The European Commission has sent around a questionnaire to PC makers and Microsoft software rivals concerning its preferred remedy to restore fair competition in the browser market. This questionnaire has nine questions - most of which seek feedback on the remedy - which is a proposed "ballot screen" with a list of browsers users would see the first time a new PC is connected to the Internet. The deadlines for replies to the questionnaire is June 12.
Questions include which browsers the companies feel should be included on the ballot screen, how to design the screen, and whether the browsers' software should be pre-loaded in full or if the ballot screen should just include a link allowing easy downloading of the browsers.
There are also three less innocuous questions - trying to ascertain if Microsoft is trying to influence the outcome of response to the questionnaire.
Now the European Commission could be paranoid, or its fears may be founded. Last month the EU fined Intel for paying computer makers (via rebates) not to use a rival's products. Intel has denied this finding.
However, asking a software rival how they think their product should be presented on a "ballot screen" or if Microsoft is trying to influence an outcome does not lend itself to unbiased answers.
Kerrie Meyler, MVP, MCSE, MCTS, CNA, MA, BA, is an independent consultant and trainer with over fifteen years of experience in IT. While at Microsoft in Field Technical Sales for four years she focused on infrastructure and mangement, presenting at numerous product launches. Kerrie has presented Operations Manager 2007 at TechEd 2007 and MMS 2009 and at internal Microsoft conferences, receiving company recognition and awards including a SPAR MGS award. Kerrie worked with Microsoft Learning to develop functional specifications for the original Operations Manager Microsoft courseware, 2550: Implementing Microsoft Operations Manager 2000 and did the beta teach for that course.She also participated in the alpha walkthrough for the 70-400: Configuring Microsoft System Center Operations Manager certification exam.
She is the lead author of Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 Unleashed, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Unleashed, and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 Unleashed. Kerrie is currently developing an eBook on Operations Manager 2007 R2.
Check out an excerpt from System Center Operations Manager 2007 Unleashed, Chapter 3: Looking Inside OpsMgr.
Kerrie's latest book, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 Unleashed by Kerrie Meyler, Byron Holt, and Greg Ramsey has been selected as the August, 2009, Microsoft Subnet book giveaway (a $59.99 value). Check out an excerpt from System Center Configuration (SCCM) Manager 2007 Unleashed, Chapter 3: Looking Inside ConfigMgr.
Visit the Microsoft Subnet home page for giveaway details and entry forms.
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