IE7 beta 2

Microsoft has released IE7 beta 2 and they really want you to try it. If you are running IE (45% of people visiting here still are), even I want you to try it, because it fixes most of the problems IE6 has with these pages.

That's most, not all. IE 7 still has some remaining display glitches, but it's a heck of a lot better than it was.

It also now has tabs, popup blocking, phishing filters and even "addons" (http://www.ieaddons.com). It recognizes and lets you subscribe to RSS feeds. It has a Firefox-like search box, and although it defaults to MSN search, you can quickly and easily change it to use Google.

Here's a neat feature: open a few pages in tabs and then hit CTRL-Q to get an Expose like view of all the tabs - so OS X'ish (and no doubt a preview of Mac OS X-like features to come in Vista).

The whole interface and look of IE has changed. I see some old hands are complaining, but I think it's much improved.

Ok, really: I'd rather you were running a Mac or Linux. But you may have your own reasons for using Windows, including the best excuse of all: no choice due to corporate policy. If so, you really, really want to upgrade to this browser. Yeah, yeah, it's beta. But Microsoft so badly wants you to try it that they are offering no charge phone support (North America, Germany and Japan only). How can you ignore that? No charge phone support! What's to lose?

Plus, if you are a regular reader here, these pages will look better. As a Unixy/Linuxy website, I've always ignored IE6 browser issues and concentrated on Mac, Mozilla and Firefox users. Now IE7 fixes most IE6 display problems, so you benefit from that too. Just one example: after installing IE7, mouse over one of the menu bars at the top of the page here.. bet you never knew that was there, did you? IE6 didn't understand CSS well enough to show you those, but IE7 does.

Try it. You'll like it.

Take Control of Your Domain Names

Jump to Comments

Many of the products and books I review are things I purchased for my own use. Some were given to me specifically for the purpose of reviewing them. I resell or can earn commissions from the sale of some of these items. Links within these pages may be affiliate links that pay me for referring you to them. That's mostly insignificant amounts of money; whenever it is not I have made my relationship plain. I also may own stock in companies mentioned here. If you have any question, please do feel free to contact me.

Specific links that take you to pages that allow you to purchase the item I reviewed are very likely to pay me a commission. Many of the books I review were given to me by the publishers specifically for the purpose of writing a review. These gifts and referral fees do not affect my opinions; I often give bad reviews anyway.

We use Google third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.