Posted on Sunday, July 26 2009 @ 13:29 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
DailyTech
has talked to Opera's CTO Håkon Wium Lie about Microsoft's proposal to put a browser ballot screen in the European version of Windows 7. According to Lie, any browser maker with over 0.5 percent of Windows browsing marketshare would be eligible to be on the ballot screen, with a maximum of 10 allowed options.
According to Mr. Lie the currently proposal from Microsoft is to present users a ballot screen during Windows 7 installation. Any browser maker with over 0.5 percent Windows browsing marketshare would be eligible to be on the screen, with a maximum of 10 allowed options. This would mean that Opera, Mozilla's Firefox, Google's Chrome, and Apple's Safari would likely be the browsers presented.
Currently Microsoft is proposing that the user choice of a third party browser triggers an automatic download via a link to the company's site, requiring the Windows 7 user to be internet-connected. Opera is a bit concerned about this, but thinks it's better than the former lack of competition. Opera would prefer a "carry" option, with a copy of each third party's browser prepackaged with Windows Mr. Lie states, "A link could work (but) the benefit of the carry (approach) is that you don't need a fast active internet connection."
