[ufUUZCnc]

As you probably know Microsoft have been forced to give users of Windows an option screen so they can choose which browser to use. But the media are making out this is some kind of new choice that users didn't have before, which is wrong. You've always been able to download what ever browser you wanted. Sure it might make users that don't know more aware that there is a choice of browsers, but it doesn't give them any more choice than they had before!

[pavelChe]

Ok?

What prompted this random post? Is there some backstory we need to see in order to get what you are talking about?

[ufUUZCnc]

Ok?

What prompted this random post? Is there some backstory we need to see in order to get what you are talking about?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8537763.stm

[DuesTyr]

You've always been able to download what ever browser you wanted.

I haven't followed this case, but I thought it was about preventing the competition to evolve in a monopoly. You're already paying for IE development, since the cost is attached to Windows, wheter you're using IE or not. That's why other developers are trying to compete by giving browsers practically free.

That's like putting Office in Windows and raising the price to cover the costs. Kind of selling more products to those who don't even need them.

Well thats what I thought it was about anyway. Personally I don't really care if it's in or not.

[Slchtjgb]

As you probably know Microsoft have been forced to give users of Windows an option screen so they can choose which browser to use. But the media are making out this is some kind of new choice that users didn't have before, which is wrong. You've always been able to download what ever browser you wanted. Sure it might make users that don't know more aware that there is a choice of browsers, but it doesn't give them any more choice than they had before!

I'd say it gives them more choice because it gives them a choice.

The best equivalence I can think of is you go into a restaurant, you sit down and the waiter comes out and says here's your steak. He doesn't show you a menu, he doesn't really feel the need to because after all the menu is on the internet. If the waiter starts giving you a printed menu to order from you have a choice which you didn't have before. In other words you have more choice, 1 > 0.

You have to think of this from the perspective of the majority of PC users, who are frankly clueless.