Google is bellyaching about Microsoft planning on making MSN the default search engine in its Internet Explorer 7 toolbar search box. What? Would you expect Microsoft to do something different? Would you do something different if you were on the IE7 team? I wouldn't. And let's now forget that Google is pretty tight with the Firefox crowd. The big G is the default search engine and home page in Firefox. And when you go to pick an alternative search engine, MSN is not a top six choice. eBay and Creative Commons are deemed more relevant than MSN:

There might be some truth in claiming that Firefox users are not likely to want to use MSN Search, but nevertheless, isn't Google a pot calling the kettle black? The only reason they dare speak up is that Firefox has far less market share than Internet Explorer and no real potential to oust the incumbent.

Before I get flamed for being a bigot, understand that my personal usage is about 50/50 IE and Firefox. I use Google for search almost exclusively. I love Firefox. I love Google's search technology. But I am finding Google's modus operandi a bit much to stomach these days.

All that being said, I think a fair approach for Microsoft is to show a "Welcome to IE7" page on first run that has a small section saying "Your start page is set to www.msn.com (click here to change)" and "Your default search engine is set to MSN Search (click here to change)". That gives informed users the ability to change things on first run, it won't confuse or irritate people who don't care, and most importantly it prevents Microsoft haters from claiming that Microsoft was abusing its OS and browser dominance.

Technorati : firefox, google, ie7, microsoft, msn

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