Microsoft to offer choice of browsers
Microsoft will offer Windows users a choice of web-browser after the American software giant finally resolved their case, regarding an accused abuse of a dominant market position, with the European Commission. Now users of their operating system and Internet Explorer will be prompted to choose between sticking with Microsoft’s browser or pick from twelve browsers from other developers, after their computer’s next automatic Windows update.Internet statistics firm Net Applications have estimated that Internet Explorer is currently used by 62% of web users, although this is expected to decline now that users are to be prompted with a choice.
The browsers on offer range from the socially-orientated Flock to the streamlined and economical GreenBrowser. Although we haven’t trialled them all, at On The Road Computing we normally recommend Google Chrome because of its speed on all machines, and Firefox, statistically the second most popular browser, for its abundance of useful add-ons.
The development is a positive step as it raises the average internet user’s awareness of alternatives to Internet Explorer.
