Avant Browser - Free Tabbed Interface for IE - Available NOW!
Posted on 02/16/2005 10:38:24 AM PST by decimon
The party's over.
In the past year, the little browser that could, Firefox, became the people's hero, an underdog warrior that took a huge swipe at its enemy, Internet Explorer. IE dipped below 90 percent market share for the first time in years, while Firefox lured users like the Pied Piper, blowing past its own fundraising goals and reigniting the browser wars.
Meanwhile, the bad news continued to mount for Microsoft. An IE exploit put even Windows XP SP2 users at risk from phishing schemes, even as Microsoft touted SP2 as the most secure version of Windows yet. Worse, major security companies and the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team began to recommend that computer users dump IE for something more secure (read: Firefox).
By early this year, Netscape was emboldened to reenter the fray, announcing in January that it would release a new version of the Netscape browser, designed specifically to resist phishing schemes--something even Firefox lacks. Then, Opera said it would offer free licenses to universities, in order to make sure it would still be relevant in the new world browser order. And through it all, what was the response from Microsoft? Silence.
TalkBack Are you afraid of a standalone Internet Explorer, or will you keep betting on the Firefox pony?
For a moment there, it looked like the tyrant IE could actually be overthrown. Those were heady days, weren't they? Well, they're over now. Papa Bill just dropped the hammer. Bill Gates announced this week, at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco (of all places), that Microsoft will ship Internet Explorer 7, without waiting for the next version of Windows. Gates says the standalone browser is designed to address the perception that IE itself is a massive security risk. What he didn't say, but you know he was thinking it, is that IE 7 will easily put a stop to this upstart browser rebellion.
Don't believe me? You should. Firefox is great, I use it. But it's a chore sometimes, what with most sites using that pesky nonstandard IE code. Not everything renders properly, and some sites just plain don't work--I have to load up IE to use them. Plus, let's be honest--Firefox has its flaws. Why is there no way to check for updates from within the browser, for one thing? Why does it take so doggone long to launch? Why, why must it crash every single time I open a PDF? I mean, every single time. Opera, fine, whatever, I'm not paying for a browser, and for some reason, although I've tried it several times, it's just never captured me. It's too clunky, and I was raised on IE. I don't want to learn something completely new. IE, on the other hand, is like the sweeping tide--it's just easier not to fight it.
If a standalone IE 7 is even 50 percent more secure than current versions, the Firefox rebellion is finished. If IE 7 has tabs, Firefox will be destroyed as surely as the Hungarian uprising of 1956 was crushed by Russia. I use the analogy deliberately, too--no one expected Microsoft to issue a standalone version of IE, but those months of silence (and, no doubt, frantic development) look awfully ominous now. This is a company that's absorbed Justice Department lawsuits, threats of daily fines from the European Union, and lawsuits from nearly every state in the union, and that has steadfastly refused to break up its republic of Windows-IE-Windows Media. But this Firefox thing must have it fearing the domino effect, big time.
It was bad when Microsoft seemed to ignore Firefox, treating it like a harmless upstart not worthy of comment or attack. But now that the sleeping giant has awakened, I think the buzzing gnat of the browser wars is about to be squashed flat. What do you think?
Yeah, standards shmandards. Microsoft should just take over the Web and make it more gooder.
I think her purpose is to spur discussion among CNET readers on the CNET site.
I am using Firefox, and it is so much more stable and free of Pop-ups than IE.
The one feature I absolutely LOVE and constantly use in firefox is the "find" window. I used to use Netscape and at least it would stay up when you changed sites. IE won't even do that. But the firefox is a dream It is always at the bottom of the page at my beck and call. It is just too easy.
Again, I use it constantly so it makes it WAY too convenient to use firefox. If IE 7 comes out with this feature AND tabs, I'll go back - after a few months and the bugs are fixed. After all, lets face it, every software initial release by Microsoft is really beta.
"Cowardice and stupidity is an ugly combo ,Molly."
LOL. There's no uncertainty in THIS opinion!
I can imagine the marketing.
"Internet Explorer 7 now features the ability to browse multiple webpages in one window! Instead of grouping different windows in the taskbar, Internet Explorer 7's advanced features allow you to display different webpages within the same window, thanks to its integration in the core operating system!"
"Want a change? Take advantage of the same powerful graphics engine that allows Windows XP to display three different color schemes and download matching appearances for Internet Explorer! This feature could only be made possible by Internet Explorer's tightly-bound integration with Windows XP."
Give us a break from your Sermons!
I did and just deleted it all last week!!!! A pain !!!
I've been using Firefox on an ME system for some time now and have not had it lock up once!
well then thanks sammy
You got that right - "tabbing" is the only way to go.
www.mozilla.org
Excellent!
Been using Firefox and been trouble free so long I plum forgot. ;)
I can't figger out what "tabbed browsing" really is. Can someone PLEASE explain it to me & tell me how it works?
Is this only on Firefox (or is it called Mozilla instead)?
Thank you.
If IE 7.0 is as closely immersed in the OS as previous versions are, then the same basic problem with IE will still exist. The browser is allowed to do too many things; too many dangerous things. Firefox is a superior product and will continue to grow because it's just a browser. It doesn't try to be the Swiss Army Knife of the software market.
I'll never go back to IE. I've persuaded about a dozen other people to abandon IE as well. I really don't expect them to go back either. I use Firefox on my PCs and Safari on my Mac. I'm more than happy with both.
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