Personally, I would have been okie if Microsoft installed an extension in Firefox to support .NET related applications [ClickOnce for instance.].
But it is completely unacceptable that it disables the Uninstall button! Who is thinking of these ideas at Microsoft? Also, why does Firefox let an extension decide whether it is uninstallable or not?
Quoting a comment on the article by WladimirPalant:
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Unfortunately, this is only partially Microsoft's fault. Firefox makes it easy for applications to ship their own browser extensions - they only need to add a registry entry that points to the extension's directory. But Firefox cannot uninstall extensions that were installed like this (because it didn't install them in the first place, because it might require administrator rights and because doing that would affect other Firefox profiles as well). So while this feature is great for application developers, it is rather flawed from user's point of view.
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Yes, you are right. Here's the relevant documentation from Mozilla.
"Extensions that are installed this way include the Java Quick Starter extension for Firefox (see above), the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant [13] [14] the RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension, [15] and the Lenovo ThinkVantage Password Manager extension for Firefox [16] [17]. Although you can disable the extension in the Add-ons manager, the Uninstall option may not be functional (it will be "greyed out). In such cases, experienced users can uninstall the extension by removing the associated Registry entry and/or the contents of the folder containing the extension; otherwise, simply disable it."
"In Windows 7 and in a forthcoming update for the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, the .NET Framework Assistant will be installed on a per-user basis. As a result, the Uninstall button will be functional in the Firefox Add-ons menu."
I am using Windows 7 right now and I can verify that I do see that Uninstall button is functional.
BTW, this just goes to show the kind of reputation Microsoft has achieved in the marketplace. When the uninstall button was disabled, no one thought that it could be problem in the way Firefox works. Everyone (including me) just assumed that it was Microsoft who is deliberately doing this. I don't know how can they possibly fix their image.
If you install an update & this annoying extension shows up, you say the update caused the annoyance. That's how it works. It's their fault for pushing the bug/feature & they still haven't taken it out.
Regarding your other point, I think 1 high profile FOSS project (eg webkit, hadoop, V8 ) or would do a lot for microsoft's image among techies.
Even that option has limited PR value; Microsoft either uses their "shared source" licenses (and comes under fire for not using a more recognized license like GPL or BSD) or they use such a license and feed ammo to the "shared source is trap" crowd.
Is there a way to trigger Firefox to install an update the traditional way (as in with a user dialogue)? If this is the only way possible to install an extension (without asking the user to visit addons.moz.org for example) then it's Mozilla's fault rather than the developers'.
First, it is entirely Microsoft's fault. They did it. As the article says, they should have created an ordinary extension and put it on the Firefox extension site.
Saying that it isn't MS' fault if they followed an easy but wrong to do something is like saying it's not my fault if I rob a liquor store since "it's easier than earning money".
Firefox should provide more control over extensions but that's a different point.
I just bought an Acer Aspire One and Firefox comes installed with the Google Toolbar. The uninstall button is also disabled so it's not just Microsoft doing it. Almighty, do-no-evil Google is at it too.
If it's an Acer Aspire One, I'd say it's probably Acer doing it, most likely by installing the plugin globally (which means that a normal non-root user doesn't have the permissions to remove it).
It also seems like this extension has vulnerabilities INSIDE of it, so that raises some larger questions.
From that post, someone states that Firefox may not have the access required to remove the registry key for application extensions (because that is all it is for extensions installed this way) and thus the Uninstall button is disabled. I think that given that circumstance, a reason should be explained to the end-user of WHY.
Also, why does Firefox let an extension decide whether it is uninstallable or not?
In the OP, commenter WladimirPalant says that's a side effect of a Firefox feature which allows plug-ins to be registered via the Windows Registry. But disabling will have the exact same effect: the plugin is not loaded.
But it is completely unacceptable that it disables the Uninstall button! Who is thinking of these ideas at Microsoft? Also, why does Firefox let an extension decide whether it is uninstallable or not?