Entered CNET Catalog: 07/20/2005
SKU: CNETINTERNETEXPLO7BETA
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 01/31/2006
Almost one year to the day that Bill Gates announced Internet Explorer 7 for XP SP2 at RSA 2005, Microsoft has released a second public beta for the new-and-improved Internet browser. Hoping to stop the increasing tide of disgruntled surfers switching to Opera 8, Microsoft has mirrored the look and feel of those other browsers while adding a few unique features to IE 7 for XP SP2 (mostly borrowing from what we've already seen in IE 7 for Windows Vista previews). Although this is a public beta, which means that anyone can download and install it now, Microsoft is quick to caution early adopters that this is still a technical beta, meaning that Microsoft wants Web site developers to see how the changes in the new IE will affect their sites. For the end user, know that not all Web sites will function properly using IE 7 for XP SP2 beta 2. And note that you must be running Windows XP SP2 in order to install this beta; all older versions of Windows are now limited to Internet Explorer 6. The final release of IE 7 for XP SP2 will be in the fall of 2006. For a look inside this new release, see our Internet Explorer 7 for XP SP2 beta 2 slide show.
More eye candy
Microsoft has reworked the overall familiar look and feel of Internet Explorer 7 for XP SP2. The address bar now appears on the top and is not movable (relocating the bar is a common ploy among spyware and adware vendors). Also, the toolbar has been simplified to show only icons. Want the menu bar back? No problem, just add it. Also, the Favorites sidebar now has three tabs: one for Favorites, one for History, and one for RSS feeds.
Tabs
Description: Continuing from beta 1 is the ability to use tabs within Internet Explorer. However, borrowing from what we've seen inside the Windows Vista prereleases, Microsoft has added the ability to visually display all open tabs. Unlike with Vista's IE 7, you can't mouse over the open tabs to see previews of each page, something that Firefox and Opera currently allow you to do.
Zoom
Another feature borrowed from Windows Vista is page zoom. You can wheel in or wheel out on a page, which is perfect for those with less than 20/20 vision. Opera currently offers this feature.
Shrink to print
IE 7 for XP SP2 will automatically size a page so that when it goes to your printer, you won't lose the content on the far right side of the page. The text may be smaller, but the text will be whole. You also have the ability to print only the highlighted section of a Web page.
RSS
New to Internet Explorer 7 for XP SP2 beta 2 is a complete Really Simple Syndication (RSS) substructure. Currently, when you use a third-party application to receive and read RSS feeds, the app must load a complete RSS rendering engine. Microsoft has created its own and adds it to the Windows XP SP2 operating system (hence, you'll have to reboot when you install the new IE 7 beta). However, the payoff is nice. When you subscribe to an RSS feed, you'll no longer see a page of HTML but a fairly basic representation of all the current feeds for that page, plus any categorizing the site has done regarding specific topics. Also, Microsoft has joined with Mozilla in using the same icon from RSS, making it easy for users to switch between Firefox and IE 7.
Built-in search
Although MSN Search is the default search setting within IE 7, Microsoft does link out to Google and other sites, so you can quickly change that. If your default search is currently set to Google, however, no need to worry: when IE 7 imports your data from IE 6, it'll preserve your search engine preference. Also, IE 7 will lock that preference so that installing toolbars won't automatically--and sometimes without your permission--change that preference.
Improved security
Many fleeing Internet Explorer 6 have cited increased security concerns as a major reason. There are many legacy problems within Internet Explorer that have resulted from Microsoft's decision to marry its Internet browser with its Windows operating system architecture. IE 7 for XP SP2 attempts to mitigate some of those concerns. While in the short term these may dissuade some criminal hackers, others may find other flaws within the venerable browser to exploit going forward.
Antiphishing
We think the most useful security enhancement, on a day-to-day basis is the new antiphishing component within IE 7 XP SP2. Using heuristics, or algorithms, rather than whitelists, Internet Explorer can analyze a given page and determine whether it's the real McCoy or a spoofed page. Should you land on a suspicious site, you'll see a golden bar across the top of the page. You'll have a chance to correct any errors, saving pages you know are not frauds but that may appear so within IE.
Internet security settings
Another very good change is the simplified Internet security settings options. Microsoft has raised the security bar, making the default setting Medium-High. If you need to change any of the security settings--say, to install new software via download--you'll see a golden bar across the top of the screen, reminding you that you are now surfing under less-than-secure settings. You can use a one-click menu option to change those settings back.
ActiveX opt-in
One of the sore spots for Microsoft has been flaws within the ActiveX Controls native to Windows but easily exploited via Internet Explorer. With IE 7 for XP SP2, Microsoft has neutered all but the most essential ActiveX Controls. If you need more, you'll be asked to activate them on a case-by-case basis. This should limit criminal hacker-attack vectors within IE 7.
Address bars in every window
A new feature within IE 7 for XP SP2 adds an address bar to pop-up windows, allowing you to determine whether you want to view that content (advertising, for example). This feature is currently available in Firefox.
IDN support
Another way a criminal hacker can attack Internet Explorer users is to substitute characters from one character set into another within a domain name. For example, if you set English as your native language, all URLs will display characters from the English character set. If someone decides to use a Cyrillic character in a fraudulent domain name, you'll see a warning across the screen.
High-assurance security certifications
If you do online banking or e-commerce with IE 7 for XP SP2, you'll notice that Microsoft has also upgraded its certificate requirements. Currently, all certificate authority statements from Web servers are rendered as low security, with Microsoft pushing site developers to adopt a more robust certificate authority transaction. In this case, the client-side app is available before the back-end technical enhancements will be ready, but Microsoft did say this was a technical beta.
One click cleanup
Although Firefox and Opera have offered this for years, Microsoft has finally made it easy for anyone to delete their browser history.
Be sure to check back to this page for a full review once the final version of Internet Explorer 7 for XP SP2 is released in the fall of 2006.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179
User Rating: 
1/10
A bullet to a computer's brain
Pros: There are no Pros. This thing is deadly.
Cons: Error Message: Internet Explorer 7 has experienced a problem and needs to close.."
As for the features, not so radically different from IE6 to make it worth taking a chance on. Avoid IE7 like the plague that it is!
User Rating: 
3/10
Problem-creator, it seems
Pros: Clean look; like the tabs; like the printing.
Cons: Locks up frequently, cause MS Office lockup, and even blocks ctrl-alt-del; hard to find old familiars (History!)
The fix--restart.
I rated it 3 due to these problems.
When Microsoft gets IE7 to interface well with MICROSOFT (!) Windows XP and MICROSOFT (!) Office, I will enjoy using it.
User Rating: 
5/10
Website access speed
Pros: Usability and resolution is high.
Cons: Very Slow speed
User Rating: 3/10
Not user-customizable; ick.
Pros: anti-phishing
Cons: Nearly non-existent cusomizability
I prefer to consolidate all the navigation into two rows at the top. All the non-removable stuff IE7 puts on my screen, much of which I find redundant or just plain never use, takes up 'way too much screen real-estate.
Then even when I do manage to reduce it all to three (overly thick, IMHO) rows, when I close and re-start the browser, all my rearrangement is cancelled and defaults back to displaying each toolbar on its own row. I found this so annoying that I uninstalled the "upgrade" and will wait for another upgrade that allows user customization.
User Rating: 1/10
Newer is clearly not better!
Pros: A fresh icon on the desktop for a change?
Cons: Inferior tabbed browsing, security holes, a lot of wasted space at the top which effects browsing room, managing add-ons is insufferable!
The tabbed browsing is inferior to firefox's. So is the security. If I were microsoft, I would just buy mozilla out, or copy them... like they've done with everything else.
Also, and this is minor, but the favorites menu just sucks now. In order to view your favorites, you're forced to open a giant box that takes up the entire left half of the screen. Now although it goes away once you've clicked on one, it still enforces my claim that microsoft cares little for my viewing space or need not to feel invaded by unecessary features.
Internet Explorer's claim to fame is safer and more secure. Keep in mind that a browser is only as safe as the person using it. Not to mention, Internet Explorer is the largest target for hackers, viruses, etc. and there have already been several security holes reported in this version.
I am OCD when it comes to my computer. I keep it clean as a whistle. Safer and more secure is not a good enough reason for a lack of options, intrusive features, annoying pop ups (program pop ups, not advertisements), and wasted browsing space.
User Rating: 
10/10
IE7 beats Firefox
Pros: Improved user interface, security, tabbed browsing
Cons: Have not found any
User Rating: 
2/10
Check your websites!
Pros: Haven't found any real ones yet
Cons: Too many to mention here
Don't like the one step clean up - I need my cookies for autologins. Prefer to be able to delete just files
Disabled most anti-whatever features - slows down loading of sites too much. [even on my high spec laptop]
Toolbar depth is too much with all those additional features. Half a which I don't want and the toolbar options won't let you delete them.
Find Tabs a Pain - better to launch in new window.
RSS features may be useful, haven't worked out how yet
Won't launch pdf files from links in Outlook. I had to build a private webpage so I can launch them from there. Madness!!
But most of All - it screws around with CSS background images on my websites. Had to change the CSS format to exclude them.
Have loaded this twice now.....I think I am finally going to have to give it away until the full release comes out PLUS about the first 10 updates.
Sorry MS, a big thumbs down.
webeyes
User Rating: 
6/10
UGLY SKIN AND ICONS
Pros: SOME IMPROVEMENTS
Cons: NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT PERFORMANCE
User Rating: 
8/10
IE's Making a Comback?
Pros: concise by default, tabbed browsing (finally), quick tabs feature
Cons: some pages don't display correctly, no go button, slightly slower than Firefox
Maybe I'm speaking too soon now?
So apparently this new browser is more seceure, has better pop-up blocking, and this new fangled phisher detector thing (I'm not going to go over any of those as these kinda of things should definitely be default in any internet browser now).
