Dozens of stories today about Google being concerned about Internet Explorer 7 having Live as the search default. Readers will recall last week’s comprehensive IE7 Beta 2 review included instructions for how to change the default search. It was one of the first things I did in IE7.

Check out what the IE7 blog says:

The search box in IE7 is not Microsoft’s. It belongs to the user. Our guiding principle for the search box in IE7 is that the user is in control.

Apparently Google cited some sort of study about how hard it was to switch default searches? Yes it would be easier if Microsoft included a dropdown menu with at least the big three: Google, Yahoo and MSN listed. And would be even better if they’d include others like ask.com and eBay in that dropdown as well. The extra page they provide is fine for the rest.

But do they have to do this dropdown menu? Should they be forced to by governmental bodies here or abroad? I don’t think so.

Mike from Techdirt sums it up well: “This argument seems flawed for several reasons. It’s very easy for the consumer to switch browsers, unlike operating systems. The rapid growth of Firefox proves that the company has no monopoly when it comes to browsers.”

Google is talking to the Justice Department, according to the New York Times:

Companies often talk with antitrust officials, and the talks do not imply that an investigation is imminent. But they do indicate that Google is pursuing every option in its escalating rivalry with Microsoft, which has already led to some public battles.

Google is right to be concerned about the power of defaults but disagree that Microsoft has made it too difficult for end users to figure out how to change their default search in IE7. When do we stop treating end users like complete morons? If they like Google search results, how difficult will it be for them to visit a Google page with search autodiscovery and click a button? Otherwise, it is as easy as clicking a link and agreeing to the popup inside IE7.

IE7 Example for subscribing to MakeYouGoHmm search
EXAMPLE. Click here to add Hmm search

Now what user of IE7 will not be able to click that link and add the search to IE7? It seems to me the burden is now on the site owner (or search engine company) to make these links clear to their users. In the case of Google they could run the autodiscovery code or even put in something for IE7 users (only) to easily subscribe. This isn’t a complicated problem for a smart company like Google to get past.

As for how one study might show a test audience was confused with the process? I’m sure Microsoft could hire focus groups to find that changing some default feature in Gmail was confusing.

I remember reading that Firefox received a good chunk of money by having Google as the default. Curiously, this is addresses later in the same article (emphasis mine):

… The best way to handle the search box, Google asserts, would be to give users a choice when they first start up Internet Explorer 7. It says that could be done by asking the user to either type in the name of their favorite search engine or choose from a handful of the most popular services, using a simple drop-down menu next to the search box. The Firefox and Opera browsers come with Google set as the default, but [Marissa] Mayer said Google would support unfettered choice on those as well.

It’s good to know that Google supports users having choices but perhaps they should be more worried about A9 dumping them for Microsoft’s Live search.

Or better yet, Microsoft putting out an Adsense competitor.

Did this post make you go hmm?

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