Internet
Explorer 7 Beta 3 by Onuora Amobi 7/29/2006
So I like Microsoft.
I really do..
They just make this soooo hard.
I am what would be called a PC power user. I typically have 8 or 9
applications running, I'm constantly downloading files from the web,
have spyware and virus detection up, have a firewall going and may be on
VPN (for work) at any give time.
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Since I beta test as well, I have separate computers to experiment on.
THANK GOD.
My beef is now with Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3. I had
downloaded and installed Beta 1 and subsequently Beta 2. They weren't
too solid but you could start to see light at the end of the tunnel.
The install for beta3 is pretty straightforward. You can get the beta
from either
Microsoft or
download.com. You download the file,
run it and it asks you to validate your copy of Windows.
After the validation, installation is pretty smooth and quick and you
are prompted to restart before you're in business.
For those who haven't seen it, IE7 is pretty cool. It has tabbed
browsing, a cleaner interface, support for RSS and a pretty nippy
response time for downloading pages (compared to IE6 anyway).
For a comprehensive
review of IE7, go
here.
Because
my IE7 Beta 3 icon was located conveniently on the desktop (and the
quick launch bar), I found myself starting to use it as much as (or more
than) Firefox. I was actually pretty impressed with the features and the
only negative thing about using it was that it would crash if I had 6 or
more tabs open.
While this is
extremely annoying, my attitude was, this is a BETA, get over it, it'll
get better.
After a while, I was over it and decided to UNINSTALL.
OH MY GOSH.
First of all, the uninstaller wouldn't work normally. I used Control
Panel> Add/Remove Programs> and it wasn't there!! I made sure I looked
for it with the "show updates" tab on and off. No IE 7 icon.
I went on the web and found a
great link for uninstalling IE7 (from
Microsoft no less), followed all the potential recommendations.
Nothing.
I installed
Winsettings Pro and
Advanced Uninstaller Pro and tried to
remove it. Winsettings didn't even see it. Advanced uninstaller found it
but couldn't remove it.
So here's the current status of my test PC.
I have a browser that has worn out it's welcome and now, won't leave.
Some of you would say, "hey dude, chill out, its Beta software, You knew
what you were signing up for."
True but here's my response.
This is just a friggin BROWSER. I am not trying to install
ZoneAlarm or some complicated piece of
software!! This is just a browser!! This is where Microsoft drive me
bananas!!
Microsoft would probably try to justify this level of integration with
the response "we're trying to make sure that the user takes FULL
advantage of Windows functionality"
Here's my response. A browser should be simple software. Software with a
straight forward uninstall program that does a simple uninstall routine.
This is the same type of nonsense that got them into antitrust/monopoly
territory.
I'll say it again, A
browser should be simple software. Software with a straight forward
uninstall program that does a simple uninstall routine.
Here's my bottom
line. IE7 Beta 3 is still dangerous!! It's a beta!! Do not install on a
PC that means something to you.
I am left in the crazy position of wanting IE6 and being unable to roll
back to it.
As of the time of writing this article, I'm still trying to get this
program off my PC.
Thanks Microsoft.
Appreciate it.
Till next time.
Onuora Amobi.
http://www.windows-vista-update.com