Microsoft finally made the move and did some tabbed browsing functionality. It's nothing new, it's just one of those things you'd be like "Man, finally!". An interesting addition is this "Quick Tabs" feature. As an overly savvy internet user, I can find myself having over 20 tabs in a browser daily (either by chance or on purpose when looking up information and I just have to keep the other tabs open just incase). At that point, it's just annoying to look through the name tabs to find the one I was looking for. Quick Tabs helps alleviate that by showing the user all the tabs in a window (kinda similar to one of those Mac functions where you see all your programs). I find it very useful to me, and that is definitely a plus for this IE version. I also like how you can create a new tabs with a button in the tabs bar (then again, I'm used to creating tabs using mouse gestures anyway, but it is definitely a plus if I didn't have mouse gestures).
I don't know if I haven't figured it out yet, but I can't seem to get RSS feeds to appear as a drop-down on my hotlinks (possible in Firefox) so that I can just click on the RSS field and see a dropdown menu of all the recent topics, keeping everything compact.
As for the speed, IE does feel slightly heavy. It's hard for me to explain when I mean heavy because it's a combination of loading time and how it looks (despite its compactness). It's very slight to notice, and I bet the average user probably won't notice this. Since this is integrated into the Windows environment, I would hope this browser would load and run faster than any others... yet Firefox does still feel a little faster.
What would've been nice is the integration of mouse gestures by default. I found an extension that does this thing, have yet to see if it works well, but it would've been nice to have from the get-go.
As for the 'go button' I mentioned. Sometimes I get lazy and just use my mouse to browse the internet. Sometimes I gotta copy and paste links if they're not hyperlinked and without a 'go button', I can't really go without a keyboard or a binding. Not that the 'go button' was used more than 1% of the time, but I'd imagine I might miss it sometime.
To be honest, if Mozilla doesn't fix some of the daily bugs I run into while using Firefox (input, copy/paste, etc) and Microsoft fixes some slight speed issues with this beta then it's safe to say that I might have to change gears and use IE once again.
User Rating: 
4/10
Not that great for it's second beta I think.
Pros: Built in RSS reader, tabs, page zoom, security, new icons (eye candy)
Cons: Stability is part of the cons, interface is kind of a joke, Not as fast a Microsoft cliams to think and what others think, not very much improved (Disagree with me if you want)
Could have given it a 5 out of 10 but some things like stability are quite bad so I give it a 4 out of 10 but yes I know it is a beta and it is not meant for primetime use.
User Rating: 
9/10
Is this really a Beta
Pros: Downloaded, used for two weeks and love it
Cons: Requires some tweeking for a small number of sites
I have been using MS browsers since they started and I while I have flirted with others, they always seem to be overrated by the army of anti-MS people. And they are the browers that make me curse myself for having downloaded them.
I have made enough mistakes with Betas that I held off for a few months to download IE 7, but finally, on a quiet night alone, I decided to try.
I was ready for a series of anger inducing errors. And I am still waiting. Now being dedicated to reading directions, I am a bit confused by the tabs, but love the concept.
Since this is a free product, I am not surprised that most of the changes do not show and relate to security. THIS is a good working product!
User Rating: 9/10
It's just great! Everything works perfectly except McAfee.
Pros: Love the new layout; Much better than FireFox which seems rather simplistic in comparison.
Cons: Needed to fix "flash" and "Active X" first. Also Adobe Reader.
I am just an old lady - and if I can figure out these few fixes then certainly most of all the nay-sayers should be able to as well. Seems to me, a lot of people are simply against everything Microsoft and have preconceived opinions about anything MS related. I wonder, is it some sort of "intellectual-want-to-be"-attitude? Too bad for them. This is a great browser and immensly preferable to FireFox. I have them both installed. Greeting from "rundtop"
User Rating: 1/10
This browser sucks
Pros: None, its a firefox knockoff
Cons: Everything, waste of download
Can you say firefox knockoff?
I used this and it 100% messes up my Norton Internet Security 2006. This is set to lock down and sucks. Never use it. It might be semi-descent when Vistas is ready, but I'm sticking to ff. You know, that one that uhh works?!
Thanks
User Rating: 9/10
Solid, smart, stable, secure.... Surprising!
Pros: Interface, New feature set, Tabs!!!, and homepage"S"
Cons: (of course it's a beta so) There's still a few bugs
IE7's interface is completely revamped. Microsoft employed a clutter free strategy that might throw some users off at the beginning. The lack of a standard menu toolbar stood out particularly at first and actually seemed a bit paralyzing, it's a piece of any GUI that has been standard since UI was graphical. After some exploring, not only did I discover that the functionality of the five or so menus had been condensed into two ("Page" and Tools") menus (quite smartly if I do say so), but the standard menu toolbar is still available, you simply have to turn it on.
I've never had much interest in RSS, but IE7 inspired me to learn more about it, and even though I still have no interest, the RSS features seem pretty spiffy in IE7. Most notable is the integration of the reader into the browser, and the RSS feed "detection" icon which lights up with options when an RSS feed is found on a Website you're viewing. IE7 makes the powerful features and uses of RSS more accessible to every-day users.
Searching the web is streamlined and simplified, with the addition of a search field right next to the address bar. The search engine the browser uses is now truly customizable, so you can finally have Google return you results, whether you search from the search field or the address bar.
By far the best new feature is the tabbed browsing, and the ability to have multiple pages open on different tabs at start as home pages. Finally I don't have to choose between Google and CNET for homepages! I can have them both in one window!
The security features have also been considerably upgraded. Plugins have been replaced by highly controllable "add-ons" (of which Microsoft has already compiled a decent sized list) which aren't your simple Shockwave player anymore. Add-ons can do much to increase productivity, entertain you, and enhance your browsing experience. The pop-up blocker seems to work more intelligently, and EVERY single IE window, no matter how it originated has an address bar, providing greater security and control. IE7 for Vista (Longhorn) is supposed to be able to run in a "protected mode" allowing the browser to be fully independent from the rest of the file system: Mega-secure!
Remember this is a beta so there's still a few glitches, mostly visual; such as some missing text in the history options pane, and the keyboard shortcuts seem to work sporadically (maybe?) and the new interface is sure to confuse some at first. However with a little patience and exploration, I'm sure anyone will discover that the new IE is not only pleasantly surprising, but smarter, more stable, and more secure.
User Rating: 9/10
This is PERFECT!
Pros: Tabs, RSS feeds, Side Panel, Better Viewing, Less Clutter
Cons: Themes would be nice
In IE 7, it's less cluttered. We all know what IE 6 used to look like. There's a built in pop-up blocker now, no more having to go out and find extensions. Search sites - there's TONS that you can integrate into it. Google, MSN, Amazon, Overstock.com...tons more! It's just awesome.
The thing that i like about IE beta 7 that i didn't like with Firefox, is the clarity of RSS feeds now. Think using Safari on a Mac - it now displays like that. Whereas, with firefox, it shows up as plain HTML (Correct me if i'm wrong, cause i know it is in Alpha testing.)
Let's just cut to the point. I've had LESS problems with IE 7 than i have with firefox and IE 6 Combined. Nothing's Closed unexpectedly or anything. Plus, the Anti-Phishing extension that's built in also goes a long way - especially if you bank online.
So, try it out. It's a GREAT alternative to Firefox. The only thing i can really complain about is the ability to theme. If you don't want that, then this is the browser for you.
User Rating: 2/10
Less really is less here
Pros: Loads pages faster
Cons: Lack of flexibiliy. Poor user interface.
Apart from that I can find nothing to reccomend it. The fairly useless address bar sits hugely across the top of the screen and the far more useful search bar is a tiny thing stuck way over on the right. Neither can be moved or resized. Ridiculous. The Classic Windows standard menus are an option that, when activated, cause IE7's various bars to take up more vertical screen space than on IE6. I regularly use the File, Save As menu to save and edit web pages offline.
The rest of the menus ar stuck off on the right hand side of the screen where most westerners never look. Why can't Microsoft allow all the menu options (including the Classic Menus to be included here.
If this is the future of web browsing then we have a problem.
Oh Yes, IE7 does a thing called tabbed browsing but mostly when I click on a web link within a page, it just opens a new instance of IE7. So now I have multiple instances at the bottom of my screen which display multiple tabs at the top of each one. Confusing - You bet.
User Rating: 3/10
Choose something better worth your time...
Pros: Tabs(took long enoigh), anti-phising, zoom
Cons: ugly, still toolbar infestible
I have not been a big IE fan, but go to a browser that isent lagging behind a few years... And if you can still be caught into scams, get someone to watch over your sholder and yell at you to check your adress bar.
User Rating: 3/10
Thanks for screwing up my computer, Microsoft
Pros: New look, attempt at better security
Cons: Slows browsing speed, alters the font
1. Home page icon is poorly placed to the upper right mid page.
2. Made the fonts on my computer in IE blurry and difficult to read.
3. No refresh icon.
4. Phising filter which is 'highly recommended' greatly slows browsing speed - I found it ironic that it filters all the pages on microsoft.com as well.
After struggling with this for a few days, I tried to uninstall and reinstall IE 6 - but was left with a browser that would freeze and crash. I had to reinstall IE 7 and every time I open up I am directed to a page to customize my settings, which it fails to apply ('error applying settings'). This is a major irritant.
My advice - wait until long after the release version appears before installing.
User Rating: 8/10
Worked flawless for me.
Pros: Worked with all my apps.No bugs to be found.
Cons: No problems found ,yet.I'll let you know if I do.
It's not the greed of M$ but of those who chose to hang on the sides of the wagon.LOL
User Rating: 3/10
Explorer 7 Beta
Pros: Looks Good
Cons: Microsoft Con Us
1)First I get a blinking window when I surf.
2)Sound on computer down. Checked everything no sign what is wrong.
3)Error messages?
Email microsoft.com and read everything. If you cannot pay microsoft you suffer the consequences of their cons.
Do not download I employ everyone it stinks.
User Rating: 2/10
Light years behind the rest.
Pros: It has a clumsy tab bar, but it has a tab bar.
Cons: Difficult if not impossible bookmark/favorites management.
IE-6 users who have little or no experience on a modern browser will love it because it is an improvement over IE-6 and they just don't know any better.
