Is it a bird? Is it a Plane? It’s IE7
Ye Gods! Have you read the latest public relations excercise for IE7 (Internet Explorer) on Microsoft’s IE blog?
You would think we were being asked to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. When I finished reading it I was almost shaking in my boots.
What is this phenomenon rapidly approaching our shores? Hurricane Browser?
The list of Things-To-Do to prepare for the deluge include downloading a previous “release candidate” to make sure it doesn’t zap your system (too late if it does, no doubt) and downloading a special “Readiness Toolkit” to ensure you have no lurking enemies of IE hanging around.
But it doesn’t end there. These guys are really motoring now. “Download and use the Application Compatibility Toolkit”. When you’ve finished messing about with that : “Visit the Microsoft Internet Explorer Developer Center”.
There’s more : “Use the Information Index for Internet Explorer7″ and : “Read the IE Team Blog”.
Worse, you’re going to get it whether you like it or not — if you’re on automatic Windows update.
I can’t recall jumping through so many hoops when I downloaded Firefox.
This is a good example of what I call The Leviticus Strategy, after the Old Testament book. Reduce your punters to submission with an list of instructions so long they naturally assume you’re a great authority on the subject.
C’mon Microsoft, you may be paranoid, but why should you infect your customers as well?
And what on earth is it going to be like when Windows Vista, the greatest juggernaut of them all, hoves into view next year?
I think I’ll book one of Richard Branson’s flights to the moon. The vista may be calmer there.
I don’t know why one wouldn’t want to use I.E.v7 .. Have you tried it?
By HART (1-800-HART) on October 8th, 2006 at 3:59 am
I downloaded an earlier version, which overwrote IE6. Lots of stuff didn’t work with it, so I had to wipe it off the system and download IE6 all over again. I am very, very wary of this piece of software.
I’m going to switch to Firefox as my default browser before it arrives and see how it works then. More importantly, I’m worried about our websites. They could be compromised if things don’t work with IE7. Niall Kennedy is recommending all manner of intricate steps to take.
A plague on Microsoft for this clunky stuff.
By John Evans on October 8th, 2006 at 10:36 am
I use it and love it! I think your hype and “imagination” is worse than Microsoft’s.
By cHARLES on October 15th, 2006 at 6:02 am
One vote in favour, Charles. They’re going to need more than that.
By John Evans on October 15th, 2006 at 9:36 am
I’ve been using Firefox since before it was in official release and regularly use IE for confirming ‘prettiness’ of layout and so on. Firefox as default works for most IBM/Windows units, and I can’t reccommend anything but, frankly.
I ran across a reccomendation on a WordPress entry about IE7 compatability; thought to myself ‘well, yeah, that’s a good point, oughta check that, shouldn’t I?’; downloaded the IE7 release candidate; installed; re-started; works a treat and looks like Firefox with a few extensions pre-installed and a simple, glass-based theme as default.
Application Compatibility Toolkit? Developer Center? Information Index? I don’t play those games, doubt that Joe Average does either, and merrily trundle onwards.
By I.A.M. on October 16th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Thanks for that, Ian. Some reassurance needed for many, I think.
By John Evans on October 17th, 2006 at 8:28 am