Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 : Scrutinized
A few days ago I downloaded Microsoft’s latest version of IE 7 Beta 2 because I wanted to know if the raves about this decade old web browser is true or at least justifiable. And since this beta version is supposed to be close to the final release one could expect that the main stay features would already be here and stability would be at least decent. But, before I go on examining the browser itself let me just say that I am an avid Firefox fan and the ultimate thing that this browser can do is to win me back and make me realize that Firefox is not in any way more advance than this IE 7.
First of, the installation; the installation of IE 7 took ages! This is the first disappointment that I had with this browser. It took about 20+ minutes to install in my Sempron 2200+ (1.5Ghz) 512DDR PC. Firefox only took about 2-4 minutes to install in my setup. I guess IE7 won’t be able to win me back. Tsk… tsk…
Second, launch time. One of the negative things about Firefox is it’s inability to launch fast enough. And this is where IE7 wins, well I do know that IE7 is cheating here. Most of the components that IE7 needs to run is launched once Windows boots up. But then again, I’d still say that IE7 wins because it starts 2-3 seconds after I clicked the IE icon compare that to the 10-15 seconds delay of Firefox 2.0 RC3. I just wished Firefox was able to launch faster.
Nowadays, programs need not only be powerful rather they should also look good. So, next I would like to comment on IE7’s interface (GUI, for tech people out there). Well, definitely this is one of the features that Microsoft worked on, I just wonder how long it took them to assemble such a horrible GUI (stupid and inconvenient at that). Although this is truly a big change for IE6 users I think it does not seem to assume that most of the users of IE6 are working professionals and even executives in corporations who do not like re-studying something. Believe me, I’ve used so many kinds of browsers but this GUI is so far the ugliest and most tiring to look at. The first time I launched IE7 that first thing that I noticed is that the round “stop” button is nowhere to be found, but after a few minutes of tinkering with the GUI I noticed a square (and not round) button that has an “X” on it. Gee, that’s the Stop button, Why the heck did they change the round button? At first I thought that was the “close” button for the tabs. The “refresh” button is also changed and it’s beside the “stop” button. One more thing that I noticed is a little tab-like thing that is put beside the main tab. I found out that that was the “add new tab” button, how retarded! I guess IE people did not really think too much about aesthetics at all! All in all I’d say that the new GUI for IE is the most horrible GUI I’ve seen. So much for good looks.
So, what’s new about this browser that’s worth raving for? Well it does have things that it copied from open-source and freeware browsers like the Tab system, Anti-Phising features, built-in search section, the ability to have plug-ins (one that MS calls add-ons) and a built-in pop-up blocker. All of these features have been in both Firefox and Opera for ages. One thing that most people are raving about this browser is its RSS reader. I’m not a big fan of RSS and I’ve never tried it myself so, that does not mean so much for me and a majority of common web users all around the world.
So far I’m very disappointed with IE7’s features and looks, what’s next? Well performance test is. I got tired of looking at IE7’s GUI so, I tried loading pages like Yahoo and Google. I also tried loading the Yahoo beta mail that launches pretty fast with my Firefox. I also tried loading numerous tabs (about 10-15 of them at the same time) and guess what! The browser crashed. I guess IE has not mastered the tabbing technology yet. Come to think of it I have never crashed Firefox with only 15 tabs loading in it, I even tried loading about 30+ tabs in it but it never crashed like IE7 did. So, next I tried loading PDF pages in the browser. Again, it crashed! I just hope that IE also copied “restore session” from Firefox.
One thing that impressed me about this IE version is that it has the ability to “cascade” pages that you are loading. The tabs are replaced by “tiles” that previews the page that is loading. This is one thing that I’d like to see Firefox do one of this days. It looks cool!
As for loading speed, I tried loading yahoo’s homepage and the yahoo mail beta using my 50.6 kbps dial-up. Man! It took forever to load those pages in this browser, to think that it usually loads fast in my Firefox. IE even hangs when I scroll up and down a page that’s full of images.
My verdict? Well IE7 is certainly something to try if you’re quite curious about what the fuzz is all about, but I must warn you there’s nothing much. I think this is all the works of the promotions branch of MS. Bad looks and worse performance that’s what IE 7 is. It’s not even going to be challenging Firefox 2.0 with its lousy imitation of Firefox’s tabs.
My suggestions? I say to MS, scrap IE! For crying out loud! Let the Windows users have some choices! Please adapt either Opera or Firefox as the bundled browser instead. Now, for users, do not and I repeat, DO NOT even think of using IE7 as your main browser. It still has the old IE6 flaws in it! MS is doing a whack job with their IE. It’s just so stupid. And they even worked one whole year for this piece of miserable junk!? One year of waiting and anticipating and all of those for nothing.
Oh well, Firefox 2.0 the final version is going to be released tomorrow and I’m quite excited to see any improvements from the RC3 that I have. Although they say that it would not differ much from RC3. I’m still sticking with my Firefox. Period.
ie is overrated... i'll stick to firefox, there are more toolbars i can download and it's easier to debug using firefox... wehehe... had fun reading your geeky blog... take care... i found you through allan's blog
Posted by: - Issai Marie - | October 22, 2006 09:27 PM
oh thanks Issai, you're the first one to comment on my articles here.
Posted by: Blaise Cedrick | October 23, 2006 03:03 PM
yeah... It took me some time to get used to the new UI of IE7. Just plain wrong.
http://jong.staticbluecreations.com
Posted by: Jong | October 23, 2006 11:11 PM
i could not agree more jong, it's just plain retardation on MS's part. Months of waiting for a piece of junk.
Posted by: Blaise Cedrick | October 24, 2006 01:19 AM
yeah, i think just 7 hours after the release, there was some report of a security issue with it... lol
Posted by: - Issai Marie - | October 27, 2006 09:05 PM
although on a javascript point of view, they say ie is more stable than firefox, we'll see how it goes, hopefully it doesn't break our pages with ajax.
Posted by: - Issai Marie - | October 27, 2006 09:06 PM
Yeah, I read about that IE7 Security issue IE is definitely not secure. But I'm not saying that Firefox is very secure HEhe...
Java scripts? yeah i think firefox has some issues rendering Java Scripts. Even flash, when V 1.X came out it was horrible in handling flash applets.
Thanks for your reply. Are you a programmer?
Posted by: Blaise Cedrick | October 28, 2006 01:40 PM
yup... i'm a programmer but from uplb... and i saw your profile, you're from diliman :)
Posted by: - Issai Marie - | October 28, 2006 01:54 PM
oh cool! yeah I'm from UP Diliman. I will be posting another article about the Final version of IE7 in a while.
Posted by: Blaise Cedrick | October 29, 2006 08:52 PM