Vista Search Seems Fair, Regulators Say

Vista Search Seems Fair, Regulators Say

malebolgia on 13 May 2006 - 21:20 · 19 comments & 11823 views

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The U.S. government has given its thumbs-up to Microsoft's search box plans for Vista, shrugging off concerns raised recently by Google.

While criticizing Microsoft for its implementation of its existing antitrust accord, regulators appear satisfied with the software maker's plans for Windows Vista, including a new search box that is part of Internet Explorer 7.

As part of its status report on Microsoft's antitrust compliance, the Justice Department said that it had reviewed the search box and concluded that Microsoft's implementation "respects users' and (computer makers') default choices and is easily changed." Google had recently cried foul over the box, which is set to conduct Web searches from a specified engine, while Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer this week defended Microsoft's approach.

News source: C|Net News.com

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(1 reply) #1 Co_Co on 13 May 2006 - 21:34

Good move. Down with whiny companies

#1.1 lbmouse on 15 May 2006 - 17:55

You mean like MS?

(2 replies) #2 neoapple on 13 May 2006 - 21:36

but opera and firefox use google as the default search engine. Should seem fair MS should be allowed to do it

#2.1 cpu killer on 13 May 2006 - 21:46

Fair? Microsoft is only being about as fair as it can be, making the user keep (unless changed) the default search engine he/she had set before.

#2.2 dreamingguy289 on 14 May 2006 - 19:18

MS are a monopoly in terms of OS and browser, which in turn means, they can't use that monopoly (in this case, their browser) to give them a competitive advantage in another market (in this case, search engines). Neither Firefox nor Opera are a monopoly, and neither are they owned by Google. Both Firefox and Opera default to Google at their will.

#3 dmbandfan22 on 13 May 2006 - 22:09

If it can be changed easily by users, why the heck should they be in trouble for that? The claim by Google had no standing from the get go. Only if MS only allowed people to use MSN in the search bar should they be sued for this. Anything else is a waste of legal fees.

(1 reply) #4 Shibby on 13 May 2006 - 22:24

No problems show for me, Opera and Firefox use Google as Default so why should internet explorer?

#4.1 lbmouse on 15 May 2006 - 17:59

Google doesn't own Opera or Firefox and none of the three have an OS that is considered monopolistic. Big difference, but I still don't think the gov't should get invovled.

#5 Audhumla on 13 May 2006 - 22:35

Meh, Google tried.

(3 replies) #6 osirisX on 13 May 2006 - 22:59

Google just wanted more share of the pie. I'm glad that it has now been decided that what MS is doing is fair. Google really are showing themselves to be just like any other company more and more.

#6.1 Jugalator on 13 May 2006 - 23:46

Not that Google wanted their search engine to be the default.

#6.2 rob.derosa on 14 May 2006 - 00:17

no just on a list, which would pop up just after instillation, asking which search engine the user would like to use, with google's name at the top.

its pretty much the same thing

#6.3 Jugalator on 14 May 2006 - 12:28

"with google's name at the top."

No, not that either. That was a comment from others, not a statement from Google.

And no, a list of names with Google not necessarily pre-picked is *far* from the same as a default choice.

#7 slimy on 14 May 2006 - 00:04

Google is acting selfish. As if they would ever put anything but their search in a product they make.

#8 xxdesmus on 14 May 2006 - 02:06

Glad the regulators shot down those whiny b*tches over at Google.

#9 ruey on 14 May 2006 - 02:12

yeah! go the regulators!
and like for once, people are taking microsoft's side in this kind of situation!

#10 rev23dev on 14 May 2006 - 04:21

shouldn't have been an issue in the first place. google went down a notch in my book, which they seem to be doing a lot lately. their services rock, but their business practices are... questionable.

(1 reply) #11 g_denne on 14 May 2006 - 04:23

Google should focus their efforts into an OS. Can't they see the potential of Google OS? I know I'd be churning it out if I were them.

#11.1 MrCobra on 14 May 2006 - 05:27

Not to troll, but I don't see sticking branding *nix with a Google logo as focusing efforts into an OS. Sure, they have enough money to build one from the ground up, but probably won't. Most likely won't considering everything Google has was purchased instead of developed.

As for the original topic...Screw Google.

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Vista Search Seems Fair, Regulators Say

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