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> Microsoft leverages its immensely powerful position as the supplier of the ubiquitous Windows PC operating system, as well as many productivity and other must

> Microsoft leverages its immensely powerful position as the supplier of the ubiquitous Windows PC operating system, as well as many productivity and other must-have apps, to push users towards its first-party browser, Edge, through tactics that restrict, distort and subvert user choice. Heh. This could have been written 25 years ago. Though at least back then, Microsoft was winning. Since then, the market share of IE/Edge has become so irrelevant that most people have stopped caring so much about these tactics. At this point, it mostly just comes across as adorable when Windows tries to push you to use Edge. Like "wow, they're still trying."

NtG_UK 4mo ago
Totally. First thing I did was check the article posting date :D EU-specific measures: https://windowsforum.com/threads/windows-11s-browser-choice-update-limited-to-europe-regulated-change.375446/ https://windowsforum.com/threads/windows-11s-browser-choice-...
protocolture 4mo ago
>Heh. This could have been written 25 years ago. I am reading this wondering if I got pranked and its a historical article. Until I got to "Edge"
- anygivnthursday 4mo ago
  Maybe this is what they meant by Internet Explorer mode in Edge
  - protocolture 4mo ago
    We have heard the complaints and are reverting to delivering the OS marketplace domination you all know and love.
- drooopy 4mo ago
  My first thought was "what year is this"?
calmbonsai 4mo ago
As someone who was NTSE certified in the late '90s, you are absolutely correct. I stopped supporting the platform when they: - Mandated WGA even for licensed partners that got "Teh Crate" of every release every month which mandated multiple hosts for every version in lieu of simple multi-boot - Allowed arbitrary code in the Registry - Embedded IE making multi-browser testing a nightmare - Developer API support went from detailed direct emails and MSDN articles from actual people to "search MSN on Google". Just let Windows "die on the vine". There's zero point to continue propping up this dead platform outside of...edge ;) cases for industrial, embedded, military, and govt., use that are (mostly) already effectively version-locked anyways.
- SturgeonsLaw 4mo ago
  One look at enterprise will tell you Windows is not a dead platform
- SirFatty 4mo ago
  what is NTSE? Did you mean MCSE?
  - calmbonsai 4mo ago
    lol, yes, good catch
cess11 4mo ago
'At this point, it mostly just comes across as adorable when Windows tries to push you to use Edge. Like "wow, they're still trying."' Among people who aren't nerds it is working. You'll see this in e.g. the public sector and at the top of corporations. They also do things that force certain people to use Edge under Windows, like bulk downloads from 365 through their compliance portal. This requires a particular type of browser plugin that will only function under those conditions. I perceived this as despicable rather than adorable when I had to work around it to provide services to lawyers.
BiteCode_dev 4mo ago
[dead]
rkagerer 4mo ago
This could have been written 25 years ago. Indeed, I can't believe we're still having the same conversation decades later. And now with Google effectively dictating how you interact with the web, the industry has gotten worse, not better.
- orwin 4mo ago
  I still remember the popup ads in IE, especially those resembling system alerts. Even without Adblock, the web is way better right now that it used to be in 2001.
safety1st 4mo ago
It needs to be said that this article was written by the Browser Choice Alliance, which is funded by another convicted monopolist, namely Google. So this is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, and the conflict of interest is obvious; Google paid for this article because they want to preserve their own anti-competitive monopoly position. It's unfortunate that this is where we are with American business in 2026, basically one mafia taking shots at another, but that's what you get when the government gives up on enforcing the law.
- HeavyStorm 4mo ago
  Oh god
N19PEDL2 4mo ago
Why is Microsoft pushing Windows users to use Edge? What does it gain if a user chooses Edge over Firefox or Chrome? Is it just about in-browser ad?
- hagbard_c 4mo ago
  Data. Every move, every click, every visited URL, dwell time on sites, etc. Also, the competition does not get these data, at least not as easily.
- lenkite 4mo ago
  They want a locked down and controlled ecosystem like Apple's - which can make $$$. Same reason why you can use ANY browser "skin" on iOS as long as as it is ONLY the standard platform distributed webkit. Sadly MS gave up Windows on the mobile like a buffoon, so all they have left to control is their desktop OS.
BizarroLand 4mo ago
> At this point, it mostly just comes across as adorable Adorable like a rabid chihuahua who won't stop pissing and shitting and barking and trying to spread its rabies to anyone in biting distance

