Google Unhappy With IE7 Search Default

2 May, 2006 at 11:57am ET Article published in Tech

Is Microsoft stacking the deck in its favor?

The next version of Internet Explorer, available now in test form, includes a box in the corner that lets people perform an Internet search without going to a separate Web page, much like what’s available from Google’s downloadable “toolbar.”

Users who download IE 7 will be assigned a search engine preference based on the AutoSearch function from the previous version of IE, which is likely to be MSN Search.

How is one “assigned” a “preference”?

Source: Fox News

Comments

2 May 2006 ~ 2:09pm Camman why is google mad about this when the default search on FireFox is Google? Sounds like they should contact Mozilla if they think a browser having a default search engine is unfair.
2 May 2006 ~ 2:15pm Linc IE is standard on the operating system, though. It's an anti-trust issue, I think.
2 May 2006 ~ 2:19pm RADA I've been using IE7 Beta 2 for almost 2 weeks now.

LOVE IT! It's smooth, fast and the tabbed windows are great..

I set Google as my default search engine... guess Google is scared some might leave the default MSN search engine....
2 May 2006 ~ 3:18pm Sledgehammer70 I have found many, many, bugs in IE7 but it runs good. I like FF a bit better at the moment, but IE7 is an improvment over IE6.
3 May 2006 ~ 12:53pm pseudonym I hate this issue. I see the STUPID legal side of it but come on. Microsoft wrote the software hence they point the default search to Microsoft. Honestly, I don't care how big a company is or if they have a monopoly, they should be allowed to point their software in default to one of their sites. It isn't locked, it can be changed so deal with it google. Sheesh.
3 May 2006 ~ 1:51pm profdlp Computers have opened up a whole new can of legal worms. (I'm not referring to the lawyers themselves - they are Snakes and Sharks.)

If I were to buy a Chevrolet I would expect it to come with Chevy floormats. It would be obvious by casual examination what they were and if I wanted something different I'd just go out and buy them, with no fear that the car was going to suddenly start acting quirky as a result of the change.

Lots of people are either afraid of making changes to software, don't know how, or don't even know that it is possible to begin with. For Joe Average, the way it works at the beginning is the way it's going to stay, at least until someone who knows better comes along and straightens them out.
3 May 2006 ~ 2:04pm RADA

profdlp wrote:

Computers have opened up a whole new can of legal worms. (I'm not referring to the lawyers themselves - they are Snakes and Sharks.)

If I were to buy a Chevrolet I would expect it to come with Chevy floormats. It would be obvious by casual examination what they were and if I wanted something different I'd just go out and buy them, with no fear that the car was going to suddenly start acting quirky as a result of the change.

Lots of people are either afraid of making changes to software, don't know how, or don't even know that it is possible to begin with. For Joe Average, the way it works at the beginning is the way it's going to stay, at least until someone who knows better comes along and straightens them out.

I agree,

I've seen enough machines owned by "Joe Average" that other than the files they added, (along with assorted viri, spyware/adware/malware) the software configuration was just as they received it from the retailer/manufacturer. Most of them never even update the OS....