Microsoft took a obsolete browser and attached a really poor tab bar to it and have tried to market it as a modern browser in IE-7 beta 2.
If you must risk your computer's safety by running IE, try a Netscape 8x browser. It defaults to being an IE launcher and has a tab bar and bookmark system that are actually useful. After using Netscape 8x for a while, you will be ready to step up to the big league and move up to Firefox. If Firefox proves to customizable for you, there is always SeaMonkey. Take a long serious look at IE-7 beta 2
http://www.geocities.com/clubtender/MFG-IE7b2.JPG
and then compare it to a modern browser
http://www.geocities.com/clubtender/MFG-FF.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/clubtender/Photos/Mozilla-SeaMonkey.JPG
then judge for yourself.
IE-7 beta 2 falls light years short of what is already available on the browser market.
User Rating: 4/10
Very uninspiring.
Pros: The tabs are an great idea.
Cons: Some of the old features were good.
User Rating: 5/10
It really needs work. I'm glad it's only in beta
Pros: Good interface. Nice style with the tabs. Saves work.
Cons: Unstable. Freezes at times. Does not recognize some Internet shortcuts.
User Rating: 3/10
taking features away is not progress
Pros: new security features sound promising
Cons: user interface is bad and not customizable
before i got firefox i used ie6 and an extension of ie6 with tabbed browsing called 'avant browser'. when firefox was introduced with tabbed browsing and all the plugins available i switched and have been very happy. when ie7 b2 came out i decided to give it a try.
the first thing i noticed was that the functionality of the toolbars was reduced from previous versions. on ie6 i have what ie7 calls the "classic menu" (file, edit, etc.), the function icons, and the google toolbar combined on one toolbar, over the address bar. this gives me a clean, uncluttered layout with maximum functionality.
with ie7 you are no longer able to move all of the toolbars or combine them on to one. the address bar is a fixed at fullscreen width and is fixed at the top of the screen, where every other windows program in the world has the "classic menu". if you want to change the layout microsoft techs suggest using the registry editor to change the layout. on ie6 this was drag-and-drop, but with ie7 you have to mess with your registry? this is absurd.
tabbed browsing is one of the best features yet for browsers, so it is nice to see explorer finally implementing it. unfortunately they messed it up from a design standpoint. like i mentioned earlier, i want as much browser window visible and as little browser visible as possible. on firefox the tab bar isn't visible until a second tab is open. on ie7 the tab bar is always visible, taking up a lot of space for no good reason.
finally, if you wish to see the "classic menu" you add yet another toolbar to take up space, for a total of 3. fortunately you can combine a toolbar such as google's, but the toolbar is fixed in position between the address bar and the tabs.
you get the point, so i won't bother complaining about how they moved the home button to the opposite side of the page or how you can't remove the msn search feature or other bad design flaws.
i ended up uninstalling ie7 and went back to ie6. it's not perfect, but it works like i want it to, and since i use firefox as my main browser i don't have the same security concerns as if i was an ie6 user.
if you are an ie6 user my recommendation would be to keep it if you like it, but take maximum precautions to stay on top of security risks. i'd also suggest giving firefox a try and see if you like it.
i'm really disappointed with the way ie7 turned out. upgrades are not supposed to be a step back, but taking away the ability to customize your browser is just that.
User Rating: 8/10
Great upgrade forced upon by Firefox; Vista's IE 7.0 will shine far brighter
Pros: Tabs, much better support for CSS, XHTML, and the AJAX Revolution
Cons: Some rendering issues still apparent, Looks like IE 7.0 will be XP/Vista only; Vista gets the best security features
I obviously am not going to profess being completely objective mainly because I assisted in the development of Internet Explorer 7.0 and other subsequent projects; however, as an academian and professional in computer science for over thirty years, I like to believe that I can be somewhat fair.
Now let's get to the point. Internet Explorer 7.0 is the first major upgrade to the IE platform in nearly half a decade. Originally, IE 7.0 was planned for release alongside Windows Longhorn in 2003. When the Longhorn project was retooled from an update of Windows XP to a full fledged OS, IE 7.0 development was effectively shelved. Because of consumer demand and, yes, the Firefox revolution, Microsoft restarted work on IE 7.0 by completely rewriting the source code in under six months and significantly modifying the shell.
These dramatic changes are readily apparent by the sleek new interface and rendering engine. Also IE 7.0 now features tabbed browsing, full support for RSS feeds, and much needed enhanced support for upcoming AJAX technologies including CSS2, DHTML, and Microsoft's future web development tools (think expression).
Security is the primary focus in IE 7.0 development. The newest and most needed features are a heuristic anti-phising filter and noteworthy anti-malware safeguards. Unfortunately, many of the features that make IE 7.0 such an incredible browser, from a security perspective, will not be available with Windows XP. IE 7.0 with Windows Vista will run with sub-administrator rights and have an extremely tight integration with Windows Defender (an antispyware application that will ship with Vista). These features alongside Vista?s unique program structure will make Internet Explorer 7.0 on Vista the most secure browser ever developed, but regrettably, somewhat lacking on the XP platform.
Overall, Internet Explorer 7.0 is exactly what Microsoft should have developed two years ago. There is simply no excuse for letting browser development stop for such a prolonged period of time. But regardless of their reasons to restart and the sins of the past, the effect is clear. Microsoft's newest Internet Explorer is shaping up to be an excellent, secure, and effective product. It will likely not compete with the new features of Opera 9.0 or Firefox 2.0 on an XP platform, yet it has everything needed to keep the average end user happy, safe, and entertained during his daily browsing.
User Rating: 6/10
Good but Not the Best!
Pros: Much better features,stability!
Cons: Speed isn't the best,still buggy
IE-7 has had marked improvements sice ie-6 and even so on its first beta...
The interface is good,the anti-phishing technology works well,rss too does well...than why 5/10??????
Like one of the reviewers said previously cnet is highly in favour of firefox and any often sounds biased!
User Rating: 5/10
Not Even Better - If Not Worse
Pros: tabbed browsing (at last), page zoom
Cons: phissed anti phissing, slow rendering, terrible vulnerablities
We can't praise IE for its ability to display most websites correctly - it's the fault of the web designers who do not comply with W3C standards and end up creating one environment website.
I was curious about the promised anti phissing promised here, so I mirrored ebay into my own webspace (for testing purpose only) and accessed it. Internet Explorer showed no warning. Oh, perhaps I'm expecting too much from this notoriously vulnerable browser.
Concluding, Internet Explorer 7 bring tabbed browsing as the only interesting component, compared to the previous version. Unfortunately, it has not shown improvements on its security and speed. However disappointing, we still need this browser to deal with bad web designers.
User Rating: 4/10
Huge improvement, still lacking in many key areas...
Pros: Tabbed browsing, limits ActiveX, somewhat improved CSS support
Cons: Still poor CSS support, no support for pre-XP SP2 OS, all noticeable improvements available with other browsers
First, there is no doubt that IE 7 marks the greatest improvements Microsoft has ever made to their line of browsers. Its interface is on par with Opera and Firefox. Microsoft has implemented a slew of security improvements that should make us all breathe easier. Most importantly, my testing has shown a vast improvement in CSS support (especially the nightmarish positioning problems that IE6 was plagued with). If I was rating this browser against IE 6, I would probably give it a 9 or a 10.
But this is the 21st century and Microsoft is now playing catch-up. Yes, MS apologizers will flame me for that statement, but it is factual.
Security: already, we are finding that most of the exploits that have been identified for IE6 also exist in IE7. Of course, this is still a Beta so I wouldn't hold this against them too strongly. However, the fact that this is a 2nd Beta release and old vulnerabilities are still to be found makes me wonder how many new security problems may have been added. This is only supposition, but it's based on Microsoft's long track record.
CSS: did I mention that Microsoft finally worked out the problems with position:fixed? Good. That being said, if you run Acid2 and look a little closer at the specific CSS implementation, you will see that IE7 beta 2 is about at the same level that Opera was with late revisions of version 6 or early version 7... over three years ago!!! Microsoft has even admitted that they will not quite fully support CSS 2 (introduced eight years ago!), let alone CSS 2.1, when IE 7 is completed. They say they will "make a lot of progress against that in IE7" as if its something they'll get to eventually. One wonders how many years it will take them to acknowledge the existence of CSS 3 when it is finalized (let alone make "progress" towards supporting it).
As a developer, I find this completely unacceptable. W3C standards exist to allow interoperability of web content across all platforms... does anybody think that MacOS and Linux are going to go away? Granted, Opera is currently the only Windows browser that fully passes Acid2, but IE is by far the worse (not counting Avant which is based on IE) and version 7 makes only moderate improvements.
Windows compatibility: even if Microsoft were to fix all of these problems before the final release of IE 7, there would still be millions of people out there with old versions of IE because Microsoft is not making version 7 available to any OS except XP SP2, 2003 Server, and Windows Vista. I wouldn't expect Microsoft to make it available for all Windows platforms, but Windows 2000 and non-SP2 support for XP shouldn't be that much of a stretch. After all, we're talking about NT 5.0 (Windows 2000) and NT 5.1 (Windows XP, regardless of service pack).
Stability: I also had several stability issues with IE7, but I was running it through some pretty rigorous testing. As I keep saying, it is still a beta.
Conclusion: as compared to previous versions of Internet Explorer, this version is light years ahead. As compared to other browsers out there, it still has a long ways to go. I would have rated it a 2 or 3, but I gave it an extra point because it is still a beta and Microsoft may surprise us yet. Personally, I'm not exactly quaking with anticipation.
User Rating: 2/10
Time ripe to jump the MS ship
Pros: Long overdue features added
Cons: Trying to play catch-up and failing
User Rating: 4/10
This is a joke!
Pros: Cool new look, tabs
Cons: Crashes, slow
User Rating: 4/10
It's about time
Pros: Nice new features but, needs more work...
Cons: Cannot close the address bar, nor the search bar in the upper-right corner.
