But -- now you're miffed that the upcoming Internet Explorer version 7 browser -- and IE still will have over 85 percent of the browser market upon version 7's release -- will default to Microsoft's own search service? Well, I hate to break this to you, but IE is a Microsoft product, and they can default their search bar to anywhere they want. Ok folks -- before some of you go off the deep end and bring up the anti-competitiveness that MSFT got into trouble for worldwide in the late 90s and even in the 21st century -- it's a little different world now. Firefox -- the best browser competitor to Microsoft's IE there is right now -- has a Google partnership and has Google as the default search provider in its search sliver box at the top of the browser. It's easily changeable to any search provider you want -- MSN and Yahoo! are easily available. </soapbox off>

Here's the solution, Microsoft, if nothing more than to be fair and to keep you on your toes. Make the "drop down" search box in IE7 feature other search providers right off the bat without customers having to go into any kind of "Preferences" area and make the changes or search provider additions themselves. This would be playing fair and would give your IE customers "consumer choice" that is so incredibly important. It's not about appeasing Google at all -- it's about giving the customer the option to choose whichever search provider they want -- the goal of all should be to design and provide a superior customer product service, and the rewards will always follow. More folks will use your search service, your ad-supported fortunes and the new adCenter revenues derived from search will flourish, your bottom line will be rewarded and your share price -- long in the semi-doldrums -- will trek ever-upward.

<veins settling back down>