This Is A Bit Too Much…
Posted by Davy Brion on August 7th, 2009
I just opened gmail in Internet Explorer for the first time in ages, and i see this:
Then on google.com, they apparently show this sometimes when you’re using Internet Explorer:
I don’t care which one is better or whether the ads are right or not… but i think the method behind showing these ads is a bit much, considering the fact how IE got its marketshare. It doesn’t matter which company does it, it’s not right.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
You’re on a google site, using a free google service, and you are offended by them offering (not requiring, like many IE-only sites) you a browser optimized for their applications?
Wow.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
no, i’m troubled by the fact that they are leveraging a monopoly to increase market share for one of their other products… you know, like what Microsoft got convicted of.
also, i wonder why i’ve never seen these ads when using Firefox instead of IE
August 7th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Which version of IE are you using?
I get messages like these in IE6, in which case they are pretty much true. But none of these in IE8.
Also when visiting youtube in IE6 I get:
We will be phasing out support for your browser soon. Please upgrade to one of these more modern browsers.: FF3.5, Chrome, IE8
August 7th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
it was IE7
August 7th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
as patterson said, googles just offering what they think its a better browser. IMO, it would be similar to what microsoft once did if they required you to use chrome to check your emails or browse their web apps.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I don’t mind either. Google is offering so much for free, they have to make money as well..
August 7th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
What monopoly are they leveraging?
August 8th, 2009 at 4:57 am
It’s strange. I tried with IE 7 and got that message, not so with FF> With FF, I sometimes see a message advertising chrome when I browse YouTube, but nothing of the kind that promises better experience with chrome.
However, I would not stretch it to Monopoly. They are only competing with IE, and the fact that they are not displaying this message on FF probably indicates that they are only going after MS!
August 25th, 2009 at 2:33 am
“i’m troubled by the fact that they are leveraging a monopoly to increase market share for one of their other products”
Google doesn’t have a monopoly on email. Doesn’t hotmail actually have a higher market share? And for a long time hotmail only worked properly, and maybe still does, with IE.