If you want to use a 3rd party toolbar, such as Google or Yahoo!, too bad; it will only clutter your web page because there is no option to remove the address bar or the search bar in the upper right corner. BAD!!
Even if you choose to use Google as your default search, it doesn't come with the full options of the Google Toolbar. More BAD!!
Until IE7 is really fixed, I'll stick with my nice neat IE6 Toolbar and the Google Tool Bar, w/o the address bar which is conveniently located on my Taskbar.
User Rating: 6/10
Much better than 6, still not firefox.
Pros: Like tabbing, page re-sizing
Cons: doesn't allow add-on features like firefox.
User Rating: 2/10
Difficult to use
Pros: None that I have ben able to find
Cons: Tool bars and tabs need more work
User Rating: 2/10
Went from bad to worst, could not get rid of it quick enough.
Pros: Doing some catchup work, good stuff, also liked things like smart printing of selected webpages.
Cons: Slower, caused wierd stuff in Outlook, felt heavy and a burden to use. Could not resolve several issues and had to bail on it. Of course that meant XP restore to day before the install.
User Rating: 9/10
Great upgrade
Pros: Speedy, print preview and print sizing, much more secure
Cons: Managic bookmarks
User Rating: 9/10
Simple and Easy
Pros: simple, easy, finally tabs with MS
Cons: Beta crashes, Security on default settings a little to high.
The only issue I have had is the security has complicated my entrance to my worksite becuse of the certificate authorization. I also found that from time to time IE7 would crash and I would have to restart it. Yes this is a beta and is to be expected. Have not found any other serious issues. All in All it is great for a simple and easy browser.
User Rating: 4/10
Nothing but IE6 with a new coat of paint
Pros: Tabs, nicer look
Cons: Still too far behind with CSS support
While no browser is great with CSS, IE and Opera tend to be far behind. IE7 doesn't improve CSS support at all.
User Rating: 1/10
GET FIREFOX
Pros: Nice Look, Tabbed Browsing
Cons: Way too slow!!
User Rating: 10/10
can't get much better than this
Pros: full screen rocks... tabs are awesome...... things are easy to get to.... pretty damn fast.....
Cons: not as fast as firefox.... but it works with every website i've been to..... i know firefox would to if i download an extension. but i like the fact it's built in
User Rating: 3/10
why only now?!?!?!?!?
Pros: features that should have been implemented have been, such as tabbed browsing, security, rss, etc
Cons: such features have only been implemented only now
Hmmpphh, tabbed browsing? RSS feeds? toolbar search box? All features that are native to opera or firefox, these things aren't new, microsoft is sure late. By the way tabbed browsing has been available since early 90's by Opera, (that's right, to some of you kiddies, tabbed browsing was developed by opera a few years before firefox, search the net prove me wrong :P) and also Opera i think has the best security record, try: secunia.com (although i don't know the reliability of the site).
I think IE7 is a new ploy for those "blind people" who have been using IE6 all of their WinXP life as a "new product" with "new features". Well for me it doesn't feature anything new just a new face for a browser with a horrible security record.
User Rating: 5/10
There's a reason it's beta.
Pros: Has an attractive appearance and has some convenient features like having your delete history, clearing temporary internet files conveniently located in the toolbar. Security features have improved.
Cons: The default security setting is medium high. I found the setting to be to restrictive and interfered with my security programs.
User Rating: 9/10
It's just a Beta Calm Down!
Pros: Quick Tabs is very innovative, Finally Tabs!, Clean look, nice "glassy" buttons, RSS feeds built in
Cons: Bit unstable (however it's a beta), Refresh and Stop button should be beside the back & forward buttons
So far so good still some room for improvment and I hope when MS releases this with Vista it won't be plagued with bugs and security holes, like IE6. But it is MS, and I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes the case. We consumers can only hope MS is finally starting to pull up their socks and restablish their credibility. It's becoming very hard for people like me to defend MS whenever MAC Zealots come attacking.
User Rating: 1/10
IE7 doesn't work with McAfee
Pros: None that I could find
Cons: Lots of them
User Rating: 9/10
Best Browser Microsoft Has Ever Made
Pros: Everything Explorer didnt have
Cons: Toolbar will take some time to get use too, Cant collapse toolbars up.
Ok I dont want to type a report here so let me just get to the point. Most of your corpt. america job uses a internet browser of Explorer or Nescape and Firefox is used by more of a personal uses. Why you ask? Most Companys use a windows operating system. So with microsoft adding feature that I believe Opera first introduced not Firefox you cant blame them for growing with the time and needs of there consumers. Because the use of tab browsing is a better way of using the internet without all the open windows I cant wait to take advantage of using this while at work.
By this being a Beta I hope Microsoft improves on that Toolbar to me it a feel of being to compacked.
The quick tab is also nice it give you a picture of all the pages you have open.
So Everyone please just add review the product without all the talk about what another product has. that why its called product review not product compare.
User Rating: 
7/10
Loaded with new features, but has flaws
Pros: Tabbed browsing , RSS built in
Cons: Delayed scrolling, hogs memory
User Rating: 9/10
Obviously a firefox rip off, But still good.
Pros: Tabbed browsing, Much cleaner look
Cons: Buttons are small, Their are certain internet pages that don't work but that's because it's a beta
User Rating: 4/10
Better off with Mozilla
Pros: New Search engine is nice
Cons: it's a new browser, so may pages look distorted for now
User Rating: 7/10
Improvement over 6
Pros: Refreshed look and many new features. The best IE yet.
Cons: Layout not so great.
User Rating: 2/10
worse than version 6
Pros: Good interface n menus
Cons: slow,faulty acceptance of commands,memory problems
User Rating: 6/10
great for the non techy consumer
Pros: tabs, rss feeds, easier search engine changes, the ability to zoom and fit to page, improved security
Cons: freezes often, none of the features are really new, text changes make sites look strange, doesn't look too good, logos may actually be considered security threats in this version
User Rating: 7/10
A good start but needs work
Pros: Improved security, Tabbed Browsing, RSS support, integrated search, multi hompage load, Anti Phishing filter
Cons: Confusing layout, jumble of Apple style and Firefox funtionality
Firstly, what's good about it.
The improved security, tabs, integrated search function and in my opinion, slighly faster operation all make for a great browser. And the assurance of it operating with Active X and various other web compnents that has often caused problems for other browsers makes for an enjoyable web browsing expeirience.
But not all is good about IE7.
The layout looks rushed and tacked togeather. Really, a quickly stuck togeather hybrid of Apple styling which is to suit the new Windows Vista and funtions that Firefox has included for sometime.
User of previous IE versions may find it difficult to use the new version and with good reason. Toolbards have been moved or removed and the address bar is up the top. The once familiar large buttons such as back, foward and print are replaced by two small Vista style arrows that allow simple back and foward navigation.
In terms of security and privacy, this is were IE7 really shines. The Internet Options menu has been redesigned and is much more user friendly. The Anit Phishing funtion provides more peace of mind for users while other behind the scenes enhancements also add to the overall sence of increased security.
The ability to subscribe to RSS feeds and select multiple homepages to open in multiple tabs on opening IE are both useful features. Imagine, start IE and you have your stocks, news, weather and company intranet all open with in seconds with only one click! Great.
Overall, IE7 is no slouch. It brings hugh improvements to the Internet Explorer family and when included with Vista, the layout should blend more and hopefully be a bit more refined. The added security and functionality, although confusing at first, make this browser one of the best and certainly put Micrsoft on the road again to being king of the browsers. I say, give it a try!
User Rating: 5/10
After a week, I've uninstalled it
Pros: A little faster; has some undeveloped potential
Cons: Pages display incorrectly;pages don't form new tab automatically
User Rating: 8/10
Looks good
Pros: easy to use
Cons: need to use it
User Rating: 3/10
horrible huge toolbar, incorrect gamma color correction
Pros: CSS2.1 for style, PNG transparency
Cons: the illogical and too large toolbars
toolbars have lot ofunused space andcan't be arranged horizontally, only vertically, tabs are always shown, taking finally MORE screen space than in previous version:
Load a word document: its toolbar and menus do not merge.
The iconic menus on the left are unusable drops down right, then left, and less complete thanthe traditional menus:
How do you change the page encoding when it displays UTF-8 instead of ISO-8859-1 for example?
Back/forward buttons are badly placed on the top-left corner: should be on the middle of the screen where they are more accessible.
The address bar is much too large for what is really needed (OK, the fact that it can't beremovedby awebsite is good, butnoneedforit to take so much space.)
The search minibar is incomplete! Use Googlebar, then what to do with it? You can't remove it...
The "stop" button looks toomuch like a "close window" button...
User Rating: 7/10
nice and light
Pros: easy, lots of viewing space
Cons: still microsoft
User Rating: 3/10
Not ready for prime time Browser
Pros: Slimline tool Bar
Cons: issues when downloading a file.
User Rating: 2/10
God knows I tried
Pros: Looks Ok, finally MS is trying to catch up with MACs Graphic superiority
Cons: While trying to catch up with firefox... they got burned.
I wanted to give this new thingy a try...
No WAY. Ok even Microsoft's own Website refused to laod properly... I mean it was SOOOOOOOOOOO SLOW... (ACtually it has been loading for the past 5 minutes while I am writing this) NOTHING BUT A WHITE SCREEN... which reminds me of the Blue Screen of DEATH.. Oh I have PTSD From the blue screen.... GOOD JOB MS>... You managed to replicate it with an IE7 White screen of DEATH/NOTHINGNESS/SHAME
NOw I am looking like a MS hater...
I am not I swear.. I might be ...becoming one..
THis is all happening while I am trying to CANCEL my Hotmail Plus service.. Which gave me 2 GB of space.... Oh who needs that in the age of Google's 2.6 GB Free Superior mail.
Ok..... I AM in favor of Google's domination of the WORLD, I am mean the WWW.
Well... you get the picture..
Google will be hopefully giving us a NEW OS soon.. When that day comes........ I am going to cremate all my PC; and throw the ashes in...... (I don;t know yet...)
