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We are dealing with a new marketplace

Viva la crank dodo 22nd Mar 2010

not bricks and mortar stores and advertising.

When the top competitor platform is so pervasive, choice is obscured. Even MS does not "advertise" is browser but simply makes sure that if you use Windows, you use IE. Choice may exist but, with a "free" product, how much can you spend on advertising. MS controls the browser advertising bill board (the OS) and freely markets its own browser while the others a buried in the internet.

The idea that "people have always had a choice" ignores that the majority does not realize there is a choice. NOW they know there is a choice and the fact that downloads have doubled for Opera indicates that many did not know there was a choice. Is it free advertising? I'd say so. But in this move to an electronic marketplace controlled by a major player, I think it is in the consumers interest. It does not keep people from sticking to MS IE, but it does inform users of their options.

I think it is pathetic that some feel one of the richest software companies needs to be protected from its browser now having to compete on merit rather than being given a default position as consumers are up front advised of their options. I have more faith in IE than many of its supporters seem to have as, though I believe many will choose to try alternatives, the majority will stick with IE.