After long waiting, the first beta version of IE 7 is now on testing for developers. I didn't get it through MSDN Subscriber download website as I am not a MSDN subscriber. But I managed to get it via a simple “IE 7 download” in google in a few days after Microsoft announced the availability. If your Windows OS is a legal copy of version, the installation is simply and straightforward. The new version of IE will require a genuine check, any piracy version of windows will not be allowed to install.
The first thing that I tested right after the installation is to test if this version of IE is still compatible with the websites that are desiged for IE 6 because one of the biggest improvement of IE 7 is to more compatible with the CSS and HTML standard. And yes, IE 7 still renders same way as IE 6 renders the site. So I guess, Microsoft didn't only suit their web browser to the industrial standard, but still work with their own standard as well, which is good at this moment. At least, it would save my time to just adjust the view of the website.
The second thing that I tested is to test how tab works in IE7. Honestly, I am quite disappointed on this part. The function is great, works the way like how Firefox works. But to me, it lacks some advanced features that some other tabbed IE-based add-on browsers provide, i.e. Avant browser and Maxthon Browser. If the following beta version or final version doesn't get this improved somehow I guess I would still stay with add-on browser just because of the conveniency. Some features that are missing are:
- flexible placing tabs either on the bottom or on the top;
- some mouse actions that could easily close or open new tab, or easily go forward or backward;
- It opens another new browser rather than open another new tab in existing opened browser when I click a link in your email or other application.
- No skin still, which is not that important to me.
The third thing that I tested is to test how new print feature works. The “Shrink-to-Fit” print option works great, better than “Fit-Width Print” add-on for IE 6, and orphan control looks awesome.
I guess I will continue testing the other features that come with this new version of IE and keep updating any thoughts I might have in here.