Microsoft is to set to ask millions of Europeans if they wish to use a browser other than Internet Explorer this week, as part of a deal with the European Commission.
A pop-up window will prompt users to choose one of 12 different browsers or simply stick with Microsoft's own Internet Explorer.
The browser choice software will be delivered to users of Windows XP, Vista or 7 as part of Windows Update system this week, although users of non-IE browsers such as Opera, Safari, Chrome or Firefox will not see it.
An important choice
The software will give the user the prompt: "An important choice to make: your browser" leading to a screen with the list of the 12 web browsers available, with Opera, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer randomly ordered on the first section.
Seven lesser-known browsers - Sleipnir, Green Browser, Maxthon, Avant, Flock, K-meleon, and Slim - are randomly ordered on the rest of the screen.
Each listing contains a small amount of information on the browser in question and a download button.
The choice screen will keep appearing until a user has selected their preferred browser. Anyone wanting to stick with IE will be prompted to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8.
Net Applications currently claims that Microsoft IE is used by around 62 per cent of web users worldwide, followed by Firefox which has a 24 per cent market share.
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
mikealpha85
March 5th 2010
7. This is ridiculous , why should microsoft carry the burden of advertising for other people's work . Opera should have used media outlets to get to the average computer user not force someone else to do itfor them . This is very unfair to microsoft regardless of the other terrible things microsoft does
.
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john_smith
March 2nd 2010
6. Ooops ! The penny has just dropped.
Yes: i received the update. No: i did'nt see the browser choice screen.
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john_smith
March 2nd 2010
5. "...although users of non-IE browsers such as Opera, Safari, Chrome or Firefox will not see it."
This is not true. I use Firefox and i received this update today. If Microsoft want to know just how unpopular their browser is, they are about to find out. (lol)
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tombutcher1990
March 2nd 2010
4. i had this start popping up last week on a few computers when i did windows updates.
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lovlid
March 1st 2010
3. "The choice screen will stop them in their tracks and they wont know what to select for the best."
"most people that use IE are using it because they've not heard of the alternatives"
But now they will hear of the alternatives and they can do what the rest of us did, check out their sites, read a few reviews and make a decision, change or no. It ain't rocket science, it never has been, despite what the anti MS boys say. Stop being so patronising and assuming "old people" and novices are incapable of learning.
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randomdog
March 1st 2010
2. Utter ******** way of doing it, it 'wont appear for people who use non-IE browsers' - Not exactly the fairest way of finding out browser preference, most people that use IE are using it because they've not heard of the alternatives.
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madjedi
March 1st 2010
1. This will confuse and intimidate so many older people, like my parents, who have just got into using the internet but dont realy know or care what browser they are using. The choice screen will stop them in their tracks and they wont know what to select for the best.
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