Ok ENough said
User Rating: 6/10
better than the lastone
Pros: designof page
Cons: easy of use is good
User Rating: 8/10
nice step in the right direction for security
Pros: improved security, imbedded search, tabbed browsing
Cons: it's a beta after all and with that comes bugs
User Rating: 8/10
About Time!
Pros: Noce, clean and uncluttered feel to it. Though it does look similiar to Firefox, I like the way IE7 has cleaned up.
Cons: Has crashed a couple of times but that is to be expected in Beta versions.
User Rating: 7/10
Very good.. Loved it but McAfee Users WATCH OUT
Pros: Tabbed browsing, more viewable area
Cons: Not yet compatible with McAfee Products
User Rating: 9/10
I like the program
Pros: confusing to start
Cons: easy to use
User Rating: 2/10
Why bother
Pros: Tabbed browsing
Cons: Has totally stuffed my internet dial up function
User Rating: 8/10
Works fine on my system
Pros: stable and has many advanced features
Cons: CNET review
User Rating: 7/10
Better than 6.0, but why don't I ever hear about comparisons to Maxthon?
Pros: I like the Favorites functionality and I like how condensed the menu area is.
Cons: Not enough options for Tab functions, at least that I found
User Rating: 1/10
It's still IE
Pros: There are no Pros
Cons: Too many Cons
User Rating: 8/10
Nifty "new" features and user friendly
Pros: Tabbed browsing with the overall feel of Internet Explorer 6 intact
Cons: Track wheel scrolling is jumpy at best, menu drop downs need fixing.
Its one thing to hate Microsoft, but at least give an honest opinion about the product, not how it stacks up to the competition, that by the way is already in its final build while this is just beta.
That being said, I'm impressed with IE 7 beta and am looking forward to the fine tuning and extra features that will likely come on release. If your a IE user its pretty much second nature and the added tabbed browsing makes it easy to leave your desktop uncluttered.
When this product comes out, I will be using it, because unlike Firefox and other browsers, it works with everything. That is all I needed to hear (compatability issues with some websites) when I thought about switching browsers to know that IE is the real deal. Why waste time switching between the two?
To those of you that seem to have a problem, I'm wondering if MS bought Firefox browser, would you crucify that also? I think I know the answer and you do too.
User Rating: 5/10
Copy of FireFox
Pros: Added features including search bar, tabbed browsing, RSS feeds
Cons: cannot drag and drop tabs, glitchy, hard to use
User Rating: 1/10
Another load of C R A P from MSFT
Pros: There are no pros
Cons: Internet Explorer
User Rating: 2/10
couldn't test it
Pros: Not sure, wasn't able to test
Cons: Not Sure, wasn't able to test
User Rating: 4/10
Its just sad
Pros: tabed browzing
Cons: it just sucks
User Rating: 6/10
Nice looks, Simple and E-Z
Pros: Better than before, continues with simple interface. Easy to use
Cons: Delivery date is too late. Beta does crash. Not customizable (yet ??)
This is a review of IE 7 beta. First impression it looks very good / clean. Very simple to use. Lets face the fact that half the people around the believe INTERNET = IE logo on their desktop. This software continues to feed on this phenomenon and delivers internet to those people very nicely (I tested it on my parents).
However, for pro / heavy web surfers this product is too late. Main features of this products were already available in other browsers like FireFox. If IE7 is one the better products (even if it is a copy of FireFox) I will use it. And I tried to use it.
The main reason I was unable to use IE7 as compared to FireFox was extensions. For me FF has become a platform for many different useful extension made by programmers all over the world. The community of developers contributing to FF through extensions have made FF very dynamic software. IE7 simply can't match that yet.
To name few of the extensions I use in FireFox: Date and Time (of two different countries), AD Block, Weather alerts, Mouse gestures, del.icio.us add-on, and many other addons.
Unless in the future IE7 matches the volume and usability of these features WITH better stability and speed than FF, I will not be able to use it.
User Rating: 2/10
great new features like anti-phishing but very difficult to use
Pros: new tabbing, better security, nice search engine built in
Cons: unorganized, icons too small and out of place, hard to use for elders and children
User Rating: 3/10
Cant Use Email
Pros: none noticed
Cons: not ready for prime time
Cannot get rid of this program and use IE6 again.... Hello fireFox.
I cannot remember why I removed the first beta of IE7, but this time I removed it, because I could not play XM radio (who by the way have NO tech support for online XM)
User Rating: 5/10
Taking sides already? In Beta? Sheesh!
Pros: The many new and or improved features.
Cons: It's MS and no doubt be the main target of hackers.
Geez, gang this is "Beta"! Being neither "Pro" or "Con" I rated it in the middle as it is beta and can go either way depending on how stable, secure and functional it is. Mt point is........
Try it if you want, or not.
Say what you like and what you don't.
But to put it down or pump it up.... forget it.
Me? Personally, I have no interest in trying this version. I use Opera & IE both and both do what I want and use them for....Good enough!
Once the release version is out I'll give it a try. But won't try to sway people one way or the other. Why? Well IE7 is designed for Vista and until I have a machine with Vista on it and can see IE7 function on it, then I'll comment on the product its self.
On the other hand once a release version is out (lol, and had a few patches put out
then I'll see how it works for me with XP SP2.
List the likes, the don't likes, but keep bias out if you are truly trying to help people decide. People are smart enough to make the "love/hate" choice them selves
Bashing or boosting a beta? Take it as it is...... A Beta!
User Rating: 2/10
One of the Worst Microsoft releases ever
Pros: nice webpage viewer that veiws all open pages
Cons: Everything Else
User Rating: 7/10
Not a bad step
Pros: New Tabbed Browsing, New Security Features, Nice New Look
Cons: It's still a step behind the other browsers
User Rating: 5/10
Wow, they still have some work to do
Pros: tabbed browsing
Cons: FTP is screwed up, clunky feel
Tabs - very cool. You can open new tabs and close existing ones easier than with Firefox. You can't however, set an option in IE7 that forces a link that would typically open a new page to open in a new tab instead. Firefox will do this and it's VERY convenient to have if you do a lot of surfing.
FTP - Broken. I finally got it to get me to my own personal web site but I had to type in the URL in the form FTP://userid
assword@site.com. Even then, it wouldn't let me do a quick transfer of a file or 2. I use this method for small updates because it's so quick, but now it doesn't even work. I have to use a 3rd party FTP utility just to transfer a single page or image that I may have updated. That sucks!Look - Not bad, but it's not really intuitive. It realy feels clunky and inconsistent. I imagine some will like it, so I know this is personal, but to me it just doesn't feel comfortable to work with.
Broken stuff - There are pages I've been to that say "Optimized for" or "Best viewed with" Internet Explorer version x.x or above, and IE7 doesn't even show them properly. I have pages that should open up in large windows that for some reason pop open a new window the size of a postage stamp, and others that just plain display things in the wrong spot.
Overall, MS is on the right track. I like the way the tabs work (except for the one complaint). There's still a lot of work to do though. I think this is WAY far from complete. I'm really surprised it was even release to the public with this level of dysfunction.
User Rating: 2/10
I hate every new thing!
Pros: This may be a good product, I don't know
Cons: It is from a certain company I happen to hate. And it's new!
User Rating: 5/10
Too late for Mac users
Pros: FINALLY, more safer web surfing, TAB , and rss
Cons: Will not be available for mac
User Rating: 6/10
With third-party support I'd support it
Pros: Great interface, stable.
Cons: Doesn't support user extensions.
User Rating: 4/10
I cant believe this is microsofts product
Pros: smooth look
Cons: basic, SLOW, overall lame
User Rating: 5/10
something to write about..?
Pros: Get something to write about
Cons: Doesn't change anything.
User Rating: 9/10
Some things are better tan FF
Pros: Tab close buttons on the tab, search from the address bar (not just the search box)
Cons: No keyboard shortcut for search (that I can find in the docs) but you can use Alt+D to search from the address bar.
User Rating: 8/10
IE is going in the right direction
Pros: Its the collection of other browser's best features
Cons: It's still beta
User Rating: 4/10
Not ready for Beta if this is the best they've got
Pros: The thumbnail view of open tabs is a good start
Cons: Cluttered on command bars, much slower than IE6
User Rating: 6/10
It's Ok...
Pros: Looks nice
Cons: Still slow to open, huge system resources
User Rating: 6/10
Goog, but not the best
Pros: Much better than v6, safer in certain ways...
Cons: ...interface got this 'Vista' look... totally inappropriate for XP.
I don't like IE 7 anymore, in fact I uninstalled it and I'm using Firefox again... It's so cluncky, slow, and it's always getting a busy sign, like it's processing something. IE 6 is so much more reliable. But after all its still a beta.
User Rating: 8/10
Mediocre interface, good security
Pros: FASTER THAN MOZILLA, great security, clever new "windowed-browsing", better interface than IE7 beta1
Cons: Shifting of UI buttons to the right (counter-intuitive), oversell of a multi-browser ripoff, view-source feauture has no text wrap-around
-Opera: new tab button
-Firefox: tabbed-browsing, integrated Google/MSN/Yahoo search
-Safari: page loading scroller
-AOL Browser: UI and color scheme (biggy)
There are probably more that are there, but the one that bothers me most is the AOL browser ripoff. I loaded the two simultaneously, and I noticed that the blue/yellow color scheme is nearly identical to AOL browser. Also, the general internal color-scheme is as well. The fact that so many features have been just mushed together into one browser seems stupid and half-baked to me.
Also note that the UI is confusing for the regular browser user. There is no top-file bar like we are used to...makes for a very poor initial and continuing experience.
Best of the pros mentione above: the huge speed improvement over Mozilla Firefox. While IE may take up more harddrive space, it loads from the start menu in about 2.5 seconds...while Firefox takes a good 4+. That's the sole most standout feature, besides the long needed tabbed browsing.
All-in-all, Microsoft has made a good try thus far...but for spending millions on bringing in the best of a best to make a web-browser, you have to wonder just how much open-source development would be worth in a dollar amount. I mean, it took Microsoft oodles of cash and boatloads of time to even catch up...and frankly, there is no major complusion to switch from Mozilla Firefox 1.5 to IE 7 Beta 2. Maybe by the fall, Microsoft will have recovered lost ground...but by then Mozilla 2.0 will be out.
