New features abound in Internet Explorer 7
Downloading Internet Explorer 7
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 introduces a variety of important new security features. Familiarize yourself with the leading Web browser's new look and features inside this gallery.Administrators can download Internet Explorer 7 directly from Microsoft's Web site. Just specify the Windows version from the Select Your Operating System drop down box and click the Download button.
By Erik Eckel
About Erik Eckel
Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president o...
Full Bio
Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president of Eckel Media Corp., a communications company specializing in public relations and technical authoring projects.
I tried IE7 once and had nothing but problems. In fact, my PC manufacturer, HP recommends against using IE7. It is also driving me crazy havin the yellow light on my Windows One Live Anti-Virus Program go on consistently. Can anything be done about this situation?
Quote: [i]Microsoft struck first with the long-anticipated release of Internet Explorer 7 on October 18. Less than one week later on October 24, Mozilla countered by releasing Firefox 2. [/i] EndQuote Firefox was there well ahead of M$ with their 1.5 version. Didn't need version 2 to slap them down, IE was merely trying to catch up. IE7 has the unfortunate disadvantage of Sys Req restrictions, I am unable to use it at all, whereas FF2 runs without a murmur. So Firefox is available for multiple configurations, but IE 7 is severely restricted to a few. That's not my opinion, just a fact.
Quote: "Firefox was there well ahead of M$ with their 1.5 version. Didn't need version 2 to slap them down, IE was merely trying to catch up." EndQuote Microsoft was there well ahead of Firefox with their 6.x versions and it was there well ahead of Firefox again with their version 7. Didn't need version 7 to have more than 85% of the market (now you tell me who's playing catch up), FF is merely trying to play catch up and fooling many ignorant Microsoft-haters giving them a false sense of improved security (as last year's report from Secunia that found 107 vulnerabilities in Firefox against 70 in IE6 proved). Quote: "IE7 has the unfortunate disadvantage of Sys Req restrictions, I am unable to use it at all, whereas FF2 runs without a murmur." EndQuote IE7 has the fortunate advantage of being much faster to load and render pages and consuming much less RAM, if you can't use it you must have a crappy old machine because I am able to use it smoothly in my old P4 3.06 GHz, whereas FF2 takes ages to load and render pages and sky-rockets to almost 250 MB of RAM usage soon after you start using it. Quote: "So Firefox is available for multiple configurations, but IE 7 is severely restricted to a few. That's not my opinion, just a fact." EndQuote So even with people like you with such antique machines that can run Firefox but not IE 7, IE is still the incontested market leader with more than 85% of the market, against less than 15 for Fiefox. *That* is not my opinion, just a fact (that hurts to some).
FF was so far ahead of the game that it is unbelievable you could have made the riddle you just wrote. IE was not original, but taken from other stuff (read it for yourself, I'm not taking the time or space here to educate you here) and it has lagged for over 5 years while Opera, Mozilla, and others were developing. M$ was not only slow, but reluctant to make needed changes to make their me$$ $afe for the hordes who have recently populated the "Information Highway". I remember working with BBS's, and bet you don't, so I can remember some of the history you either don't know or have mysteriously forgotten. FF does run on almost anything going out there; IE-7 will NOT RUN on ANYTHING except XP SP-2. The "fact" that so many people still use IE is only evidence that they do not know better. It came with their machine(s) and, as long as they can see what they want, they keep it. They don't want to be bothered to learn to "download", "Install", or "Set up" something else. That does not constitute market preferrence, but simple benign complacency. The FACT that people who are learning how to use a browser, combined with their awareness of the danger of surfing unprotected, precipitates their move to FF is really the chief indication that - while the static numbers may seem to indicate the popularity of IE over FF, the increasing numbers of those moving away FOR CAUSE is even more significant. Simply put: those who know more are moving away from M$, IE, Office, and other. On the other hand since you believe: "So even with people like you with such antique machines that can run Firefox but not IE 7, IE is still the incontested market leader with more than 85% of the market, against less than 15 for Fiefox." (sic), it appears that you're one of those "I gotta have the latest gimmick to show off to my neighbors that I got one - even if I don't know how to use it or any of it's history." That's fine, It's your choice, but when you're playing with those who know better and have experience, expect those looks that say, "It's OK, they're just goofy kids; don't pay any attention to them; they don't know what they're talking about - just like the sound of their own words."
