A Tale of Two Browser Blogs

Featured eBooks
A New Era of Social Media Regulation
Making AI Work for Government
Strengthening State and Local Cyber Defenses
Insights & Reports
Short-term rentals and state legislation for local governments
Presented By Granicus
Download Now
The State of AI-powered Business Transformation in Government
Presented By ServiceNow
Download Now
By Brad Grimes and Joab Jackson
 

Connecting state and local government leaders

By Brad Grimes and Joab Jackson

|
But back to the present: With IE 7 holding on by a thin thread, I reacquired Firefox and installed it. IE 7 eventually went into a tailspin (crash, launch, crash, launch, crash) and simply wouldn't open again (although one of the crashes finally generated an error message--I reported it to Microsoft). I then re-UNinstalled IE 7 and reverted to IE 6. Uninstalling IE 7 wiped out some XP updates that came with it; therefore each time I uninstalled IE 7, Windows Update kicked in, which is a mixed blessing.Now I'm back where I started. I'll try this whole thing again on another system. Maybe one in the GCN Lab.I've also begun toying with . An extension to Firefox, it's supposed to make IE sites work better within the open-source browser by effectively embedding IE. It's not perfect, but it's a good solution for now.I like Firefox just fine, but in the end I'd like to get onto a single browser platform. I never was one of those 'Firefox rules! IE stinks!' users. And I've never said something about IE like, "Isn't this just Safari? Once again, Microsoft rips off Apple." Along the same lines, it's not like I love IE. I'm just an Internet user. I'm in no mood to over-think my browser.Na've? Maybe.Hopefully, if you've tried the IE 7 beta, you've had better luck. Let us know.

Earlier this week I was all prepared to post the following, but figured I should give it time, sleep on it, and come back to this later.

Good thing.

These thoughts were hatched Tuesday, May 16:

"I did something important last week. I finally downloaded the latest Internet Explorer 7 beta, set it up, and promptly uninstalled Firefox. Hasta la vista, Firefox.

Let the comments fly (see the link below to post your own browser rant), but I've long said that once tabbed browsing was integrated into a stable version of IE 7, Firefox would cease to exist in my life. Not that I haven't (mostly) enjoyed Firefox. And I appreciate the fact that Mozilla helped Microsoft realize a little browser development wouldn't hurt. But I have my reasons."

And earlier this week it was true. IE 7 was terrific'easy to configure and navigate. I was all over the Internet in multiple tabbed windows. But that was then.

It seems I have Early Adopter-itis. Today, my shiny new IE 7 beta refused to launch. The window opened, the gears started grinding and then it disappeared. Would not start. Over and over again. No error message--nothing.

I couldn't launch Firefox because it was, ahem, gone. Guess my threshold for a 'stable version of IE 7' was too low. (Disclaimer: I have colleagues who don't have my problems, but hey, I'm not working on their PCs all day.)

So I uninstalled IE 7, then reinstalled it. Nada. Desperate, I tried finesse. I clicked my mouse button a little gentler, whispered to my PC and pleaded--time and time again--for IE 7 to launch just long enough for me to download the Firefox .EXE file.

It did. I did. And now I'm rewriting that blog entry I started.

Still, with some trepidation, I say that as soon as I figure this IE 7 thing out (or when a final version ships), it will probably be my only browser. Here's why:


  • I run some Web-based applications and use sites that simply run better in IE [Editor's note: When it stays open.]. So even when I was running Firefox, I was also running IE 6.


  • I've grown weary of opening or closing Firefox and wondering what happened. Sometimes the operation takes 15 or 20 seconds. I end up launching Firefox twice because I figure I mis-clicked.


  • The latest version of Firefox is inexplicably unreliable. It crashes several times a day. [Editor's note: This seemed a lot more important before IE 7 crashed eight times in 50 minutes this morning.]


  • Like others, I love tabbed browsing, and IE 7's is just fine with me. I especially like the Quick Tab view that shows all my open Web pages on one screen [See editor's note above re: when it stays open.].


  • Vulnerabilities are vulnerabilities. Both browsers have them. IE may have more, but I patch religiously and follow good, basic computing practices. I haven't felt the brunt of an IE flaw in at least three years.







Mozilla's IE Tab add-on







Posted by Brad Grimes

NEXT STORY: RFP CHECKLIST: Enterprise search

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.