New Windows Update - Browser Choice!

Diggsy · 25 Feb 2010 at 11:01

Just noticed a new update available on my XP setup. Appears that this is another part of the EU sillyness..

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976002

This application creates a shortcut on your desktop. This shortcut lets you visit a Web page in which you can select which Web browser you want to install. Additionally, the first time that you log on to the computer after you install the application, Windows Internet Explorer starts automatically and displays the Browser Choice Web page.

Okay then, so it will install a shotcut on my desktop that will take me to a site where I can choose what browser I want.

Erm no thanks, think I can do that myself. :rolleyes:

ajstan · 25 Feb 2010 at 11:04

Yh I just saw that, what a load of rubbish lol

bledd · 25 Feb 2010 at 11:04

I hate all this bullcrap we have to put up with in the EU

SiriusB · 25 Feb 2010 at 11:06

It is ridiculous. Those who know better go and get whatever browser they want. Those who don't, don't care.

bledd · 25 Feb 2010 at 11:21

Exactly

Totality · 25 Feb 2010 at 12:17

So to open the webpage containing a list of other browser, does it use Internet Explorer in the first place?

I don't understand why Microsoft is always persecuted for not offering options when Apple is really bad in this respect (closed custom hardware, locked OS, etc) but they call it a feature of Macs and charge more for them!

As far as I'm concered Apple are a far worse business than Microsoft and seeing the recent news articles about how they treat their suppliers with secrecy agreements, forcing computer manufactures to make custom processors instead of using off the shelf design meaning more waste, etc it's shocking.

tripitaka · 25 Feb 2010 at 13:34

bledd. said:
I hate all this bullcrap we have to put up with in the EU

This largely came about due to complaints from Opera who, ironically, are a Norwegian country - not even in the EU.

m4cc45 · 25 Feb 2010 at 13:42

I shall be deleting the icon as soon as I have it - wonder if I can actually say I don't want this update. Pretty pointless other than to confuse the novice user.

M.

ajstan · 25 Feb 2010 at 15:29

m4cc45 said:
I shall be deleting the icon as soon as I have it - wonder if I can actually say I don't want this update. Pretty pointless other than to confuse the novice user.

M.

Almost certainly will cause confusion to a novice user - seriously, what's the point?

It's Microsoft's OS, they ship with IE, what's the problem?

AtreuS · 25 Feb 2010 at 15:44

How the hell do you get rid of it?

Just done an update and now each and every time i boot up it shows this daft screen and its not in add/remove or in the updates remove section! its acting like damn malware!

moawan · 25 Feb 2010 at 15:50

Political Correctness Gone MAD

mrk · 25 Feb 2010 at 15:53

I doubt the average user will even find the icon having seen how many icons are cluttered on user machines!

robinbredin · 25 Feb 2010 at 16:01

I shall be deleting the icon as soon as I have it - wonder if I can actually say I don't want this update. Pretty pointless other than to confuse the novice user.

Got that KB976002 update, but I got no icon with it.

Cosimo · 25 Feb 2010 at 16:41

ajstan said:
Almost certainly will cause confusion to a novice user - seriously, what's the point?

It's Microsoft's OS, they ship with IE, what's the problem?

Just a little tiff between the EU and Microsoft with regard to uncompetitive practices and some fines.

I had the option to install this and haven't, big deal.

mrk · 25 Feb 2010 at 16:44

How are XP users getting this when it should be Windows 7 users?

CrowK · 25 Feb 2010 at 17:16

Bear in mind that over 10% of people still use internet exploder v6

In other words: a substantial proportion of the zombie-pcs host to bot-nets.

For fear of losing market share, Microsoft have so far only tried to move people to IE 7 or 8. It's ridiculous they've this irresponsible till now.

boosfuk · 25 Feb 2010 at 17:27

As I understand it from reading the Microsoft support page you only get the icon (update becomes active) if IE8 is your default browser. So it has no effect if Firefox etc. is already your default browser. So no need for us to moan?

Bry · 25 Feb 2010 at 18:00

Khaaan! said:
How are XP users getting this when it should be Windows 7 users?

Originally there was talk of it being shipped with windows 7. However, due to all the changes that were going through with this it was changed to include xp, vista and 7

Infam0us · 25 Feb 2010 at 18:13

Diggsy said:
I can do that myself.

Mattus · 25 Feb 2010 at 18:53

This will create loads of confusion. Lots of people don't even know what a browser is - they just know that they click the blue 'e' to 'open the internet'. Now they're being faced with a choice they don't understand, when their internet was working perfectly fine ten minutes before. Most will either just close the window, phone up a geek or click on Internet Explorer to get the window to go away.

I can see this benefiting Chrome, though. The screen basically asks you to choose a browser based on a name and a logo, and Google has the most recognisable name and logo on the web.