... Please tell me what the "Save" button is doing just down there??? I suppose you're right, but sometimes we gotta vent our frustrations and provide ourselves some use-less-full diversion. Besides where I live, we don't need any more chill around here; we could all stand to be a bit more heated - even in our discussions. Some good points have been raised in this setting, and it's always good to keep things in proper perspective - especially when it comes to novices believing that computers/apps/features never existed without M$. RE Inter Alia: " ... or even contestants on big brother"; how can I get on the show and what are the prizes???
I don't know if anyone here works for Microsoft or does work for Mozilla but I cannot believe that these giants of industry have you arguing like children over web browsers. You really would think these apps are some sort of religion, political party or even contestants on big brother. Chill out! There is enough stress in the work place without worrying about which browser renders pages quicker and who invented tabbed browsing.
"MS has 85% of the market and FireFox only has 15% therefore IE is better." Basically that is your answer... To that I retort that 85% of computer users don't know a browser from a spreadsheet unless you say "the big blue E". 85% of of computer users are just like you. Ignorant. I mean no disrespect. I'm sure that you are gifted in your area. I notice that from your title you are a "Non-IT Consultant" Take it from the IT people that live, breath, eat and drink this stuff. 85% of computer users use IE because it's just there. The IT people that use it are A - Lazy or B - Testing so that they can support your ignorant rear. Pick a piece of software that computers don't have pre-installed. How about finance. MS Money has a small share of the market, not the lion's share. How about ERP systems for large companies. MS Dynamics is a joke in the industry and is a compilation of a bunch of other programs that they bought up and STILL doesn't have a high percent of the market. One more example. Databases. Although MS likes to THINK that they have a reasonable share, MS SQL Server has only a third of small to mid sized business and much MUCH less in enterprise organizations. I guess it hurts to be called ignorant, but falling for statistics makes you a pawn. That too is a fact and I'll bet it hurts, but don't worry. Just rub some of that magical Redmond dirt on it.
All I can find is decades of cobwebs interlaced within the "REM:" lines. You gotta help me out on this one. I buried my head in C/PM and I can't think straight in Windozzzz.
Only because it is built-in to Windows and cant' be removed. If it was a sole install product with no ties to the OS I bet the figure would be far, far smaller. Almost (but not) as small of your understanding of browsers. All your points are only valid as the browser is built in.
what does tabs do that the task bar doesn't do? It is also annoying to have to dig for the history icon, Using a whole screen line for the address bar and another line for the search is stupid to say the least. Right now I am able to put File bar and the address bar on the same line. Favorites on another and links on a third line. If I need a search, a simple click on the search icon brings up a search screen. 2 Thumbs down on IE7
If you don't open more than one tab, there's no tab bar getting in the way. You can still ^N to open a new window and browse using the task bar. Also, in IE-7 the F-11 gives you an entire screen page, ... sans ... anything. You can "bump" the tool bar down from the top when you want to use it, but until then, there's no "wasted real estate". FF still has something at the top on F-11, but I see that disappearing soon, too. Tabs is great for clicking on links and having them available right on the screen. It's also very usefull for setting up several screens (for instance, weather maps) when you open the program. I have loved that about FF all along. It loads them all at once and I don't need to spend time and energy loading individual sites that I always want to see.
... As I said, I like to have at least 8 tabs open with weather information and news as well as NASA video, so they have been really fun for me. Back when I only had IE 4-ish, I had to open new windows and then hit favorites and set them up as I wanted them; took a lot of time. With FF and now IE-7, I just set them up once, set the entire list as my "home" and they automatically open each time I invoke the program. Maybe I don't "need" them, but I sure do love having them that way.
