Should I download Internet Explorer 7?

esuhl

I use Firefox, but upgraded IE6 to IE7 because I *thought* (although I may be wrong) that Internet Explorer was closely entwined with the operating system, and so upgrading would make the OS more secure.

When I configure IE to use a dead proxy server, Media Player fails to download CD data, so I presume that it uses IE components for Internet access. I don't know whether these particular components are more secure in IE7, or whether the enhanced security is only available when using the browser itself, though...

GunJack

I may be the odd one out here, but I don't personally like tabbed browsers. I just don't really get it....what's wrong with right-clicking and opening in a new window ??? I like using multiple windows...I also found IE7 to be quite system resource heavy compared to 6. Ran them both, and 7 was deffo slower than 6, all other things being equal.

Paul_Herring

GunJack wrote: »

I may be the odd one out here, but I don't personally like tabbed browsers. I just don't really get it....what's wrong with right-clicking and opening in a new window ???

Because I prefer all my browser windows in their own 'task bar' since the Windows one is usually cluttered with other windows (currently I have 12 windows there. I also have 6 tabbed browser windows open as well. At work I can average 30 open at a time.)

Regarding the original question - I use Firefox, but have IE7 installed - I'd certainly advise upgrading to IE7, and optionally installing Firefox as well.

superscaper

GunJack wrote: »

I may be the odd one out here, but I don't personally like tabbed browsers. I just don't really get it....what's wrong with right-clicking and opening in a new window ??? I like using multiple windows...I also found IE7 to be quite system resource heavy compared to 6. Ran them both, and 7 was deffo slower than 6, all other things being equal.

I've not noticed IE7 being any more resource hungry than IE6, in fact it's no more resource hungry than firefox. I always found IE6 to be very slow which is why I didn't use it for so long. And as for tabbed browsing, one of it's main advantages is the fact it has far less impact on resources than separate windows.

It's not as if you're forced to use tabs (which every single modern browser has now) you can still just open in new windows. The only genuine reason not to upgrade to IE7 is if it doesn't work properly on one's system. that happened once to me but it was a really old pc with very low hardware specs. But then I tried again about a year later and the later version of IE7 installed and ran no problem on it and no slower than IE6. I think it was a pentium 3 550 MHz 256 MiB RAM computer so I really do have to wonder at a setup that finds it's noticeably slower than IE6.

isofa

I couldn't live without tabbed browsing! (A feature us non-IE users have had for years ). I have tens open a day, and the beauty if I'm working on a research project is that I can save them all as bookmarks to open the next day. I wouldn't want 20-30 windows, nor instances of a browsing running, that'd be crazy, slow, inefficient, messy (need I go on?!).

As superscaper says, you still can open sites in a new window if you dislike tabs...

As for the OPs question: IE 6 to IE 7 - no brainer, upgrade now, it's better and more secure.

I personally use Firefox, but you should definitely upgrade from IE6 to 7 asap!