Ah yes, open-source wins out again. A sad day for capitalism =D
User Rating: 9/10
So Much Better than 6
Pros: Tabs! Mini browser icons! Cleaner! Configurable! Quicker!
Cons: None so far!
User Rating: 9/10
Almost there...
Pros: Tabs are much more useful and powerful than those provided by the MSN Toolbar. RSS integration is excellent. Cleaner UI.
Cons: 'Refresh' and 'Stop' buttons should be combined (a-la Safari), and the 'Home' button should be made more prominent.
User Rating: 6/10
BIG improvement, but still not up to par with Firefox, Opera, etc
Pros: Great "Quick Tabs" visualization feature, tabbed browsing, integrated search bar
Cons: First time I've seen websites to be "incompatible" with IE...
- browsing speed seems slower than Firefox or Opera
- Some websites do not display properly, a first for me while using IE
- I think design could be better, but I guess that's what skins are for
- Nothing too out of the ordinary, especially considering the competition out there.
+ I love the Quick Tabs feature, where it gives you a grid of thumbnails of each tab that is open so you can quickly choose the one you want to go to visually
+ Tabs are a big improvement, a good step.
Can't wait to see the final version
User Rating: 4/10
Very slow compared to IE 6 and Firefox
Pros: Simple design, tabbed browsing
Cons: Doesn't quite feel like IE, very slow at loading websites, doesn't work well with some websites
User Rating: 2/10
Requires Validation
Pros: None that I can see
Cons: Requires Validation
"unsecurely mind you", just so I can install an update, to a program that I haven't used since Mozilla Firefox was first born.
Of course this is the way Microsoft are heading to try and stop any "piracy" but as a "Genuine" owner of the product.
I am still just to suspicious for my own nature.
User Rating: 2/10
BAD, HORRIBLE, ANNOYING!
Pros: Tab-browsing.
Cons: Slow, bad design, doesn't even close!
User Rating: 8/10
One of the Greatest Updates yet! - (csismag.com)
Pros: The New Tab Bars & Print Preview Option
Cons: Would like the Option to Start in Quick Tabs Mode
User Rating: 5/10
Not for Newbies or Power Users...
Pros: They're looking more like Firefox...
Cons: They've TRIED to look more like Firefox...
And who got the idea to make the UI so confusing? I don't need you to tell me every time you think a site is Phishing! It's like that annoying firewall message I keep getting on XP... YES, I know my firewall is turned off, but I don't need it! Stop telling me! Thanks again Microsoft for assuming that everyone is an idiot.
User Rating: 4/10
At least it uninstalled easy enough.
Pros: Does have RSS updating and tabs.
Cons: Immovable address bar and buttons for now. Other quirks.
User Rating: 7/10
Seems an improvement to me
Pros: tabs, fuller and cleaner view, quicker, "hidden" items easily accessable
Cons: security settings a bit complicated, can hang on active X pages
User Rating: 3/10
My impression
Pros: :) }: :( ;( :[
Cons: does not support 128 bit encoding
Overall, I don't see anything worth while.
User Rating: 4/10
Extremelly Unreliable
Pros: Seems Faster, and has more options to use which look promising
Cons: Get more site not available... unable to views than I EVER had before... bugs galore
User Rating: 9/10
Microsoft back on track with IE7
Pros: tabbed browsing, rss, phising filter, separate from shell, other good stuff
Cons: not really a con, but the browser buttons have moved and take a few minutes to get used to
User Rating: 9/10
It works like a dream, great!
Pros: Shows the future!
Cons: Not quite there yet?
User Rating: 9/10
Good Beta, hope they fix a couple of glitches before mass release
Pros: Fixes major complaints
Cons: the interface still has the Beta feel
The Experience (from someone that is using it)
- It works and tries to look good.
- if you are using a theme manager be careful, the beta does not like the imputs and you may notice transparent zones in the menu bar
Note on the security features
- lets see how they work with time
User Rating: 6/10
Not much new here
Pros: Phishing filter
Cons: Merely "equal" to other browsers
Personally, I'm going to stick with FireFox. I'll only use IE so I can get the Windows updates from Microsoft's web site. (which happens to be broken for any other browser)
User Rating: 8/10
Anti MS is so old and boring.
Pros: Read the CNet review and see for yourself, but keep an open mind
Cons: Hmmmm lets see now ... being beta should be a clue.
Listen I am a huge fan of Firefox and I was using it when most didn't know it existed and when it comes to browsers, it is what I would recommend to anyone without a moment of hesitation. But I don't subscribe to the view that it is all powerful, holy and sacred. It is vulnerable also people, so get real, why do you think there's been the need to introduce critical updates.
Cnet provides you with the ability to write a "review" and by definition a review is supposed to be factual, unbiased and credible. So grow up and lose the juvenile anti MS hatred or get therapy.
Personally I like what I see so far with IE7. Is it perfect? No, but hey guess what? Nothing is. Am I going to use it? Yes, because unlike some of the radical anti MS element I never saw any sense in deleting IE6 and believe it or not, those who have are by far the smallest of minorities.
My point is this. Is IE7 an improvement on IE6? Yes. So if you're going to have both browsers like most of us do, then it makes sense to have IE7. For those who can't handle that basic logical common sense then I have one very simple message for you. Who cares that you hate Microsoft? Only those few who share your views, is who. To the rest of us in this world, I dare say that your whining is getting old and boring.
User Rating: 4/10
Yahoo Music Engine not compatible.
Pros: Finally playing catchup.
Cons: not YME compatible. Crashes. Hard to roll back to IE6.
Had to do a system restore to get back IE6. No support what so ever. Novices stay away till program evolves.
User Rating: 9/10
Great step!
Pros: Fully Comatible with XP. All what I need is there
Cons: Enhancing the tabs (lik "duplicate") will be welcomed.
User Rating: 3/10
shouldve never downloaded it! wasting my time
Pros: copying Firefox's sucess there are none
Cons: bad interface just kill the hen before its about have some offspring
Microsoft is copying Firefox success and putting an Microsoft logo on it .. no new Ideas for Internet Explorer 7 going back to IE 6 and keep using Firefox 1.5....the interface and layout of toolbars sucks no really clear thought into the process of customizable browser should look like for the masses
User Rating: 3/10
Once again MS is playing catch up
Pros: It's beta, so there is a chance final release will be better
Cons: Doesn't do anything FF hasn't been doing for a few years
User Rating: 8/10
Same as everything else, but faster.
Pros: Tabbs, pop up bocking, fishing
Cons: no moveable tabs
User Rating: 10/10
IE got better with each new version
Pros: new antiphishing feature
Cons: still in Beta
User Rating: 7/10
anything beats IE6..
Pros: beats ie6, thats all that matters
Cons: cant beat firefox.. yet.
but the only thing i hate is how much space the toolbars take up.. in firefox, all this space is compressed.. microsoft took space up pretty easily with big bulky tabs, etc
but the plus side is that the tabs have a nice shine effect to them..
ie6<ie7<firefox 1.5
im sure that the final product will be a great challenge for firefox in the upcoming months
User Rating: 4/10
Still nothing thats gonna take me away from FF
Pros: new look, tabbed browsing
Cons: its still IE
User Rating: 5/10
Microsoft Tries too hard yet again!
Pros: RSS, Nice Security Features, turned off some activeX
Cons: Large file, Same old Same old security issues
My major concerns with windows is there tactics on creating secure and safe products. There is so much concern about preventing this and that, and the source code gets longer and longer respectivly. The more code, more room for leaks and loopholes. Most of these occur with in a feature most people do not know about. In a home enviroment, users will apreciate certain features and options, but disregard others as too technical.
Microsoft needs to start from scratch, instead of building on the previous version. As a web devlopler I do see many benifits for webpagea, as well as appreciate the new security features. I think IE7 will be more secure, but still leave many openings for hackers, viruses and the like,
User Rating: 3/10
An improvement in some areas, worsening in others
Pros: much better interface, tabs and "quick tabs", rss support, .png alpha transparency support!
Cons: very buggy, extremely bad graphic rendering speed - laggy strolling, just as annoying as IE 6, steals from firefox in all its "new" features, uses msn search as default, css render problems, slow..
ie7 is an improvement to the past version. that isnt saying much however. firefox still is a superior browser in every way.
firefox has extensions that improve upon IE7's "new features" such as quicktabs, and implement them within firefox better. quicktabs might be useful if you have 20 tabs open, but otherwise wont be used often, though it is a nice feature.
IE7 beta is TERRIBLE at rendering most pages. specifically any page that utilizes css. attempts to scroll down a page even on a fast computer is not nearly as smooth as in firefox or even IE6. rendering graphics lag behind page scrolling.. which is annoying and unsatisfying.
i should also mention that installing IE7 caused an alteration within my customized explorer interface. i will attempt to revert back to IE6 and hope it fixes the problem.
The biggest improvement in IE7 is the support of .png alpha transparency! web developers such as myself have been BEGGING microsoft to add this to their next version of internet explorer and they finally have! of course, firefox has had this support since the beginning, but designing webpages has been a true pain partially due to the limited support in IE6 and older.
hope to see the current numerous bugs of the beta fixed when the final version is made. right now, i wouldnt recommend installing unless for temporary testing.
User Rating: 4/10
At least they are trying...
Pros: Faster than IE 6 and safer
Cons: Still not enough customization
If Microsoft wants to get back their IE crowd from 3rd party developers, than they just need to add more customization adn maybe prove the browser is faster and safer.
They have had a bad rep since IE 6, and I think they can still improve it with this new version.
For now, Firefox is still my #1 choice, but maybe not for too much longer...
