I'd just installed Internet Explorer 7.0 few days ago due to some auto update of my Windows.. Well, all these while, for more than half a year, i'd been using Firefox and i'd loved it much more than the previous IE6.. I loved the Firefox's "tabbed-browsing", the simplicity, the stability, the 'smoothness', the security, and the add-ons... However, last October 2006, Microsoft came out with IE7, and Mozilla came out with Firefox 2.0, and there'd been a lot of protagonist and antagonist on each major browser... Now, in order not to be bias, i'd personally tried out IE7 to compare the appeal of both users to me. Here's my views and verdict:
1. Interface:
IE7 had improved so much from the previous version (Imean, to be more like Firefox2). The whole IE7 had changed for the visual sense of Windows Vista, and the position for each buttons are 'reshuffled' and the colors are much more cool now. It has all the functions of FF2, and with a bit of extra in the "Quick Tabs" view where u can see all the opened tabs in one windows, looks damn cool. However, the File, Edit, View etc bar is lost, and instead integrated into other buttons. But, though FF2 are quite loss out in case of visual appearance as it is almost the same as it's predecessor FF1.5, i still prefer the simplicity, and user-friendly buttons of FF2, cz otherwise u'll have to adjust urself to whole new positions of buttons in IE7 (while FF2 is more traditional and similar to the old IE6). The "Refresh" and "Stop" buttons are too small in IE7, which is hard to click, and the "Favorites", "RSS" and "History" are all in one buttons, which add to more mouse clicks compared to FF2. However, i like the "Open new tab" button situated right next to a new tab in IE7, as compared to non in FF2. One more thing i wanna stress is that now, IE7 oso has a search bar as FF2 now, BUT, FF2's search bar contains "search suggestions", where u half way typing the words, there'll be a long list of suggestions for ur typings, and this features is not there in IE7. So, the verdict is that i'll stick to FF2.
2. Memory Usage
I'd tested it personally, and had read some reviews too. IE7 use much more memory than FF2. This is the case- the more tabs u open, the more memory the browser use. When i open 6 tabs, FF2 uses 100MB, while IE7 uses 130MB. Besides, IE7 seems to me a bit slow in response when u open too many tabs, while FF2 still performs smoothly. IE7 hanged few times in just few days, while FF2 never hangs in more than half a year. Besides, there're too much "error in page" in IE7 when you're viewing some sites containing videos, and FF2 never had this poblem. So the winner here: FF2
3. Installation
The installer for IE7 is 15MB, and FF2 is merely 5MB. Installation of IE7 takes 15 mins, while FF2 is only less than 3 mins. Plus, u need a genuine Windows in order to dl IE7, while FF2 can be used by any pirated OS. And ya, when you're downloading the installers, or any other files, the download feature of FF2 is way much better as it can be paused and resumed, not like the stereotype IE7 download style. So? Winner is FF2 again.
4. RSS Feed
This is a future thingy where u can get instant live updates of contents in a website without even opening the site. Both function similarly, but the difference is, when u open the subscribed RSS, IE7 needs to show the contents in a new windows, but FF2 shows it all in a drag down menu. So, i thot instead of the way IE7 shows the contents, why not the user straight away go to the website itself? It takes the same 'effort'. Weird. So, the winner is FF2 yet again.
5. Security
IE7 has very much improved security compared to previous IE6. Both are very good in avoiding spams and poisoned websites. There's those phishing filter thingy on both browsers, and the way they prevent dangerous websites are good. But, IE had always been the target for hacker and viruses, so u never know how long the IE security will stand strong. Besides, if your comp suddenly hangs, and u're visiting large numbers of site at one time, FF2 automatically restore all the sites you are viewing before the comp hangs, while in IE7 there's no such thing- you have to manually choose the options to reopen the tabs you are viewing only when u press the X. So, winner, though slightly, goes to FF2.
6. Blogger
My blog looks weird in IE7, i dunno y, the fonts are italic and orange in color, when it's supposed to be straight and blue. And posting in Blogger is better in FF2 because when i copy-paste some lyrics from a website using IE, the positions of the words are all rearranged, only FF2 gives me exactly the same format of the lyrics to be appeared in my blog. And oso, there's no Copy-paste function while writing in Blooger, and there's no auto "spell-check" in IE too. So, i found IE even more weird. Winner is, of course, in favor of my personal web page, is FF2.
7. Add-ons
FF2 have plenty of add ons available to be downloaded. I just love the "Movie Downloader" where u can dl videos from YouTube etc, but IE cant offer that. The Appearance of FF2 can be changed anytime easily, and so, appearance for FF2 is much more flexible compared to IE7. Even though IE7 now has add-ons too, but it's very below par.. The choices are very limited. Besides, the update on FF2 for add ons are so much faster and to view all the add ons is simpler too. IE7 is still much much behind in this case. So, winner is, for sure, again, FF2.
Generally, for me, Firefox is always the pioneer in creativity, and IE7 is only the follower. It's like comparing Rachaminoffs's 'Flight of Bumblebee' with Maksim's. Even though sometimes the latter generations sounds and looks more smoothing and appealing, but still the respect and credit of creativity goes to the earlier generations. That's why i'm very particular in music and movies choices. I'd always supported the pioneer.
Long live Mozilla Firefox!!
