Opera Software has filed an antitrust suit against Microsoft in the European Union, accusing it of stifling competition by tying
its Internet Explorer Web browser to Windows, Opera Software said Thursday. The complaint, IDG News Service reports, which was filed with the European Commission on Wednesday, sounds familiar. It accuses Microsoft of abusing its dominant position in the desktop PC market by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows. This, Opera Software says, hinders adoption of competitive browsers. Opera wants the Commission to force Microsoft to either unbundle IE from Windows, or include other browsers as a standard part of its operating system. (Didn't we hear all of this from Netscape back in 1999 , and again in 2002?)
The bundling of IE with Windows also hinders interoperability between Websites and browsers. IE is not forced to follow accepted standards, but can force Web developers to program to its quirks. Because IE owns nearly 80% of the browser market, Web developers have little choice (and sometimes little motivation) but to focus on creating Websites that display well in IE. In the filing, Opera asked the Commission to force Microsoft to adhere to industry standards with its Web browser.
The filing comes on the heels of last week's firestorm surrounding IE7 and IE8. Last week, a group of bloggers put Bill Gates on the spot over IE's lack of interoperability and direction. See also: What users (and Web developers) hate about IE7
However, users are finding Opera's moves to be reactionary and whiney. Comments on the Network World site indicate that users have no interoperability problems downloading Opera to their Windows PCs. Plus, of course, we've all heard this song before. Opera Software launched itself into a post-Netscape era, where Microsoft had already lost the antitrust browser battle with the U.S. government but won the market share war. Still, users are confused as to why Opera is blaming Microsoft for incompatibility. Says one reader: "In less time than it takes to read their complaint, I am able to download, install, and run Opera without any problems. What exactly are they complaining about?"
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Opera should be more appreciated
I think that they are right. Actually Microsoft is a monopolist. Their action is directed to make people have to use Windows and programs which the company gives. People got used to IE
and most of them probably will still want to use it. I like, use and develop under my opera, anyway I agree that Opera should be more appreciated.
This is not the best way to gain market share
I think Opera guys should stop trying to make Microsoft unbundle Internet Explorer with Windows. Each window maker in Linux comes with a decent browser and the fact that IE is a pretty good browser and people are used to it this not means they should remove it from Windows.
I personally use Firefox and I had IE. It's my choice and if you have already IE installed nobody forces you to use it. There are many free web browsers you can use if you don't like IE.
So I think Opera should concentrate on making their browser better and better like Firefox did, and the people will switch by free will.
don't think so
people are already switching from internet explorer to other browsers like opera and firefox.. and many (including me) already beleive opera is better than firefox in cool functions, smooth speed, low memory usage, faster startup and maybe even looks..
you are right that it is ppl's personal choice whichever browser they wan't to use but isn't it unfair that all of us has forcefully have to install internet explorer on our desktops at first.. even after that you have to keep it on your pc and you can't remove it bcuz it is hardwired in it.. also for many functions like windows upgrade and all, you still have to use internet explorer.. microsoft really IS abusing their OS domination..