NtG_UK 4mo ago

Totally. First thing I did was check the article posting date :D EU-specific measures: https://windowsforum.com/threads/windows-11s-browser-choice-update-limited-to-europe-regulated-change.375446/ https://windowsforum.com/threads/windows-11s-browser-choice-...

protocolture 4mo ago

>Heh. This could have been written 25 years ago. I am reading this wondering if I got pranked and its a historical article. Until I got to "Edge"

anygivnthursday 4mo ago
Maybe this is what they meant by Internet Explorer mode in Edge
- protocolture 4mo ago
  We have heard the complaints and are reverting to delivering the OS marketplace domination you all know and love.
drooopy 4mo ago
My first thought was "what year is this"?

calmbonsai 4mo ago

As someone who was NTSE certified in the late '90s, you are absolutely correct. I stopped supporting the platform when they: - Mandated WGA even for licensed partners that got "Teh Crate" of every release every month which mandated multiple hosts for every version in lieu of simple multi-boot - Allowed arbitrary code in the Registry - Embedded IE making multi-browser testing a nightmare - Developer API support went from detailed direct emails and MSDN articles from actual people to "search MSN on Google". Just let Windows "die on the vine". There's zero point to continue propping up this dead platform outside of...edge ;) cases for industrial, embedded, military, and govt., use that are (mostly) already effectively version-locked anyways.

SturgeonsLaw 4mo ago
One look at enterprise will tell you Windows is not a dead platform
SirFatty 4mo ago
what is NTSE? Did you mean MCSE?
- calmbonsai 4mo ago
  lol, yes, good catch

cess11 4mo ago

'At this point, it mostly just comes across as adorable when Windows tries to push you to use Edge. Like "wow, they're still trying."' Among people who aren't nerds it is working. You'll see this in e.g. the public sector and at the top of corporations. They also do things that force certain people to use Edge under Windows, like bulk downloads from 365 through their compliance portal. This requires a particular type of browser plugin that will only function under those conditions. I perceived this as despicable rather than adorable when I had to work around it to provide services to lawyers.

BiteCode_dev 4mo ago

[dead]

rkagerer 4mo ago

This could have been written 25 years ago. Indeed, I can't believe we're still having the same conversation decades later. And now with Google effectively dictating how you interact with the web, the industry has gotten worse, not better.

orwin 4mo ago
I still remember the popup ads in IE, especially those resembling system alerts. Even without Adblock, the web is way better right now that it used to be in 2001.

safety1st 4mo ago

It needs to be said that this article was written by the Browser Choice Alliance, which is funded by another convicted monopolist, namely Google. So this is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, and the conflict of interest is obvious; Google paid for this article because they want to preserve their own anti-competitive monopoly position. It's unfortunate that this is where we are with American business in 2026, basically one mafia taking shots at another, but that's what you get when the government gives up on enforcing the law.

HeavyStorm 4mo ago
Oh god

N19PEDL2 4mo ago

Why is Microsoft pushing Windows users to use Edge? What does it gain if a user chooses Edge over Firefox or Chrome? Is it just about in-browser ad?

hagbard_c 4mo ago
Data. Every move, every click, every visited URL, dwell time on sites, etc. Also, the competition does not get these data, at least not as easily.
lenkite 4mo ago
They want a locked down and controlled ecosystem like Apple's - which can make $$$. Same reason why you can use ANY browser "skin" on iOS as long as as it is ONLY the standard platform distributed webkit. Sadly MS gave up Windows on the mobile like a buffoon, so all they have left to control is their desktop OS.

BizarroLand 4mo ago

> At this point, it mostly just comes across as adorable Adorable like a rabid chihuahua who won't stop pissing and shitting and barking and trying to spread its rabies to anyone in biting distance