It's unbelievable how much attention this "non issue" is getting. I would agree that the default checkbox should be unchecked if Safari is not already installed.

That said, what affect does this really have? An increase on the number of Safari downloads? That's not a usage metric. This is about the money that comes from the Google search box. John Lilly is outraged only because he doesn't have the capacity to do the same thing with Firefox. In order to fight Microsoft, you have to play by their rule book. Even still, it's not like a Safari download makes Safari the default browser. At best, it will give some people a more convenient way to give Safari a test drive if they wish.

In terms of doing the right thing, sure Apple deserves some criticism for not making the checkbox blank by default. However, what about Firefox installing updates without first asking permission? This is worse in many people's opinions. Do also give Mozilla a "free pass" on this?

Safari's is Apple's Internet Explorer. Stupid big corporations are all the same. I can't say I'm not surprised by this, because, really, I thought Apple had a little bit of consideration and was a bit better than Microsoft, but this is just outrageous... Easy way indeed, but it could backfire. And it might be considered illegal considering the circumstances.

If they push Firefox off the list then they also push Opera off the list, because Firefox is higher...

Anyway, this move won't give Safari a bite out of neither Firefox's nor Opera's market share (or at least, no more than it already does). This is the same way that IE got popular - bundled with popular software. People that use Firefox or Opera, chose to do so consciously. People that get tricked into using Safari this way are not choosing consciously, and thus use IE.

So I don't really mind, I think it's cool that Microsoft loses their own game. This is the only way to take back market share of IE that it didn't deserve.

Of course, I wouldn't want Mozilla to do this, but since Apple's already an "evil" company whose products I don't like to use, it's cool ;)

There is no free pass, if you are on the internet and you aren't paying attention to what you download then you deserve what you get. This isn't 1996, it's 2008 and these functions have been a part of online life for over a decade, if you haven't figured it out then you shouldn't be online.

Come on guys, you've been doing this with windblows for at least that long. do you blindly download all your system updates from them?

I think some of the comments here are showing the free pass bias. While it is true people should pay attention what they are doing I know many less tech savey people will.

This is such a non-issue it's pathetic. If you are allowing any auto update software to run on your computer without verifying the contents of the download you deserve what you get.

At least this time you didn't get a virus which is what you probably get frequently because you don't know what you are updating.

What a MAROON!

To me this is really a non-issue. If one pays attention to installation, they can deselect the the Safari install; if one doesn't deselect it, they do not have to use Safari. So even if all these Safari installs are out there, there is nothing that says anyone will use it. If they try it and like it, then that says something. End of drama.

I think the point is moonman that nobody should be auto installing programs I didn't ask to install in the first place. It is nothing more than a cheap ploy by Apple to bump up their downloads. Apple gets much more of a free pass on these types of things though.

Where are all these angry windows users? I haven't met one yet. I was pleased that Apple offered me a streamlined, minimalist browser for windows.

I agree, rather "Microsoftish" move by Apple.

Opera. Of course.

I don't see how anyone who uses FF will switch to something else on the market, as it is now.
I have a dozen (at least) extensions that I can't "live" without.
I just hope the FF3 won't be a disaster that will scare old users from upgrading.