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Browser Ballot update: Opera downloads triple, crusty web geek finds reason to bitch
It appears as though the Browser Ballot screen Microsoft recently pushed to EU residents via Windows update is having the desired effect -- at least if you're not Microsoft.
Opera, who recently shined up version 10.50 of their browser, has seen downloads triple since the screen went live. In a post on ComputerWorld, Opera's Rolf Assev said that downloads have exceeded their expectations for a 'normal launch.' So surely if Opera has seen an increase that means the screen works and people are making their own choices, right?
Not so fast, says UK web designer Richard Quick! Did I say choice? Clearly, I'm insane (even though 12 different browsers are shown), because according to Quick there's very little actual choice involved with the ballot screen.
"Look at the rendering engines!" Quick said to the BBC, "That's what matters!"
Opera, who recently shined up version 10.50 of their browser, has seen downloads triple since the screen went live. In a post on ComputerWorld, Opera's Rolf Assev said that downloads have exceeded their expectations for a 'normal launch.' So surely if Opera has seen an increase that means the screen works and people are making their own choices, right?
Not so fast, says UK web designer Richard Quick! Did I say choice? Clearly, I'm insane (even though 12 different browsers are shown), because according to Quick there's very little actual choice involved with the ballot screen.
"Look at the rendering engines!" Quick said to the BBC, "That's what matters!"
Sorry. No, it doesn't matter in this case. While several of the browsers presented share rendering engines, they're quite different when you look at the whole program -- which is what people are choosing. Are Chrome and Safari (which share Webkit) the same? Firefox and KMeleon (Gecko)? Internet Explorer and Maxthon? That looks like three nos to me.
But wait! There are a bunch presented which use IE's Trident engine, and Microsoft isn't allowed to do that!
Oh, crap, there's an AND in there: "and the development or distribution of which is funded in whole or in substantial part by Microsoft." To my knowledge, Microsoft doesn't fund the guys at Maxthon or Sleipnir -- please correct me if I'm wrong.Microsoft is also not allowed to feature any browser "which is based on Internet Explorer's rendering engine and the development or distribution of which is funded in whole or in substantial part by Microsoft."
The screen is working. Let it do its thing, and let the consumers who care about choice make their choices. Let's not force-feed people third-rate HTML renderers under the guise of "fairness."
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentssaudrapsmannMar 4th 2010 1:34PM
Something that uses IE's engine does not mean it's funded by Microsoft... I can't believe someone would actually suggest otherwise.
Good for Opera, though. I still won't use it until they bother to fix 90% of the bugs they chose to ignore when they released this version. Honestly, the beta should have gone on maybe a little bit longer than 2 weeks?
warrenjoseph76Mar 4th 2010 9:43PM
Haven't noticed any major bugs myself. I'm loving it and the fact that gmail and other google products finally work the way they're meant to (though I understand that to have been a google issue rather than an Opera one). What bugs have you run into specifically?
nisMar 5th 2010 1:50AM
The most complained about bug was that Opera crashes on a specially designed page:
http://niels.vg/media/opera_crash.html
Apparently this page is on the daily routine of many people so its perfectly understandable that the browser was unusable.
Seriously though, one major bug that remains unsolved is related to the mail client where if mail is sent multiple times, the mail attachment stops sending.
Hardly enough reason to stop using the browser but hopefully it will be fixed in 10.51
ericloeweMar 4th 2010 1:48PM
I wonder how many of them are coming from the baallot screen.
JoeADMar 4th 2010 1:49PM
From the BBC article :
"When the browser choice page popped-up for web designer Richard Quick..."
Any web designer who has IE as their default browser needs their head examining.
rokicMar 5th 2010 6:54AM
I second that.
Also, there isn't that many engines to choose from. I didn't do any extensive research, but wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_layout_engines names several engines, of which only Presto, Gecko, Webkit and Trident work under Windows. In conclusion, the web-designer is just craving for attention.
AemonyMar 4th 2010 2:26PM
Since when did the rendering engine behind the browser matter? Regular people pick software due to their features, not due to what rendering engine they use.
master811Mar 4th 2010 6:07PM
Except, one of the big points of not using IE is because its rendering engine is complete rubbish and so much slower than the other major browser's engines.
master811Mar 4th 2010 6:09PM
To add, it's the reason why we need these other browsers, even if IE suddendly came with addons like NoScript and AdBlock etc. it would still be pants because the benefits simply don't outweight the fact the engine is rubbish.
AemonyMar 4th 2010 11:51PM
True, but don't forget that since IE has long been this big most high security websites and the like are designed to work best with IE, and sometimes they won't even give support to other browsers.
Just removing all, or almost all, web browsers that use Triton isn't a valid solution since some countries, like China, still are way back on the whole company websites supporting other render engines business.
And IE8 isn't IE6. Yeah, sure, it's still bad in terms of WC3 standards but it's not THAT bad anymore, and in terms of security it's one of the most secure web browsers on Windows.
PallabMar 4th 2010 2:40PM
I doubt if Opera's dload tripled. Data officially released by opera shows that dloads tripled in some countries during SOFT launch.
http://techie-buzz.com/opera/opera-capital-markets-day.html
Quite obviously the figures should be much much higher after the actual launch. Reuters and other media outlets may have fumbled with the facts. But, I don't know for sure. I am just guessing.
SilverWaveMar 5th 2010 7:15AM
@ Aemony
Keep taking the tablets man ;) IE and Security are just non mixy things.
SilverWaveMar 5th 2010 7:17AM
@ Lee Mathews
Heh Lee... dint you say that this would never happen and that MS would tell the EU to stop whining?
:D
Yes I am keeping count :P