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Internet Explorer 7 is Ready to Go

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-10-30 10:07:00-05:00

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The long-awaited Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 finally makes it debut. With this first major overhaul of its browser in many years, Microsoft delivers many new features that bring it up to par with Mozilla's Firefox browser, such as tabbed windows, integrated search and an RSS feed manager, just to mention a few.

One of the first things to note as you consider upgrading to this latest version is that there are minimum operating system requirements for your computer to run Internet Explorer 7:

• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), and
• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Then keep in mind that you have a choice to either upgrade now or wait to see how others like this new browser. If you use Window's automatic updates feature, you have that choice when you are presented with the welcome screen that notifies you when IE7 is available to install. IE7 will not install without your consent. Also, you will be happy to know that the IE7 setup will preserve your existing settings such as added toolbars and your selections for home page, search settings, and favorites. IE7 will not change your choice of default browser, even if that default is another brand of browser. And remember — if you don't like IE7 you can always go back to IE6 by using Add/Remove Programs.

Once you have Internet Explorer 7 installed and have become familiar with the new look and feel, take some time to explore the library of add-ons for the browser. The IE7 Add-Ons website has hundreds of add-ons in four categories:

• Security
• Time-Savers
• Browsers
• Entertainment

Many of these add-ons are free to download, but some do have a charge, so be sure to take note of that prior to downloading. All integrate nicely with IE7 to provide additional functionality to enhance your on-line experience.

One of the add-ons listed under the Privacy section of the Security add-on category is Windows Defender and is a must-have for anyone concerned about spyware and other forms of annoying malware. Windows Defender finds and removes spyware plus other unwanted sneaky software installed on your computer.

Two other add-ons also on my must-have list are found in the Time Savers category. Under the Auto-Fill section you'll find IESpell, which adds spell-checking and dictionary look up to any text typed into web forms. For those who have difficulty spelling it is a nice feature to have. Inline Search can be found within the Tools and Utilities section and is very handy. When you press Ctrl-F to initiate a search, an input field is displayed on the bottom of the screen and IE highlights matches within the page as you type.

To help you remember the new browser commands, Microsoft provides a Quick Reference Sheet for keyboard shortcuts in IE7. You can also download and print a PDF version of this page to keep is handy. Another useful link is to the IE7 Checklists that outline some of the changes you can expect and helps you become familiar with the new browser's features so you can make sure your installation is working correctly.

Like any new software release, IE7, and its enhanced security features, are under very close scrutiny by the global tech community who are testing it to try to find flaws in its protection scheme. No software application is perfect, so you can expect to hear about any issues found over the next few months, but you will also receive automatic updates to address any problems that may arise.

My download experience was easy. I appreciate the cleaner, simpler interface as well as the many new features and plug-ins. Take some time to explore the IE7 site for additional information, including a tour and video of its features and links to download. You may be pleasantly surprised.

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AARP does not recommend or endorse any of these products or web sites. Please be advised that there are other similar products and web sites available which were not reviewed and are not listed here.

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