IE 7 Beta 2 Review

Good, Very Good!

Published on February 4, 2006 By Larry Kuperman In Internet

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

Comments (Page 4)

Tirasus

on Feb 10, 2006

...but you can download fantastic skins for OPERA which make it look better than any other web browser. You can also customize the buttons until it becomes either really complicated or really simple.
You can create the web browser you have always wanted.
+ it is the fastest web browser i have ever tested. Faster than IE6, IE7, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape... i could go on. Seriously, this is the best browser i have ver used, i also use a portable version on my flash drive and i will never stop using it even after IE10!!

Tirasus

on Feb 10, 2006

Moving on form Opera...
i have downloaded IE7, i have to admit it is much better than its predecessors. Better security, much better looking, tabs are a nice touch but nothing new, much faster (but not as fast as you know what) and overall i am quite pleased with microsofts new browser, but it doesnt have that feel to it that makes it a really good browser.
+ it has crashed for me a few times, understandable from a beta though

...+ what it really needs is mouse gestures. Available in both Firefox and Opera, they really make browsing so much more pleasing.

Larry Kuperman

on Feb 11, 2006

First of all, props to Tirasus for an open mind. Good to see.

For those that are having problems, two things:

Are you running SP2? Silly question, but people often fail to read the documentation.

What are your security settings set at? I use Custom Level. DesignCaddy, good to see you, I had no problems whatsoever with the Reuters site. Check that and try again.

masterlear

on Feb 13, 2006

As a web page designer, I have several browsers installed for testing purposes. IE7 installed without any problems and all seemed fine for normal browsing. My only negative experience with it was the way it handled my Favorites. I have nearly 1000 links. At first the favorites menu filled the entire screen and I was only able to use the first 60 links. Then a week later only the links that I had used were available in the list and the unused was hidden, like in all XP menu systems. But when I clicked the double down arrows IE7 would close.

As far as CSS goes, I saw minor improvements. But it was a pleasant surprise to see that transparent .png support has FINALLY been implemented.

SpotZ

on Feb 15, 2006

It's a decent improvement. They need to make the menu bar and toolbar more flexible to modify. On my wide screen monitors the toolbar buttons on the 3rd row(classic menu displayed), they are way too far on the left and you can't move them left or rigth or up or down. Needs more work. They need to move it above the tabbed window row.

So far the new features work well and I like it.

ama02

on Feb 17, 2006

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.

tigercat63

on Feb 20, 2006

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.

ExodusCrow

on Feb 20, 2006

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?

Island Dog

on Feb 20, 2006

Enough with the caps please.

ama02

on Feb 21, 2006

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

gfcentral002

on Feb 22, 2006

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...

Island Dog

on Feb 22, 2006

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

ama02

on Feb 22, 2006

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.

rarocks24

on Feb 25, 2006

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

kjay528

on Feb 26, 2006

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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