Finally (finally), the long-awaited upgrade to Internet Explorer version 7 has been officially released by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). IE7 -- as it's called -- has been available for quite some time in beta and release candidate status, but it is now official from the world's largest software maker. Although this sounds like a high and mighty event, I actually think it's a complete non-event. The only reason Internet Explorer is even on the radar -- at over 84% marketshare at this time, astoundingly -- is because it ships with every copy of Microsoft Windows. Most of the world's public -- still to this day -- don't know that better, faster and more secure web browsers exist.
I personally have not used Microsoft's IE browser in over two years, but of course keep it around for websites that require IE usage. Mozilla's Firefox is superior in just about every possible way when it comes to the customization I need and the features that allow me to complete my work quickly and efficiently. Let me repeat that -- quickly and efficiently. A web browser is only as good as it makes life easy for its users, and by that measure, IE is (and has been) kaput.
Now, don't get me wrong, IE7 is a great upgrade with many new enhancements. But with the web browser turning into a main conduit to the outside world for many of us and it being almost the single-biggest piece of software used on most PCs, IE just doesn't add up. Opera is even miles ahead and has been. Will yo upgrade and use IE7 now that it's "officially released?" I say keep it handy, but there are far better choices.
[Disclosure: I own MSFT shares as of 10-19-06]











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-19-2006 @ 1:13PM
javaflash said...
Windows Vista will suffer a similar fate, maybe worse. Most of wall street's estimates on Windows Vista sales are too high, even irrational.
10-19-2006 @ 1:46PM
Shah Ji said...
I have installed IE7 and played with it a little. There is no doubt that it has improved significantly comparing to its predecessor (IE6) specially I loved the new tabs functionality and the clicking a link with the mouse wheel will open the page in new tab (for sure they have learned/stole some good stuff from Firefox) but still with all even with all these new functionalities and enhancement Firefox is way more flexible for the end users and I will still prefer using Firefox.
10-19-2006 @ 2:06PM
Andrew said...
Shah, did you (or anyone else) notice that the text is slightly blurred in IE7? They added a neat feature to zoom in and out (everything uniformly), but as a result it seems to cause a slight blur around the text, compared to the current IE. It immediately made me want to unistall it. It's a shame my workplace doesn't allow the use of Firefox. :(
10-19-2006 @ 2:26PM
Andrew said...
...Well, to answer my own question, it appears that Microsoft decided to enable the ClearType feature by default in IE7. Many Windows users absolutely hate this feature of XP, as it can blur the text. It was probably the first thing I turned off after I installed XP. Microsoft should have designed IE7 to recognize the user's chosen setting in XP, and then adjust accordingly.
10-20-2006 @ 11:36PM
I'm Guessing said...
Welcome to the next round of the browser wars. Microsoft just released Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP SP2. Another day, another under-whelming product from the minds at Microsoft. I know I wonder constantly, "what the heck are they thinking?".
Internet Explorer is another reactive (as opposed to proactive) move by Microsoft brought about solely because another company is threatening part of their monopoly. Is there any doubt that IE7 was a knee jerk reaction to Mozilla's Firefox & Opera's web browsers stealing significant market share?
Because they are constantly in reactive (can you say crisis?) mode these days, the results are very predictable. Microsoft's latest reincarnation of Internet Explorer catches up to Firefox & Opera on some features, falls short on others, and in general offers nothing that the others don't. And let's not forget that Firefox 2 is scheduled for release shortly and that Firefox 3 is already under development.
Here are some random snippets on the web regarding IE7.
IE 7 is an attempt by Microsoft to catch rival browsers as it includes features that have long been seen in competitors such as Firefox and Opera.
Internet Explorer 7 is a solid upgrade, but it's disappointing that after five years, the best Microsoft could do was to mostly catch up to smaller competitors.
IE 7 was Microsoft's one chance to leapfrog ahead of the competition, but the company has only barely caught sight of the current front-runners. For more features and greater security, switch to Mozilla Firefox.
I did find one website that referred to IE7 as a "Radically new Internet Explorer". Compared to IE6, definitely. Compared to Firefox or Opera, hardly. And considering IE6's track record, how hard was it to be "radically different"? I own a Toyota, which is radically different than the domestic vehicles I've owned in the past. Toyota, Firefox/Opera. Domestic, Microsoft.
The choice is yours. You can enable Microsoft to keep dumping average software on us, or you can vote with your hard earned mind share. Let me know what you think.
I'm Guessing ©2006
imguessingblog.blogspot.com
10-21-2006 @ 5:38PM
Dustin said...
who is actually stupid enough to pay for extensions in IE. They're FREE and BETTER in Firefox!
10-23-2006 @ 3:20PM
Jinesh Gopinathan said...
i think with IE7 microsoft has given a huge leap to its browsers but it is still far behind firefox and opera(i recommend it). The changes to the browser IE7 is good, thats because it includes some of the lastest features of the browsing world but nothing innovative except the quick tabs button.
10-30-2006 @ 2:50PM
Shah JI said...
And guess what you can not install IE 7 on the ripped copy of Win XP... Of course we should not use ripped WinXP but still I believe they will lose lots of users just because of this and in my opinion it is bad for promoting your business (IE7) just my 2 cents.