So, yesterday I saw screens of Microsoft's browser ballot...

[patjuan32]

Kasz216 said:

patjuan32 said:

Kasz216 said:

patjuan32 said:

Kasz216 said:

patjuan32 said:

Kasz216 said:

Soleron said:

famousringo said:
I'm glad that they're keeping an eye on Google. I think it's really important that the antitrust hounds keep an eye on Google.

This. I don't think this is intentional wrongdoing (unlike the cases of Intel and Microsoft) but it's good to see they will follow up complaints even about large corporations.

Hah, i'd think google did more wrong then Microsoft did by adding a web browser to windows. There recent apple spat sure shows they're not above it.

Google did more wrong the Microsoft! No just no. You need a couple of links to back up your claims. If you do not have them then your talking out of you butt and it smells.

Microsoft gave away it's internet browser free with windows. Googe intentionally downranked competitors... One of these helps the customer and is reasonable... the other hurts the customer and serves no benefit. What are links needed for? This is the basis of the two claims. One bitches that internet explorer comes with windows... which is a better alternative then say, having to pick a disc and install the browser, which may or may not still be your browser when you can just use IE to download whatever browser you wan... vs intentionally downranking your competitors so they can't beat you. What about that "smells'. IE bundled into windows has benefit to the consumer. What google is doing has none.

That's not a benefit. It eliminates a person's right to choose. It also eliminates the competition and gives Microsoft the control of the browser market and control of the technology. They intentionally gimped Java because they wanted to develop an alternative. Microsoft has committed a number of other  infractions that have hurt the public and their competitors.

 

It eliminates peoples right to choose? How do you figure? People can download ANY internet exploerer they want to. Infact they can do so BECAUSE microsoft put IE on the computers. People before the lawsuit could use any browser they wanted... and microsoft in no way made it harder for other internet browsers to be recognized, only made it easier for people to get their internet browser. Unlike google who is hindering other people.

It did eliminate choice. The two web browsers on the market at the time were Netscape and Internet Explorer. Both browsers surfed the same web and displayed the same content and for the average consumer they did the exact same things. Why would someone go and download a competing browser? They already had the tool needed to surf the web. Thus choice was eliminated.

I don't think you understand the meaning of the word choice. People could still download Netscape if they wanted too... infact, Netscape was actually the browser I used for that matter. People still had the choice. Microsoft just gave them a good reason NOT to make that choice. An incentive in "we've already done the work for you". Had Netscape been good enough, and given people good enough reason to use it... people would.

Yes, I understand the word choice. What you do not understand is that both browsers provided the consumer with the same experience. Therefore once Internet Explorer was provided with Windows there was no need for the comsumer to seek out another product that offered the same experience. Let's not forget that the Internet was young at the time and mainstream consumers were not Internet savy and used what ever was provided to them, Windows Media player, Internet Explorer, and other bundled software like Microsoft Works.

Since we can not agree lets to agree to disagree.