Internet Explorer 7 Beta

By Robert Vamosi on 28/07/2005

More Microsoft reviews , RRP: TBA

Description:

Given all the expectations, we wanted more within IE 7 for XP, but Microsoft has given us less.

Buying choices:

Users' rating:

7.7/10

Tags:

7 | beta | browser | explorer | ie | internet | ms | web

It's been almost four years since Microsoft refreshed its venerable Internet Explorer browser. But Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 for XP Beta isn't a Mozilla Firefox killer -- far from it. Microsoft's limited availability for IE 7 should only open the door wider for competing browsers to steal even more market share in the months to come. Given the high expectations, we're unimpressed with the IE 7 for XP Beta.

Upside: IE 7 for XP Beta is the first serious upgrade to Internet Explorer in four years, and it adds tabbed browsing and built-in RSS -- two features that are currently available in Netscape 8, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari RSS. Unfortunately, the tabbed browsing feature in this beta is still clunky, and one of the best new features (the RSS icon lights up whenever a page has subscription content available) won't be available until the second beta (expected later in 2005). Another great feature, Microsoft's new antiphishing technology, is not part of the current IE 7 beta for Windows Vista but is included in beta 1 of IE 7 for XP.

Microsoft does improve printing capabilities within IE 7 for XP. No longer will you have to contend with truncated pages; in IE 7 for XP, the pages will be reduced to fit the printed page.

Downside: Only those running Windows XP SP2 will be able to run the latest version of IE. This is Microsoft's way of forcing non-Windows XP SP2 users to upgrade. Those still running Windows 2000, Me, or even 98 SE will be forced to continue using IE 6 or commit to a $199 Windows XP OS upgrade. This strategy could backfire, giving rivals Mozilla Firefox and Netscape an even bigger slice of the browser pie, especially among those wanting RSS feeds now.



Users long familiar with IE (left) will need to adjust to the new toolbar (right), which is not as intuitive, in our opinion.

Longtime IE users will wonder what happened to the refresh button, along with many other familiar buttons. Microsoft reduced and therefore vastly simplified the IE 7 toolbar area; the address bar is locked to the top of the browser window so that spyware can't replace it with a look-alike toolbar. Internet Explorer 7 also does away with many redundancies between menus and buttons. All of these changes, however, will require some retraining, as old habits die hard.

Other than that, the few new features found in IE 7 Beta are not especially innovative -- other browsers have had tabbed browsing and RSS for years.

Outlook: As mentioned, unless you already have Windows XP SP2 installed, IE 7 for XP won't be available for you. We think that's a dumb approach, and we see Microsoft's marketing fumble as a definite win for Mozilla Firefox and Netscape. We're not convinced that the security features touted in IE 7 will be enough to stave off the almost monthly security patches required to keep IE secure.

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23/09/2006, 12:01 AM

rating
2
/10

bad very bad extremely incredibly amazingly very BAAAAAD

blatant rip-off of firefox and opera

Pros: none

Cons: lots

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27/08/2006, 10:46 PM

rating
7
/10

i WANT TO USE THIS AND I THINK THIS WILL B BETTER

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07/08/2006, 12:51 PM

rating
7
/10

It is very good

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arnoldchan
31/03/2006, 02:43 AM

I can't tell anything other than a copycat ~~~~~

copycat~, copycat~, copy copy copy, even the icons

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28/01/2006, 08:20 AM

Internet Explorer is not good

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26/12/2005, 01:57 AM

IE7

It's Copycat of Safari and Firefox Feature. its copied from Safari of Feedview. MS can't code their own browser so they copy code from other browser. Use Firefox!!!! IE 7 break more site than other modern browser in Beta 2.

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mikekoi
30/10/2005, 12:47 AM

The votes already taken

Look at the user base of ie7 compared to Mozilla, look at the 15 new security vulnerabilities in Firefox. The truth is both are good in spite of vulnerabilities. ie7 is Better in security terms. It's a matter of taste. You like Peaches I like Apples. They are both fruit and both good. If Firefox had ie6's market share, who knows how many more holes would be found? Hackers go for the most popular, not the least used.

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peacebird2005
17/08/2005, 04:31 PM

appreciation

I just love the new Yahoo Beta. Its so user friendly.
But the only thing I find is that file transfers don't work with the older version, this creates a bit of a nuisance. However, I recommend the new version to all that i chat with, so maybe in time this problem will be illiminated.

I would love to have had the possibility to to make more changes on the Yahoo 360 page, meaning the change of colours on the page etc. Also i would love to see a link on the 360 page leading directly to all the publick blogs etc.

Thank you for a great product, I love using the Yahoo Beta version.

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Dommy
02/08/2005, 03:02 PM

Move On Nothing to See Here

The features mentioned are already available in FireFox why wait?

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gilchris
02/08/2005, 02:12 AM

It serves me well

I have used Internet Explore for a long time and I am very happy with it,s performance. I have no complaints at all

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