I've just downloaded Firefox 2.0 and I'm currently looking at the similarities with Internet Explorer 7. Those of you that downloaded both browsers have to agree with me that the similarities are extensive. But I wish to only stop and consider one of them.

A fundamental aspect of Internet Explorer 7 is the Windows Search Guide. Well, Firefox 2.0 displays a similar feature enabling users to choose the native search engine in Firefox 2.0 to be embedded in the right hand corner. By default, the search provider is Google. Microsoft showed a tad more objectivity by letting the users choose the native search engine. Also, the search box contains a drop down menu that comprises a number of alternative providers.

While in Internet Explorer 7, the drop down menu contains the default search engine, Live Search and three other options, including managing the providers, Firefox features what Mozilla calls "a few popular search sites." Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Answers, Creative Commons and eBay. At the bottom of the Search Bar's drop down menu, Firefox delivers the Manage Search Engines option.

There is no explanation for Mozilla's choices of search providers, and it certainly isn't traffic as MSN is ignored, while Live Search is nowhere to be found. The MSN search engine is found on the search engine page where it is a part of an alphabetical list between Merriam-Webster and Technorati. And to think that Microsoft's IE team even sent Mozilla Foundation a cake celebrating the release of Firefox 2.0.