User Rating: 8/10
Great to get back to IE from FireFox
Pros: nice interface, great tabbing options, works with most sites already
Cons: could have a bit more flexability with the layout of the interface
I use what is best, and the new IE has better features than FireFox and it is compatible with as many, if not more websites than FOX. I like the new look, but I really like the easy to use function of saving my tab sets, closing individual tabs with an ?X? (without downloading an add-in). I?m sure there are glitches to the new BETA, but I have not found them yet.
Most consumers will love the new IE, and I would wager to say, that many of the FireFox crowd who left IE in the first place will come and have a look again. The unfortunate result of the new IE will be the die-hard FireFox/Opera crowd who, like the Mac Fanatics, will turn their nose up at the program no matter what. Oh well.
User Rating: 3/10
very buggy, wouldn't even load a page
Pros: Hard to tell what the pro's were. It wouldn't work. And I'm running XP home with Pentium 4 SP2, so whats happening?
Cons: Coulnd't get it to open my home page or any other's
User Rating: 3/10
very buggy, wouldn't even load a page
Pros: Hard to tell what the pro's were. It wouldn't work. And I'm running XP home with Pentium 4 SP2, so whats happening?
Cons: Coulnd't get it to open my home page or any other's
User Rating: 2/10
Looks like MS isn't investing to much in IE any more =(
Pros: Tabbed Browser...<Yawn>
Cons: Seems like a FireFox Beta
FireFox is my main browser but there are too many sites that as a Realtor I have to access that are not FF compatible. I can't wait till all sites become FireFox friendly so I can uninstall this god awful browser.
User Rating: 8/10
A step in the right direction
Pros: Added security, simple interface
Cons: Still in beta
By what I've seen so far, MS is concentrating more on security i.e. anti-phishing, deep cache cleaning.
I have to admit that I use Firefox as my primary browser, and will likely keep it that way for a while. As I'm no fan of IE6, but as I said if you use WinXP, any effort by MS to clean up it's act is a good thing.
User Rating: 7/10
Going in the right direction
Pros: Taps, RSS, Discussions, smooth
Cons: No Extentions, Themes,
User Rating: 9/10
Worksl fine
Pros: Tabs, anti phishing
Cons: none have appeared yet
User Rating: 8/10
A Solid Browser Choice
Pros: quick, better security, sleek interface
Cons: still in beta ~ some bugs are to be expected
User Rating: 9/10
Are You Judging Microsoft or IE 7
Pros: Nice look, Graphics/text look better
Cons: Look better in Vista
All the Microsoft haters comee out of the woodwork whenever they do something new. I don't like everything Microsoft do, but look at the mess we would be in without them. Don't you the Evil Empire tag should be handed over to Goofle or AOL?
Nice Product, looking forward to the Vista Version.
User Rating: 9/10
Great browser, don't listen to the nay-sayers
Pros: Tabs, improved security, fantastic look and feel
Cons: From M$ so it be only for n00bs y0!
If you haven't already, grab yourself a copy of IE7 from torrentspy or isohunt and enjoy. Don't listen to the nay-sayers who probably haven't even used IE7. They just can't accept the fact that maybe a product produced at Microsoft is superior to the opensource alternative.
Paul
Greyhats Security
http://greyhatsecurity.org
User Rating: 2/10
very very very dissapointing
Pros: none pros won´t upgrade
Cons: everything won´t upgrade
User Rating: 8/10
Not as much capability as Firefox, but still good.
Pros: Tabbed browsing, built-in RSS, phishing filter, Google search bar, works with all websites
Cons: Expandability through ActiveX
User Rating: 5/10
Firefox Firefox Firefox
Pros: Looks nice, has tabs, build in search engine, few other features.
Cons: Not fully customizeble like competition, hard to trust microsoft!
User Rating: 7/10
a beta with potential
Pros: vastly improved security, new phishing filter, improved standards compliancy, built-in search field, rss feed support and tabbed browsing feature added
Cons: a fairly odd layout in the top bars, putting the menus in the bottom top bar.
and just by looking at the beta it is clear that this is the biggest change in the browsers history since IE4. the new focus is security and standards compliancy, the latter of which is very welcome among web developers. this includes true alpha transparency support for png images and a less buggy rendering of css. of course this is something that should have been done a long time ago and that the other major browsers have had for years. nevertheless it is a clear indication that the developers are developing for their users, both the regular surfers and the web designers.
as a rather redundant feature in my mind, yet the most obvious user targeted feature, they have added tabbed browsing to win over those firefox users that treasure this.
resource wise it seems to take up less memory than firefox, looking at my task manager now it reads 14012K where as firefox reads 18602K. this is of course partly due to the fact that the explorer interface is built into windows, but it nevertheless effectively means that the browser uses less resources than firefox.
in the javascript department, IE has always had greatest speed, and IE7 is the same. comparing javascript rendering in mozilla browsers and in IE browsers one will notice a very discernable difference, in most instances, very clear to even the naked eye. in some cases specifically firefox will almost grind to a halt.
this review is just to bring things back to earth, IE has never been perfect, but neither has its competitors, this seemingly simple task of rendering web pages has always been a fairly difficult thing. perhaps we notice it more because it is perhaps the most used kind of software today. security wise, firefox also has holes, it is just that no one bothers poking in them as IE is still the browser of the majority.
that is why I advice you to not take notice of the mindless microsoft haters, it is clear that most have not even tried this beta out. and even if they have, they are forgetting that this is just a BETA and is supposed to be buggy (although I haven't experienced one yet, and I am on my 5th day using it).
so all in all, it seems that IE7 by the end of the year will have a browser that will be a slight improvement over firefox feature wise. in rendering speeds it will keep its current overtake. and security wise my bet it will at the release time be superior to firefox, but with all the hackers targeting microsoft it will most likely fall victim of new ways of attacking it. but with sensible surfing habits it will not be an issue, just like it is not an issue today for the experienced surfer.
and for the user it is all for the better as this release will add fuel to the firefox developers. in the end we will all have better browsers.
I will prepare for mindless assaults by microsoft haters and firefox zealots, that is usually the result of a post like this...
User Rating: 2/10
Major step back
Pros: Tabbed browsing, phishing check
Cons: Everything else
User Rating: 5/10
Well Firefox is number 1 so we just have to wait
Pros: tab browse security features
Cons: Its a little late i already switched to Fire fox
User Rating: 1/10
from bad to worse
Pros: didn't set my house on fire
Cons: bloat, laggard, moldy
User Rating: 4/10
Behind the other browsers
Pros: Phishing detection
Cons: Nothing new to make me change browser
User Rating: 3/10
Too little, too late
Pros: Tabs and antiphishing
Cons: Menus below tabs and everything else
User Rating: 8/10
Lame Criticism
Pros: Tabbed Browsing
Cons: Still in beta
User Rating: 10/10
Don't judge it yet
Pros: Microsoft are making progress
Cons: People will judge a beta version too harshly when we should wait for the final product
It does? Last time I remember it didn't follow the W3C standards. If I remember correctly, it is set to diver from the standards even further.
"I've never gotten spyware, viruses or crashes. Watch what you download -- thats it."
A browser should be made to be idiot proof. The average Joe does not know what is and isn't harmful to their computer.
Ok, you might say it?s their fault but in the end people go for the browser that doesn?t appear to damage their computer.
I agree we can?t judge IE at the moment. So I am going to give it a 10, to try to budge the average up to 5.
User Rating: 10/10
its beta, idiot
Pros: none. its a copy of others.
Cons: its a copy of others in beta form.
Its beta. I rated a 10 b/c confused idiots keep giving it 1's. Figure I'd keep it where it belongs -- in the Mediocre 4-5 range.
ie 7 is a desperate attempt to keep IE people happy enough to say that they don't need Firefox. (the only other thing i'm looking for in a browser is Mouse Gestures.
http://www.tcbmi.com/strokeit/
i need rss, tabs, customizable interface and mouse gestures. thats it.
ps. ie gives the best compatibility
pps. i've never gotten spyware, viruses or crashes.
watch what you download -- thats it.
ppps. i dont have any antivirus or antispyware. i haven't updated my windows for a year. i used to do that a lot, but then realized that there's too much "security patches" that I haven't seen results with.
pppps. that wasnt an open invitation to hack. btw: my ip isnt constant.
User Rating: 6/10
at least microsoft is still trying...
Pros: compatibility with all websites
Cons: it's still going to attract viruses
User Rating: 1/10
Absolutely horrible
Pros: They've added tabs. even if they are slow, clunky and just downright weird.
Cons: Tabs are sluggish and slow, browser freezes a lot, the new menu-bellow the navigation buttons is really quite weird and hard to use. Looks like us Firefox fans don't have anything to worry about
Sorry Microsoft, better luck next time.
User Rating: 1/10
Everyone at Microsoft must be on drugs...
Pros: Microsoft made, so updates will prob come through Windows Update (automatic at least)
Cons: Microsoft made, so it will probably be bug ridden and attract viruses like crazy
User Rating: 3/10
Still Crappy
Pros: Better W3C Standards Support (little improvement)
Cons: EVERYTHING, It's still the same old crappy IE(eek)
User Rating: 1/10
Totally useless.
Pros: Marginally improved standards support.
Cons: Same ****** browser.
User Rating: 9/10
IE 7 - Better features even in beta
Pros: Newer interface, Open new page in same browser with tabs
Cons: Slow loading hogs up resources, favorites didn't work until i enabled it through settings
User Rating: 2/10
What a shame!
Pros: You don't even need to try
Cons: There's nothing new.
Now, the other side:
There's nothing new in IE7. Or did I miss something? RSS and tabbed browsing are even better realized in Firefox or other IE-extensions like CrazyBrowser or Avalon. I am asking myself who really needs IE7??
Except Active-X support (which - on the other hand - opens backdoors for viruses, etc. again) there's no need for IE7 at all.
If M$ doesn't come up with some spectacular new features, IE will die soon. But I am starting to beleive, that M$ is slightly overcharged with all those products, which seem to become worse from release to release.
For me, this soon will lead to a Linux box for working. I start seeing Windows only as a plattform for playing games.
And NO, I am not a M$-hater... I even wrote lots of software for that OS, but as I said: Everything from Redmont is getting worse from release to release.
