Internet Explorer 7

[Keefe]

Is anyone else here using IE7?

I installed it and it seems pretty cool. Interesting that Google is the default search engine in the quick search box...

Keefe

[Jason425]

I used it for a while at work, but it had issues (understandably).

Now that you point it out, it is interesting that they have google as the default search engine...

[StinkyMojo]

When I installed it on some of my machines, MSN was the default search. Upon visiting google.com it prompted me to change the bar to google.. whatever lol...

I think it's pretty cool... but Firefox + Toolbar Links + AdBlock = Heaven. Or something like that..

[lpxxfaintxx]

That's pretty cool. I think I'm going to stick to Firefox though. Once you try it, it's addicting

[Jason425]

IE 7 has all of that except adblock (which is the sole reason I don't use IE7).

[FatalityShard]

I hate IE, FF all the way...but I am gunna try IE 7 out, looks ok.

[lpxxfaintxx]

Is IE7 customizable? It really should be, like FF. I have many plugins running right now, most of them really useful.

[Jason425]

It sure seems like being customizable is a requirement to being a good browser nowadays.

[Omega]

Originally Posted by Jason425

It sure seems like being customizable is a requirement to being a good browser nowadays.

Well, yes and no. You have to consider the distinctions between a good browser for the masses, and a good browser for the tech community. While "tech people" are more apt to customize their computer, programs, etc., I don't expect my mother, for instance, to go install the web developer toolbar for firefox, or do much customizing other than adding bookmarks.

While sure, the tech community is pretty large compared to a decade or more ago, it certainly doesn't account for anywhere near a majority of internet users. Remember the wonderful screenshots of someone's Internet Explorer filled up with about 40 add-on toolbars/search bars that no one ever actually wants to install? That was because IE was customizable. If you think for a moment, you'll note that FireFox allows nearly identical toolbars to be installed, so if FireFox were to gain a market-share majority, get ready to see peoples' FireFox browsers getting clogged up too. Their plugin interface does not provide an effective isolated "sandbox" for plugins, so poorly coded, intentionally exploitive, or just an outrageous quantity of plugins DO negatively affect the stability and overall user experience of FireFox ... because it's customizable.

It's not that I dislike FireFox, but I think people are sometimes too quick to climb on board the idea that FF is perfect, and the internet's savior, if only everyone else was so clever to hop on as well.

Personally, I haven't tried IE7 yet. Reports so far are that it looks a lot like old Netscape, and is effectively IE + bubbly round buttons + tabs. In fairness, I should be somewhat interested in its improved rendering engine, since I do a moderate amount of web design/coding, and theoretically IE7 could possibly gain majority market share by this time next year (seems like it might be part of XP SP3 or something, on top of new Vista users). However, I'll contently wait until a final release comes out. Best of luck to any early adopters, though.

[Jason425]

I agree, but a dumb user can break almost anything...