Firefox Fan Cries Fowl As Safari Outranks Firefox In Microsoft Browser Poll
11:50 am, October 16th, 2009, Ed Sutherland
Safari Gains Top Billing As Internet Explorer Alternative
A Firefox developer is crying foul over Microsoft’s decision to place Apple’s Safari ahead of the open-source browser in a ballot aimed at European Windows users. The decision gives Safari a “disproportionate advantage” over the Mozilla-built Firefox, argues designer Jenny Boriss.
“Windows users presented with the current design will tend to make only two choices: IE because they are familiar with it, or Safari because it is the first item,” she said. Boriss stressed her opinion does not reflect the views of Mozilla.
The ballot lists Safari first, followed by Google’s Chrome, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Firefox 3 and Opera, is designed to answer European Commission criticism that including IE with Windows was unfair. The ballot allows Windows users to pick the browser that will be installed. Microsoft’s latest version of Windows, Windows 7, is expected to be released October 22.
In a statement, the Commission said the ballot allows Windows users to “make a free and fully informed choice of Web browser.” However, Boriss believes the move provides unfair advantage to Safari. She noted while Firefox is available for both Windows and the Mac, Safari “does not provide an ideal browsing experience on Windows.” The designer suggested altering the browser, providing either IE alternatives in random order or ranking the software by market share. While Firefox has 22.7 percent of the browser market, Safari has 2.6 percent (3.7 percent according to Net Applications, which includes both Apple and Windows versions.)
[Via AppleInsider]
Posted by Ed Sutherland in News | Comment on this article
usual bullshit from microsoft. They limit the visibility of the only browser that can compete with IE. What a load of crap, all coming from Seattle
foxer, on October 16th, 2009 at 11:55 am
God what will people moan about next?
Ridiculous.
Andrew Macdonald, on October 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
um, aren’t they listed alphabetically via the company name?
Apple
Google
Microsoft
Mozilla
Superwhiners (aka Opera)
Capt Obvious, on October 16th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Urrgghh!
That window hurts my eyes!
How can people put with it that color?
Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira, on October 16th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
We read from left to right, but you can also look at the arrangement as having IE front and center, FF and Chrome as second on the “podium”, and Safari and Opera being on the fringes.
Somebody sue!
Timmy, on October 16th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
yes, it is in alphabetical order. if they want firefox to be listed first, they should rename mozilla to AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. that would also be infinitely more amusing to say.
firesign3000, on October 16th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
The horizontal scroll bar under the browser choices seems to indicate that there are a fair few other alternatives to choose from. So what else is listed here?
I totally agree with Andrew Macdonald, it’s ridiculous that someone would complain about this (dare I suggest that she’s simply seeking some attention?) – personally I’m a Firefox fan too, but I won’t be getting my knickers in a twist over Microsoft’s design decisions.
Disproportionate advantage? Get a life.
Jonathan Hollin, on October 16th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
It should actually be listed as:
Chrome
Safari
IE
Firefox
Opera
With that listing, you can conceptualize a pyramid, where the the two on the outskirts (Chrome and Opera) are the lowest, and so forth. That would make much more logical sense based on usage data…
But who cares. People whine about everything…
WS, on October 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I agree with Timmy completely. But why don’t they just randomize the order that the items appear each time the page loads? No reason to complain then.
Aaron, on October 16th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
@foxer: Keep in mind that this is Microsoft’s OS, not Mozilla’s. They are forced by the EU to let users choose which browser they want to use. Nobody said in which order the browsers should be listed. Why should they give Firefox the best position? They’re competitors!
No matter how Microsoft orders them, there will always be complaints. If they randomize it, they probably will be criticized because they could push Internet Explorer on the best positions more often. So they make a simple choice: order alphabetically by company name.
Firefox only wants the best position for itself, no matter if other browsers are better or not. It is pure egoism and malevolence. If I were Microsoft, I would stick with this decision. Otherwise someone could say they sympathize with a specific browser or company. Especially now that Mozilla is so childish about it.
Totie, on October 17th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Oh for flips sake! What a bunch of bloody kids honestly! ( not us lot, FF team )
99% of Window’s users: Big-Blue-E = Da Internet!
FACT! Not conjecture or guess.
It wouldn’t matter what order they were in, somebody would cry about it. It’s Windows. There will only be two choices, 99% of people who use windows will simply click the Big-Blue-E, everyone else will click Firefox. Maybe one or two might try something different like Opera or Safari.
IE is still going to get installed as that’s all 99% of Windows users know.
Fuzzypig, on October 18th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
let me call the WAHmbulance
thefixer, on October 19th, 2009 at 6:01 am
I think Microsoft still put themselves at the best location… at the center…
KP, on October 20th, 2009 at 12:12 am
I’d think there are bigger issues to complain about…
And, on the issue of looks, that is a typical reflection of Microsoft design. Fugly. Schmugly.
Derek, on October 20th, 2009 at 10:47 am
it continues to amaze me that most wondoz users I know still use IE in the USA.
they just don’t seem to know much.
FF seems much better? I have not tried chrome.
ged, on October 21st, 2009 at 7:10 am