User Rating: 1/10
Just stick with Firefox.
Pros: You can use System Restore to go back to IE6... Yea...
Cons: Long installation, deletes previous settings/faves, hard to customize and use in general...
User Rating: 1/10
Just bad BAD copy of better browsers
Pros: I see none
Cons: Need of newer Operating system, still developed by a monopolistic firm
User Rating: 3/10
Just a copy of other better browsers
Pros: Suport Active-X
Cons: Its a M$ product, a copy of an idea of other people
Submit
User Rating: 1/10
Slight Improvement, Nothing More
Pros: None, other than a Slight Improvement
Cons: Everything, except the RSS reader, which only part works
User Rating: 4/10
Still has a way to go
Pros: Fixed a bunch of pressing CSS bugs
Cons: Still has a bunch left
User Rating: 10/10
All Reviewers Here As Of 7/30/05 Are Fakes
Pros: It Isn't Mozilla Based, Insecure and ToothLess
Cons: It Isn't Available to Many People, And None Who Are Writing Here
http://news.com.com/Testers+lock+horns+with+Vista+beta/2100-1016_3-5805696.html?tag=nl&tag=nl.e496
"How can I get the beta version of Windows Vista or Internet Explorer 7?
The beta versions are being made available now to about 10,000 already-selected testers. Microsoft plans to offer them shortly to about 500,000 people who are part of its MSDN developer program or Technet program for corporate tech workers."
User Rating: 1/10
It can't compare to firefox
Pros: none..........
Cons: its internet explorer
User Rating: 2/10
Behind competirors yet
Pros: Some new features (found already in other browsers)
Cons: Changes in the interface, Why wait?
User Rating: 6/10
This is still the first beta
Pros: moving towards standards compliance
Cons: You never know what to expect from Microsoft
Chris Wilson has written a post on the MS IE7 team blog outlining the fact that the final release will repair most of the CSS bugs that do excist in IE6 + add some support for newer CSS 2 properties, like Firefox, Safari or Opera.
Most consumers won't notice the difference, but for webmasters this is the long awaited upgrade: coding websites will become less complex and frustrating and result in lower maintenance costs for corporate websites who have to face rather incompatible browsers right now, IE6 being the laggard.
This first beta is not much, just hold on to beta2 and then C|net can review it a bit more seriously. Even then, it will still be a beta.
User Rating: 2/10
No worth downloading...
Pros: Not any....
Cons: Oh many....
User Rating: 4/10
Nothing new
Pros: The only thing I see is a new screen
Cons: Only for XP SP2
User Rating: 2/10
Doesn't impress me
Pros: Adds tabbed browsing and rss
Cons: uncomfortable interface, doubtable security, required upgrade
User Rating: 3/10
Download FireFox or wait for Flock.com
Pros: Looks like a nexgen Browser
Cons: Isn't a nextgen Browser
User Rating: 9/10
MUCH BETTER
Pros: Comes with TABS like in Firefox much faster for me!
Cons: Still a BETA
User Rating: 2/10
The poor customization that i ever seen!
Pros: Tabbed navegation, Full-screen navigation with auto-hide toolbar, and the possible rss integration.
Cons: Has no personalization to do in this version, has the same configuration windows of the IE6, and for me looks like a Firefox bad-copy.
This version shows me that microsoft ignore that people need something personal, need to change things to fit with your needs. And for users familiarized with the old IE6, IE7 will look a bit strange with his non intuitive organization (as the review said).
User Rating: 2/10
Firefox is better
Pros: Tabs, RSS, more secure(?)
Cons: Buggy, unstable, still more vulnerable than FF
(...the answer is Firefox. I'd make this upside down but I can't do that on the internet.)
User Rating: 2/10
More crap from the
Pros: Uh...looks like they tried?
Cons: Instead of adding useful features (CSS2 anyone?) and making the browser better, Microsoft simply added half-arsed "features" that will end up just annoying me.
User Rating: 4/10
It Looks Good, But Not Much Else Goes For It
Pros: Tabbed Browsing (Already in FF), RSS Support (Already in FF), Probabily Up To Date Standards (Already in FF)
Cons: Tabbed Design, Odd Clasic Menu/Button Setup
I will admit, my original score for IE 7 was low but at this point, I have become a little more hopeful that the product will improve but yet still have some gripes I just cannot get past.
On the parts it has going for it: preformance is pretty good at the moment, tabs work well, pop-up blocker is actually better than Firefox, and the overall design is interesting
For problems: The tab system still feels out of place in IE, in addition to the new toolbar format looks odd in XP and the buttons don't go with XP style either, in addition to the BETA breaking some other items in my system including Help in other programs and a number of other items. In addition, WASP has possibly gotten even worse than it originally was, making it a little more of a disapointment in my opinion.
Overall, IE 7 is improving and will be a great new contender against it's siblings who have had updates in the last 4-5 years, something IE truely hasn't really had
User Rating: 6/10
IE7 Reveiw OK! RSS yehh, needs some work Firefox Better right now!
Pros: Tabs, Phishing Filter, RSS Feeds
Cons: does not work well with google toolbar or tools. Toolbars
User Rating: 10/10
Idiot denizens as usual
Pros: 24-bit PNG transparency is here, better security settings, tabs?
Cons: Phising functionality is not available in full force.
User Rating: 2/10
Worthless product
Pros: Tabs (but Opera and Firefox are better at that)
Cons: Unflexible, ActiveX based...
I was going to give a 3 because of the tabs, but the rest is so bad it's going to be 2.
User Rating: 6/10
A definite improvement but Still not up to par
Pros: rss, tabbed browsing, more secure & not integrated with shell
Cons: Crappy user interface (worse than 6!) tabbed browsing not up to scratch, no extentions
User Rating: 3/10
Nice look, shame about the product
Pros: It looks good
Cons: It doesnt function as well as Firefox or Safari
IE (Internet Explorer) and Office are two good examples. I don't know anyone that has seen Office 2003 and thought, 'now there is a feature I have always wanted'. Most people just think the UI looks better. In Microsoft's rush to ensure that IE is an intrinsic and non-removable part of Windows they have increased the complexity of the interdependencies between the various software components of core Windows and IE. This has increased the development time required to implement new features within IE. Microsoft were hoping to delay the new release of IE for the Vista release of Windows which would have saved a significant amount of developer time and would have mitigated the risk's associated with a new release of IE within the old Windows XP environment.
Now it seems that Microsoft have been cought out by the rapid development of open source browsers based on the Firefox code stream. Firefox has not been burdened with Windows interdependencies. The development times for Firefox are staggeringly quick. The number of security issues and vulnerabilities seem remarkable small (remember is open source). More importantly though, Firefox introduced features such as tabbed browsing and RSS that Microsoft's IE users lacked.
The IE7 Beta is here and looks very good. That though seems where it ends ? on the looks. Tabs are now there and so is RSS support with some nice flashy graphics to wrap it all up. In what seems to be increasingly typical Microsoft style ? the product (and I grant latitude here as this is a beta) is light on functionality and is likely to disappoint the techies out there. Anyone familiar with Firefox will clearly see IE playing catch up. Due at about the same time as IE7 is the new release of Firefox and I can't help thinking that IE7 will be out of date before it has been released.
Overall, Microsoft are likely to use their huge marketing budget to influence non technical people with the nice look and feel and I would expect take up of IE7 to be quite widespread. It is also likely that a number of companies who are locked into the Microsoft proprietary applications base will be forced to use IE7 and this will again increase the usage of the browser. Firefox is set to remain to be the most functionally rich browser platform for some time to come.
User Rating: 9/10
Try the product before writing reviews
Pros: Tabbed browsing, better security, separate from shell, better rendering, rss feeds
Cons: None so far, but then again, I'm a security researcher, so I keep my eyes open
About IE7, I'm actually using it right now to write this review. I can honestly say than from what I've seen, IE7 is going to be be a very hard blow to Mozilla. IE7 has great new features like RSS feeds and tabbed browsing. Also, backed by popular demand, IE7 is separate from the shell. That meens a more secure browsing experience.
Why a 9/10 instead of a 10/10? Because I feel that beta 2 will be so cool that it will fulfill that single point and reach the bar of a perfect review.
User Rating: 5/10
Not that great, but still not abysmal
Pros: Definitely better than IE 6, doesn't look bad, tabs, RSS
Cons: Completely different interface, SP2 Only,
Being microsoft, it will without doubt have security holes that people will find and exploit, and since it isn't open source, these security holes may take time to fix.
Overall, chances are it won't replace firefox as the best browser available.
User Rating: 9/10
No Problems With IE - Love It !!
Pros: It works - very few problems.
Cons: Other browsers have quirks and start slower.
User Rating: 1/10
What a frickin' joke!
Pros: They're at least making an effort to upgrade...for the first time in, what, 4 years?
Cons: NOW they have tabbed browsing and RSS feeds?! Microsoft continues to play catch-up ball.
User Rating: 2/10
nice try M$ but I'll stick with Firefox
Pros: can't think of any
Cons: Pretty much everything
User Rating: 2/10
Completely pointless(worthless) upgrade
Pros: None; just as pointless as IE6
Cons: M$ all together.
User Rating: 7/10
Just a comment on CNET's review
Pros: tabbed browsing, like it or not most sites are set up for IE
Cons: don't know yet
I can't think of many computer users still using the old stuff..who would WANT or even know what RSS feeds are or have tried alts such as firefox.
Anything like this that forces people to get a bit more current OS and perhaps buy a new computer to run it..is fine with me. More sales, easier to help all the people who cry for help but run win98 on 10 yr old computers...
User Rating: 10/10
IE 7 Will Surpass All Other Browsers!
Pros: Very clean and intuitive interface!
Cons: None at this time.
User Rating: 2/10
Back to firefox!
Pros: Microsoft did something about IE
Cons: Still sucks compared to firefox
So, byebye IE, and hello again firefox.
User Rating: 2/10
Microsoft does it again
Pros: None worth mentioning
Cons: C'mon, it's a Microsoft product
