Windows Browser Ballot, What really happens.

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    Windows Browser Ballot, What really happens.


    Posted: 12 Mar 2010
    So the rollout has begun and every PC user in Europe running XP, Vista or Windows 7 will shortly see the new browser ballot screen, if they’ve not seen it already. Last night I got my update and along with it, a few surprises.
    The first surprise was the apparent optionality of the update. In Windows update Microsoft Browser Choice Screen Update for EEA Users of Windows was unticked. Presumably this would only remain so for a short period of time before it becomes mandatory.
    Source -
    Windows Browser Ballot, What really happens | Windows 7 News
    Posted By: JMH
    12 Mar 2010



  1. Posts : 4,663
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    yes. I haven't installed the update. Can't see any reason to as I am happy with Chrome and FF.
    I see what you mean though. One would have thought it would be mandatory to satisfy the legal requirement.
    Total noobs are not going to understand what this is about.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #2

    Well I'm happy with my browser, (opera), and to be honest have this, IE, Firefox, safari, and chrome installed - So I downloaded the KB and installed just to see what would happen - and so far the winner is ......

    Nothing has happened.

    It does appear that this update will not do anything unless you are actually using IE8 as shipped with win7 :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #3

    I've received the update, but have not downloaded or installed it and have no intention of doing so. I have set it as hidden as I am quite happy with IE8. Why should the EU dictate what browser I should be using? That is my perogative just as it is everyone elses. The fact that MS include IE in their OSes does not mean that you have to use IE - the choice is already yours.

    I wonder if the EU will go after Apple and the MAC for the same reason? After all, they include Safari as their browser. In addition, what about the severely restrictive practice of only allowing the OS to install on specified hardware (and the high prices resulting from this)?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #4

    Barman58 said:
    It does appear that this update will not do anything unless you are actually using IE8 as shipped with win7 :)
    I can confirm this, at least according to my own experiences.

    I've seen the ballot only in systems where IE8 is the default browser. Rigs with another default browser have yet not shown the ballot, although it is installed on all my rigs.

    Have not yet tested what happens if I make IE8 default on a rig that has up to now not shown the ballot, where I have another default browser.

    Kari
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 11
    windows 7 home premium
       #5

    johnwillyums said:
    yes. I haven't installed the update. Can't see any reason to as I am happy with Chrome and FF.
    I see what you mean though. One would have thought it would be mandatory to satisfy the legal requirement.
    Total noobs are not going to understand what this is about.
    making it mandatory would defeat the entire reason why the eu went after microsoft in the first place, and would make the eu no better than microsoft. the keywords are "users choice".
      My Computer


  6. NoN
    Posts : 4,166
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 [Non-UEFI Boot]
       #6

    Well, it is the second time for me i do install this Kb... after all i'm using IE8 and no other browser...the first time i did set IE8 as my browser, did the same two day ago...It was just a pop-up windows, then, when done it was away (till the next kb). I mean here in the EU they did restrictive law to MS...forced him to do that.

    I had my Win 7 install fully shipped with machine, Windows Media player and IE8 all integrated, so why i shouldn't play the game.

    At least i didn't had to install the w. media player and some other compatibility patches and IE8....That's my choice shared ! EU can't blame me for my choice....it will never be too late for me to change browser or the windows media player...despite their restrictice laws....Am i still a noob or naive? perhaps....
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 39
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #7

    Well, it was never really about any fear of the evil Microsoft "monopoly" anyways...just political correctness and govt. grandstanding gone amuck. In the U.S., in my home state of CT, our esteemed Atty General made great hoopla about going after Microsoft for their evil ways, and how spending <I>millions</I> in state taxpayer money to pursue this case would save all of us unfortunate "victims" all kinds of money...

    Unlike the EU, the govt. "findings" and subsequent slap at MS, so that they could proclaim that they accomplished something did not even result in anything as draconian as this! I am still waiting for my govt windfall from the tax money spent pursuing this silly case...not one red cent that I can find...

    I am all for anyone using any browser with Windows that they wish, why not? However, i find it incredibly stupid to villanize MS for including their own browser...as mentioned, Apple, rightly so, does the same. I think in today's computing world, with "cloud computing", and the fact that we do almost nothing on our computers that does not directly or indirectly involve Internet access, it is just plain silly to state that a browser is not an integral part of an OS!

    Further, for those of us that go back a few years or more, I remember when you had to buy a browser for the world wide web! It was Microsoft's inclusion of IE that changed the paradigm. In fact, a number of "features" that we now expect and take for granted in our OS, be it Windows, OS/10, even Linux, are apps or applets that we once had to purchase separately. Much ado about nothing.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,427
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    In the interests of Science, i downloaded the browser ballot, and nothing happened (as expected, FF is my default browser) then i set IE as default and restarted, still nothing happened, so obviously its a one shot thing
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,127
    Windows XP - Now Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit).
       #9

    severedsolo said:
    In the interests of Science, i downloaded the browser ballot, and nothing happened (as expected, FF is my default browser) then i set IE as default and restarted, still nothing happened, so obviously its a one shot thing
    Lol, nice idea and thanks for letting us know; and FF here too
      My Computer


 
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