OStatic

Since early this week, when Microsoft started rolling out its Browser Ballot, Opera has seen its downloads triple in response. You can bet that the other browsers, including open source powerhouse Firefox and upstart Chrome, are also getting their fair share as well. Maybe they could help leverage this for other alternative applications as well.

According to the Reuters story, Opera is affirming a surge in downloads after the ballot rolled out on Monday. Now that users are aware of their choices, more are picking to download other browsers:

Microsoft Watch's Joe Wilcox, in solemn observance of Friday the 13th, compiled a list of Microsoft's ten most unlucky breaks. The strokes of misfortune chosen were weighted according to heinousness (with #10 being least signficant, and #1 the most).

Checking in at #7 is the development of the Linux kernel. Putting aside Microsoft's whole Schrodinger's cat sort of approach to Linux over the years (Linux is not a threat. Linux is a threat), it is interesting Wilcox (and the analysts who helped him narrow down the list) focused on the kernel as the bad break.

Much is being said about Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's comments on open source in Australia this week. As GigaOm notes, Ballmer took a bold swipe at Google's Android platform while speaking Down Under, but he also directly said he found open source browser engines interesting. ? Among other things implied here, there could be some big changes in how browsers compete.