mikolas

HP to Install Silverlight on Their Consumer PCs

Numerous different places have reported that Microsoft has struck a deal with HP to install Live as the default search engine for their consumer PC line. Also, as a side effect, Silverlight (and .Net) will make its way on these PCs. This seems to be a duplication of the strategy Microsoft used to use to cut Netscape out of their air supply in the nineties, with famous consequences.

While I have nothing against the technology itself, I think this kind of tactics undervalue the consumers freedom to choose what to have in their machines without their consent, and thus bring up some very interesting issues involving HP’s and Microsoft’s liability, should any security issues arise because of this practise.

Other than that, I really think this will not change the bigger picture that much. 4 million shipped PCs is a fraction of Google user base or Flash installed base. So it leaves me wondering, why to make such a deal given all the history Microsoft has of such arrangements. Seems to me like playing with fire.