To install IE 7, you must be running a valid copy of Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2003 Server SP1. Firefox lets you install on just about anything. You can carry Firefox with you on a thumb drive while IE 7 requires integration into the operating system. I could say more but simply put, I should switch from Firefox to IE 7 because??????
It's easy to say you are popular when you have a gun on people's heads: IE7 is now being forced into the updates as a "High Priority". If you don't install it after a while it installs it for you when you shut down your machine. Firefox is great compared to IE. I don't see any reason I would switch back to IE.
So far on 2 machines both running XP Pro SP-2 IE7 has caused the same problem with gif files. Seems it changes the deafult of Microsoft Photo Editor (the app used to open .gif files to Internet Explorer????) So, when you receive an e-mail in OE or Outlook that has a .gif attached, get error dialog saying the system can not find the file specified (in Outlook) or something similar in Outlook Express. Changing the file type back to MS Photo Editor fixes the problem. Once again thank you MS for screwing stuff up!!!!
i have some problem with outlook express thats the reson i export my mails to outlook all mails to exported but one proble i face . i am not geting sent items date wise . can any one help me pls
While IE 7 Does have some downfalls overall it?s a HUGE improvement over IE 6. I like the ability to easily disable third party cookies vs. in the Firefox 2.0 you need to set it through about:config and even then it?s not entirely transparent to which setting you should use. While I still believe that FF is a far superior browser due to the readily available add-ons, IE 7 will be used by the majority of common users and it?s new usability and security features are Finally up to par with the other browsers.
After installing IE7 about a month ago (Beta) I noticed that the page ranking feature on my Google toolbar is no longer reading any rating whatsoever for any page I surf onto. What gives? I even tried uninstalling both (and reverting back to IE 6) with no luck. Did IE 7 change some security setting I am not aware of?
Also all else toolbar slow dawn to open IE7 but off course need some toolbar i have live toolbar google toolbar is good i remember but get have a problem i dont know why
I do not know if ti is my machine or not, but after installing IE70 and making sure I had all of MS's "required updates"..... I have noticed that IE7 will many times freez up when asking it to do complicated things like opening up many tabs at once, have multiple streaming data in multiple tabs, and different content on different tabs (IE: Flash, Quicktime, etc....) The other thing I do not like that much is that I MUST be on a particular tab in able to close it..... which is often a minor waste of time. Outside of that, it has been just like my very dependable and much used FireFox Browser... 8>) We will see what sort of "enhancements" or "Add-ons" that we will be able to use with IE7... NOTE to MS: IT IS ABOUT TIME GUYS !!!! GW Montana
It really is a joke that it took MS this long to introduce tabbed browsing. I think Firefox is to thank for that. I just can't believe there isn't an msi for IE7! With the new Windows Mail and Calendars in Vista MS are really just ripping ideas from the Open Source community. Open Source software should be open to everyone but Microsoft. With the MS and Novell team up will we see an open source version of Windows soon? which will simply be Novell Suse Linux with the MS interface?
... in IE-7 and FF (all previous as well). Just click the wheel on a URL/link and it will open a new tab; then wheel-click on the tab and it closes. The only thing you must do with both IE-7 and FFDeux is roll the wheel to get the tabs to the left/right or else click on the arrows. This is new with FF and it's not the best new feature. Also, neither opens very many tabs. I could open a dozen at startup in FF previous. Now I can't get more than 8. I can add new ones once open, but only 8 when I start - both IE and FF.
Except, that, it sends my computer into restart mode. I havent been able to figure out why. I also upgraded to Live Messenger about the same time, so, maybe that has something to do with it....Anyway, I gave up and re-imaged my machine, and will not be installing IE 7 anytime soon.
You can close another tab without selecting it, just right click instead and select close instead.
Have a look at the Add-ons link from Microsofts own download pages. The ones that look like they might be of any use have to be bought, and the ones that are free seam to be full of spyware or viruses. Keep clear for the time being. Look at Firefox's new Add-ons they all work great, are worthwhile, no viruses or spyware and FREE!!!!