Browser ballot means that when you install your operating system, you get to choose the browser you want to install, which Opera forced Microsoft to include in Windows 7 all EU-wide. Here’s an interesting quote from an interview from networkworld.com with the CTO of Opera Håkon Wium Lie:
Q: In your opinion, should Apple also be expected to offer a ballot box for its computers? Should Ubuntu?
The Microsoft case is based on antitrust law, something that only applies to monopolies. Apple and Ubuntu are not monopolies as per the legal definition of a monopoly. Still, it may be a good idea to offer it; the browser is the most important tool for most of us, and having access to better browsers is a good thing.
Besides the web browser, many other important applications come to my mind. So let’s make a ballot for the terminal, IDE/office-suite/other editor, music player, chat client, your favorite sound system, the file manager and package manager. And include all that stuff in Ubuntu, because that way everyone can have access to the best programs. Right?
Wrong! It is the task of a Linux Distribution to provide one set of default applications, which work good together and can do everything the targeted users could need. Not a dozen to choose from! Also wouldn’t that make the easy-to-use Ubuntu pretty complicated? People don’t choose Ubuntu, because it asks you a thousand questions, before it installs…
But the more insulting is the following: Why the hell would a open OS like Ubuntu let the user make a choice between closed source browsers and opensource ones? There’s no way they can be seen equal with Firefox or even Google Chrome (also opensource) from a Linux distribution’s perspective.
About the thing with Mac OS: They have their own browser, Safari. I don’t think that they ported it to Windows just for giving away some of the users to Opera on Mac OS!
Source: networkworld
Found here: gulli
