Filed under: Hardware, Windows, Google, Browsers
Game on, Microsoft: Google Chrome shipping as default browser on some PCs
by Lee Mathews Nov 6th 2009 at 1:30PM
The EC might be content with Microsoft's browser ballot screen, but that's not stopping Google from getting OEMs to turn away from Internet Explorer on their own.
Google already has deals with several OEMs to include their software, of course. They've been shipping Google Desktop on OEM pcs for quite some time now, and their plans to drop Google Chrome on new users have come to fruition as well.
As you can see, I unboxed a new Sony Vaio laptop running Windows 7 yesterday. Nestled amongst the other desktop icons was the tri-color Chrome orb.
Not only was Chrome pre-pinned to the Windows 7 taskbar, but a quick look at the internet options on the laptop revealed sad news for Internet Explorer: it had been bumped from default web browsing duties.
If we weren't already in the middle of an all-out browser war, the introduction of Google Chrome as the preinstalled default on Windows PCs could well set things off.
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Seanross said 1:42PM on 11-06-2009
just saves me work, when people bring their computers for me to setup or fix. The first thing i do for them is download Firefox and/or Chrome
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DeadlYRage said 2:14PM on 11-06-2009
I agree, IE needs some work!
DeadlYRage said 2:12PM on 11-06-2009
ohh noesssssssssssssss! You mean Microsoft would ship THEIR OS with IE!? OMG the nerve of them! lol All being serious aside, I am starting to like Google Chrome, once a stable release with addons is available...it might just take over my firefox!:)>
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harmx said 2:23PM on 11-06-2009
nah...I'd prefer google not tracking my surfing thanks; use iron sometimes though!
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RogueJedi86 said 4:08PM on 11-06-2009
Would you rather Google track your surfing with Chrome, or Microsoft track your surfing with IE? I personally would prefer Google/Chrome. Plus there's no evidence that your browsing is being sent back to Google. Also, what are you looking at that would get you in trouble if tracked?
harmx said 5:40PM on 11-06-2009
Err...I don't use either browser.
..."Also, what are you looking at that would get you in trouble if tracked?"
hehe, you miss understand; I personally don't want any company 'stalking' me under the guise of targeted marketing- others seem not to mind ;)
RTMS said 2:37PM on 11-06-2009
That isn't all very fair, if IE/Mircosoft has to give people a choice of browser shouldn't that prohibit Google walking in and just doing the same thing Microsoft has been doing? It seems kinda shady to me. Of course I still prefer Firefox and they haven't even gotten this far yet so kudos to Google.
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RogueJedi86 said 4:11PM on 11-06-2009
The way the post words it, it sounds like IE is still installed, Chrome is just default. That isn't forcing your browsing habits. In fact, it encourages diversity, since Microsoft sure didn't/doesn't have 2 browsers installed on PCs where IE is default. At least with this, you can go back to IE without having to install another.
Lee Mathews said 4:13PM on 11-06-2009
The way the post words it?
You can see the IE icon pinned to the superbar, y'all. ;)
Undrhil said 3:17PM on 11-06-2009
I agree with RTMS. If Microsoft can't force a browser on the end-user, what gives Google the right to do it?
Now, I can understand if the OEM decided on their own to make this choice, but if Google has made a deal with the OEMs to do it, that's not very fair, in the long run.
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Nick said 3:02PM on 11-06-2009
@RTMS: Microsoft has a monopoly position, Google does not.
So they can bundle Chrome without legal issues, Internet Explorer 8 still IS bundled with Windows 7 though.
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sm4rt357ch1ld said 3:29PM on 11-06-2009
But it's not like Google is some penniless start-up who's browser is being crushed by Microsoft.
Really, I think it's ridiculous to force MS to remove stuff like IE or WMP. By that same reasoning, Apple should be forced to ship OS X without Quicktime, iTunes, and Safari.
Nick said 3:36PM on 11-06-2009
True, but Microsoft never had to remove IE or WMP according to EU regulations.
All they had to do is deliver the operating system as an operation system, not as a software package.
By doing that they are breaking two important laws: tax and the prohibition of commercial tying.
What Google does is adding a browser that directly does not have commercial targets, only virtual commercials targets.
Also Internet Explorer can't be removed as most libraries are left on the system, only the executable is removable.
Google Chrome is fully removable.
mbslrm said 3:51PM on 11-06-2009
I think you mean EU, not EC.
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nicholascronwright said 10:48PM on 11-06-2009
This is some of the best news I have heard in years. Microsoft is good at many things but in the browser market they are way behind yet they continue to try an shove IE down the throats of everyone. Believe it or not many novice PC users don't even know what Chrome is, they just switch on and use whatever is installed (hence IE6 still have such a large market share as it is pre-installed with XP). This can only means good things for the competition and hence advancement of the browser market. One of the best things to happen in a long time...if only more manufacturers will do the same thing!
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Seanross said 12:46PM on 11-08-2009
dudes.... they have to bundle it with something. How else are you going to download something else, if a browser doesnt come with it to begin with.
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