IE 7 Beta 2 Review

Larry Kuperman

Join Date 04/2001

+43

IE 7 Beta 2 Review

Good, Very Good!

External Link

Microsoft has released for public download the second Beta of the next version of their Internet browser. I have downloaded and installed the Beta 2 of IE7 (Internet Explorer 7) and so far I like the experience very much.

Key Features: Tabbed Browsing, a Streamlined (and highly configurable) user interface, greatly improved security, RSS feed support, toolbar search box. For a full feature list see Link (Some IE7 features will not be available until Vista rolls out.

Killer Feature: Quick tabs, thumb nail view of the tabs that you have open.

If you have used Firefox, the experience will be immediately familiar. Set up was easy, configuration was intuitive. The tabs look the way I have my tabs set in Firefox (I use Tab Mix Plus) and useage was familiar. IE 7 install also optionally runs the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool at installation,which was a nice touch, I thought.

I configured the search box immediately, choosing Google over MSN Seach without problem.

Memory usage still seems higher than for Firefox. IE7 with two tabs open: 67 Mb. Firefox 1.5.0.1 with the same two tabs: 47 Mb. If anyone gets different results, I would like to see them.

As mentioned before, security is GREATLY improved. Tools> Manage Add Ons lets you see what is running and gives you the option of Enabling/Disabling an Add On or deleting it all together. There are also built-in links for a number of Add Ons, including security ones, at http://windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=63 You can get Pop Up blockers, anti-Spyware programs, etc.

The interface is way cleaner, although you can easily go back the IE6 "classic" look if you want. See Link

IE7 is obviously intended to go head to head with Mozilla's Firefox. In my not-so-humble opinion, it is competitive. It doesn't blow Firefox away, but it is much better than IE6.

Take the full tour at Link

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I am trying out the IE7 Beta...does anyone know if there is a way to directly launch Outlook Express from IE7? Version 6 has a mail icon in the toolbar, but I don't see one in version 7.

Edit: Nevermind, I read on the IE7 newsgroup that there is no button to launch OE. No problem, I have an Email button on my keyboard that launches it fine.

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I REVIEWED INTERNET EXPLORER 7 BETA AND CAN SAY THIS IT IS LACKING IN A FEW AREAS. yOU CANNOT OPEN UP OUTLOOK EXPRESS IT IT/////, AN IT SUCKS, WHEN I HAD TOO UNINSTALL IT TO RESTORE MY COMPUTER TO INTERNET EXPLORER 6, IT DIDN'T UNINSTALL COMPLETELY, LEFT SOME ARTIFACTS OF IT BEHIND..........SO i HAD TO DO A COMPLETE FORMATE OF COMPUTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT IT CAUSED. .........., DON'T RECOMMENT THIS BETA UNTIL IT COMES OUT AS THE REAL AN FINAL INTERNET EXPLORET 7. BELIEVE ME YOU WILL BE HAPPEN WHEN IT DOES.

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WHEN I HAD TOO UNINSTALL IT TO RESTORE MY COMPUTER TO INTERNET EXPLORER 6, IT DIDN'T UNINSTALL COMPLETELY, LEFT SOME ARTIFACTS OF IT BEHIND..

Are you sure you did it properly? I uninstalled it and have no residual effects. Remember that this was only a preview beta, mainly meant for developers to test their sites and was not meant to be a replacement for IE6. Nothing is final, I am sure the Outlook button and all the other customization features will be there when it's donebr/>

Also, Caps Lock?

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

Enough with the caps please.

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To uninstall IE7 Beta 2...

- Go to Control Panel
- Add/remove Programs
- Ensure the "Show updates" box has a check in it, if not check it
- IE7 Beta is then located under "Windows XP- Software Updates"
- Click on IE7 Beta and then begin the uninstall of IE7

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i love the installer window - it is so much nicer and colorful. i'm installing now - haven't used my windows computer in a few months now lol only my iBook

so we'll see how it goes...

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

Everytime I open IE7 it starts with a small window in the middle of the desktop. Anybody else?

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Everytime I open IE7 it starts with a small window in the middle of the desktop. Anybody else?

Actually, I've always had that problem with IE6, but 7 seems to be opening full screen the way I'd like it to.

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It irritated me when I installed Mcafee. I had to downgrade back to IE6.

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I can't get it to open. I have d/l 3 times install's fine then when i double click on it it starts to load and the just stops for no reason (program not responding and needs to close) that's the messg i get. so I uninstall it and go back to IE6. I would really like to give IE 7 Beta a spin. so I don't like to say this would some one please give some advise, Thanks in advance. Kevin P.

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It;s, ok, although it did knock out a few things from working properly. G-mail notifer, no work now, no mail button and had to reset some setting;s as far as programs loading on startup, I won't be useing it on my other puters, just yet. Now that I have Mcafee on one I don't think I'll be useing IE7, untill futher reveiws.

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I finnally got IE7 to open up, I opened it without addons and the turned addon after it loaded, been playing with for awhile seems to be ok we will see, thanks any way all.

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It's getting there, but still trails the pack, Firefox, Sea Monkey, Netscape 8.1 and Opera still way ahead, its always hard to take the lead when all the others have been there done that I suppose.

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