Opera Boycott, and Other Utter Nonsense

Someone named David, at at site called JCXP, has decided that he does not like the fact that the people who put out Opera have taken Microsoft to task, by way of lawsuit, for the way in which its browser is marketed.

While it is easy to see this as Microsoft being picked on by Opera, or Opera trying to stir up a larger user base, on the back of Microsoft, I see it as no different than the same thing that happened 10 years ago, with Netscape.

Netscape, a much better browser than Internet Explorer was, was getting the short end of the stick because of the distribution of the inferior browser with its operating system. Microsoft used the excuse that the engine of the browser was a part of the operating system; it was chastised, and then it made the outward parts removable to satisfy any judgements that were pending.

The difference here is that Opera has done something about it, and is (possibly) using the public remembrance of the Netscape debacle to give them a small push.

Microsoft has complied with the letter of the European Union ruling, though, with the manner of a petulant child, it has done so in a form that will make many users have to make undue efforts to obtain a browser for Windows 7 in the countries of the EU. Where will their wrath come down? On Opera?

Now this author at JCXP thinks Opera should be boycotted? What planet did he grow up on? The case may be a little late, but Microsoft never really got the smackdown it deserved over the destruction of Netscape. Why then, should anyone be upset by the little Opera making use of a legal means to level the landscape, something that was never possible for the real deliverers of the modern browser, Marc Andreessen, and the Netscape group? (Besides that, why be worried about it, Microsoft will simply donate its way to a favorable judgement, much as it has done in the past.)

The author also seems to think that this will hurt Opera, in the manner that people will actually stop using the browser. He definitely needs clueing in on this one. This needs to be filed under - There is no such thing as bad publicity. Those, like me, who use Opera, are so happy with it that we care little about his article, or poor, poor Microsoft. Also, this ‘boycott‘ will bring enough attention to Opera, and its innovation, that it will gain share – the question remains, how much.

Original article here.

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