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]
