Mozilla execs want changes to Microsoft's 'ballot screen' proposal
(ComputerWorld)

It is understandable that Mozilla does not like the proposal coming from Microsoft in regard to the ballot screen. Certainly the only ones who do work for Microsoft. No consumers would like that idea either. Consumers always want choice and to them that means their choice not the choice of anyone else. Anyone who claims that IE is the choice simply works for Microsoft.

But, so far no one from Mozilla, the EU, Google or even Opera has proposed a means to determine if and when a proposed solution is fair and indeed open. No one. So far, everyone has just been jockeying for something that improves their own position. No doubt at the expense of consumers.

Where is the acid test? You know. The one that was proposed here months ago.

The test is simple: When ever someone claims to come up with a solution (including Microsoft), all the EU has to do is switch the products around a bit. Put Firefox where IE used to be. Put IE where ever Chrome ends up. Put Chrome where Opera is. And finally put Opera in the FireFox? slot. Then see who changes their mind about the solution being “fair”. Whomever speaks up to change their opinion after the plan changes via the rotation of products knew they had a clear advantage before and now they have lost it. Microsoft itself will speak up to claim their own plan is unfair and will prevent fair and open competition. Unless, of course, the unfair advantage goes to them.

And I would venture that all of the other participants would do likewise. They will shut up when they think they have the advantage over others. And they will complain when they perceive that someone else retains an advantage.

Heck, if you think that everyone must be forced to buy a browser pre-installed, then fine. Just make it part of the plan. If it has to rotate among the top browsers every quarter or so, then fine. Once every year or so each of the major players will get to have their browser preloaded, right. Only idiots stand up and claim that if a browser is required in every sale then the browser must be IE.

So you can put a browser in every sale. Just do not give that extreme privilege to the antitrust violator. At a minimum any such privilege should be rotated.

Or, you can remove all browsers completely. Not the fake removal that the trade press keeps parroting about what Microsoft claimed. That never happened. Do you really think that Microsoft uncommingled the code between the OS and IE. You know, the act that the US Court of Appeals found to be in violation of the US antitrust laws. Microsoft only claimed to have removed IE hoping to generate a backlash among consumers. It did not really happen as Microsoft certainly had hoped. But, no doubt some OEMs might have a say in what they really prefer. Let them communicate with the EU directly if they want. But, just do not believe them when they just pick whatever Microsoft says everyone must be forced to purchase.

Use the acid test. It clearly points out when ever any proposed solution fails to accomplish what the EU Commission is trying to do. If any browser is included, let the EU Commission rotate the spots and see who stands up to complain. Switch the products around. Or, remove them all.

No consumer is going to complain that they have to buy a browser. Do they not have to do that with all of the other thousands of applications they know they need?

Why on earth should the choice of a browser be removed from the consumer?

Perhaps the choice of all of the other applications should also be removed, right?

You can see the idiots stand up and claim that the browser they are selling must be the one imposed upon all consumers. It is a dead give away.