Microsoft is angering some Windows users with a plucky method of ensuring its Edge browser grabs share from Google Chrome.
Microsoft is angering some Windows users with a plucky method of ensuring its Edge browser grabs ... [+]
Microsoft’s Edge browser has been grabbing share from market dominator Google Chrome since its launch earlier this year and has already reached second place in the market. So far, Chromium based Edge has been well received, with cool new features arriving thick and fast.
Microsoft is keen to ensure Edge gains as much share as possible, and for this reason it’s been using Windows to push its revamped browser out to millions of users. But this plucky move has made some people very angry—so much so that in many cases, it’s putting off Windows users altogether.
Microsoft is aggressively pushing Edge to Windows users
According to reports, it goes like this: You download the Windows 10 update on your device and everything looks as it should when rebooting. Then, when you log on, a huge pop up appears, pushing Edge directly and taking you through a set up and prompting you to import your data from another already installed browser.
Microsoft apparently pins Edge to your taskbar, drops the icon on your desktop, and tries to persuade you to change your default browser to Edge.
Microsoft told The Verge that Edge is simply replacing the old version of its browser that came with Windows 10, and of course this new version is the more secure and functional option. It also pointed out that you can say no: “In this case, a ‘no’ involves force-closing Edge, reaffirming your default browser choice, and having to spend a minute deleting unwanted junk on your desktop,” The Verge report says.
There are also reports via a now deleted Reddit thread that Edge is grabbing browser data from other installed browsers before being given permission to import it. Windows Central provides a clear explanation and advice on how to prevent this issue.
Edge is great, don’t put new users off
Although this issue does appear to be widespread—and it’s already known that Microsoft is pushing Edge out to Windows users, just not how aggressively—some Reddit users say the description in these reports does not match their own experience. It could be that some people don’t see this method as aggressive, but Microsoft does need to be careful of putting off potential new Edge users.
Either way, it’s a shame—Microsoft’s Edge is a great browser, with cool features that really make it a valid alternative to Google’s Chrome. But with this behavior, which some see as reminiscent of Microsoft’s aggressive tactics of the 90s, is going to put a lot of potential new users off.
Come on Microsoft, sort it out.
