Internet Explorer 7 ~ will rock or already owned?

[HorseArcher]

Download the Beta here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx


I just recently (10 min ago) installed IE 7 Beta 2. and I'm using it as I type this.
I haven't been using IE in a very long time. My latest tries were firefox with all kinds of plugins, but a few days ago I switched to Opera, which is very similar to Firefox, but somehow smoother and frankly, more crashproof and I find Opera a very nice browser, expect there can be some errors with some pages, due to missing plugins. But since I haven't used Opera much I can't say if it's better or just the same level as firefox, but definetely not worse.

So anyway...


First Impressions

It's....ok. Nothing revolutionary, but not too bad. Actually I find, that It has less functionality and quirkier controls than Firefox or Opera. Really, clearly, obviously..It is a copy of Firefox. Somehow - maybe i'm just not used to it yet - I can't find many control options or maybe I am expecting too much.

Recommendation?

Hmmm...If you have either Firefox or Opera, I say you go ahead and try this also. I think it really depends on who and how they use it. for example, I can't find out how to hotlink an image or an icon right away with IE, meanwhile in firefox it's very clearly says "copy image location". In IE, I don't see such an option in the right click menu.
Am I going to use this instead the others? I don't think so.
So far I only used IE, if i got to a website, where firefox came up with some sort of error , or the site required activeX to be installed (microsoft sites, driver update sites) and clearly stated that the it was designed to be viewed with IE.

So, I think IE might be good for many "casual" web surfers (what a stupid name) , but anyone who really likes to have their own browser customized the way they like it, better stick with Firefox or Opera.

I want to mention, that you can install all 3 and evaluate, which one suits you better.

I, personally find Firefox the most capable and useful, beside some crashes lately, it's clearly the best candidate of the 3, with Opera on the same level, IE7 is still behind both.... In my opinion.

Not to mention Mister Microsoft wants to charge you money for many plugins/add-ons:
http://www.ieaddons.com/default.aspx?cid=2&scid=66

That's a complete no-go for me.

Download Firefox:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/


Download Opera:
http://www.opera.com/

[Justinian]

It's good to see you've converted to Opera Archer, I've been using it for a while now.

But no matter what version of IE Microsoft spits out, I won't use it. Why take steps backwards?

[Ahlerich]

i will wait a long time until i upgrade to ie7. even completed and sold ms products are kind of beta buggy..guess i wont switch anytime soon..i will get it when it is an standard.

[Last Roman]

I haven't used IE in the longest time, and I found Opera pretty much the same as firefox, so I just stayed with Mozilla, and am happy with it.

[Incinerate_IV]

Once again Microsoft is copying competing products because it can't think of any good ideas of its own, shame on them!

For us "hard-core" web internet surfers, stick to Firefox

[alman9898]

When I saw the features of IE 7, I didnt see any point to dl it. Firefox has all the features basically, and extensions are ftw.

[MasterAdnin]

I'm installing Firefox now. Thanks for the link Archer.

Peace,
Adnan

[Sétanta]

It is Microsoft. Of course it will rock!

[Locky]

It is Microsoft. Of course it will rock!

Sarcasim i hope. IE, is um, crap, basically. I see no advantage what so ever in using it.

[Sétanta]

Sarcasim i hope. IE, is um, crap, basically. I see no advantage what so ever in using it.

Nope :original:

[fallingstar]

Netscape 7.2 is more stable than the current 8.1 version that I am using, it crashes occassionally, but does offer some security stuff as well as rendering engines, which lets you view web pages like internet explorer or firefox, i using the firefox rendering engine on the 8.1 netscape at the moment, as I am typing, even though there are rendering engines, some sites still don't display properly, so I have to opened IE for a bit.

Firefox used it a number of times.

Opera - too many plugins missing, not in use.

Any more ones we don't know is out there?


IE 7 don't know only heard of tabbed browsing features integrated.

[Ragabash]

Opera is fastest and best browser at the moment. Firefox comes second just an inch behind Opera. Amount of addons for Firefox is much larger than for Opera what makes it better choice for some people. IE 7.0 Isnt really that imressive, its far better than 6.0, but as long as MS decides to make browser that uses active x it will be left behind utterly, especially in safety.

Here is browser test you should take and see yourself. Opera manages to do best in this test, second comes Firefox.

http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid2/

[wipeout140]

I got IE 7 beta 2 final installed,but i rarley use it As TWK said

But I'll stick to my firefox, it's too costumized for me to give it up. :original:

Same Here

[krazykarl]

Currently, I only use IE to browse my local network, it seems to just work better then 'network neighbourhood' or any of the other utilities M$ has for network browsing. I suspect that I will only end up using IE7 for the same purpose.

[HunterKYA]

I only ever use IE when the I can't get the plug-ins to work with Firefox.

I've been using Firefox for more than a year now and wouldn't think about switching back to IE.

[Richard the Lionheart]

I'm using IE7 Beta 2 right now, and although it's a definite improvement over IE6, it still needs a lot of work.

One feature which I like, is the tabs preview (Quick Tabs) feature, which basically allows you to look at multiple tabs simultaneously. It's a nice little feature.

[wipeout140]

One feature which I like, is the tabs preview (Quick Tabs) feature, which basically allows you to look at multiple tabs simultaneously. It's a nice little feature.

You can do that in firefox if install a extension that does that