed.

By chapelgarth on 1 Mar 2010

No computer generated "random" number is truly random

No computer generated number is really random - it applies a mathematical formula to a seed value.
Its why lottery numbers aren't generated by computer.
Oh, and bubbles16, you know that HTML help will break if IE is completely removed from Windows?

By jbarnett on 1 Mar 2010

@chapelgarth

I'm suprised you need enlightening but just for you...

The whole scheme isn't for people like rjp or you or I who may know how to change browser, it is in fact for Johnny and Jane non-techie who might not. therefore whether rjp can and does change his/her browser is totally and utterly irrelevant.

By Aspicus on 1 Mar 2010

And why would Johnny and Jane non-teckie need to have a change of browser thrust upon them when they are quite happy with IE which they already know and use.

By chapelgarth on 1 Mar 2010

@chapelgarth

Johnny & Jane don't need it. You've missed the point (again). This is intended to help Microsoft's competitors in the browser market.

By Mark_Thompson on 1 Mar 2010

Dave

Strikes me is that this only confuses users.

You have the people who understand the different browsers and will have already made their choice and so for whom this has no relevance.

On the other hand you have the people who don't understand whats this is about and just want to use the internet in the most easier and familiar manner ie Internet Explorer.

When the puchased Microsoft Windows they would have expected to be purchasing Microsoft software.

What's next, the EU nancies decide that Scandisk, Disk Defrag or maybe Media player shouldn't be included?

By kingct on 1 Mar 2010

And Aspicus, I am not on a quest to express "tired anti-EU sentiment". I happen not to agree with them on this issue - If the browser market is so uncompetitive as they claim because of MS's dominance, how come there are now five main browsers slugging it out for market share. I happen to think the EU bureaucrats were hood winked by Opera on this issue.

By rjp2000 on 1 Mar 2010

@ Mark_Thompson

I've missed the point again? You should really read what has already been said. I never said it was for Johnny & Jane.

So it's for the benefit of Microsoft's competitors and in effect the detriment of Johnny & Jane?

Just out of curiosity, how will the other browser makers benefit from this when the browsers are free? Of course Opera would have liked to continue with their original business model, where they charged for their browser.

By chapelgarth on 2 Mar 2010

Microsoft (as a monopoly) needs to be broken up or regulated.
I would think the EU's ruling will be more effective if it frees up Dell/HP/etc to put on whichever browser it feels best suits its customers.

My worry is that each browser only gives you the Install or More Information buttons. There needs to be a button marked 'I already have Firefox and Chrome installed, I do not need to see this message again', or I am going to get nagged to install something that is already there.

By davidsoap on 2 Mar 2010

@davidsoap

"Microsoft (as a monopoly) needs to be broken up or regulated."

Given that this thread is about the EU's imposition of the browser ballot on MS (and us poor sods) then I hardy think you can say MS is unregulated. As regards being broken up, yes that's fine as long as the same logic is applied to any other company that is in a dominant position. So for starters, that would include Apple because they are (by your definition) a monopoly in the MP3 market, Google in search etc etc Where would it end? It seems these days, in Europe, that the definition of a monopoly is any company that is successful.

By rjp2000 on 2 Mar 2010

Why would it nag you Davidsoap? It's only for those who have IE as there default browser.

Mind you don't seem to mind others being nagged.

By chapelgarth on 2 Mar 2010

stop it , stop it all NOW

Pretty much every technie knows that IE is not the best web browser in the world, but more or less everyone else in the world couldn't care less. Most users will just want to boot up their PC/Laptop and click a button and be able to surf the Web.
The bureaucrats in Brussels should leave Microsoft alone to get on with their job, which is making Xbox's, er Operating Systems I mean.

By Barff1706 on 2 Mar 2010

As of this evening, I have now had eleven telephone calls from customers wanting to know what this 'ballot' is, and more importantly, every single one asked 'what should I do?'
It's a total farce for existing users, I could possibly understand it being shown on first use, but once someone has set up a PC like they want, it's highly unlikely that a single one of them would choose another browser (whatever one of them thing is).

By Ex_Sailor on 2 Mar 2010

The main issue that is abundantly clear is that casual and non technical users have neither the knowledge nor the desire to choose the best browser of the moment. The EU decision works well only under the circumstances where software is being installed. Installation infers some knowledge of the mechanics of the operating system, the features and the wider use of the computer. For those people that have already purchased a machine that is set-up and running it brings no benefit and serves only as a risk to driving these people into the arms of other suport avenues, some of which are suitable and some not. To my mind the EU should have avoided this pantomime by setting targets for improvements of IE and a basic free antivirus suite. The OS system should have an industry approved and universal interface that is easily displaced by a competitors antivirus product.

By Dr_Zeus on 4 Mar 2010