Microsoft Internet Exploder 7

Here's just one reason to keep away from Microsoft's new line of software:
"Microsoft urged users to temporarily disable anti-virus and anti-spyware software before installing the program, noting that IE 7 makes a large number of changes to the Windows registry." (see related link)

I've decided I've had enough. It's a wonder that a company that can develop awesome tools like SQL Server and Visual Studio can release crap like Windows Vista and Internet Explorer. I'm actually at a loss for words.

It's simple, really. Their development tools are written by developers, whereas their OS, office tools and browser are written by marketers.

Consider Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Since Office 97, these three applications haven't really changed. Sure, Excel supports more rows and columns now, but anyone using 65 000 rows should be shot anyway. Nevertheless, Office 2000, XP, 2003, and now 2007 have ripped off the consumer to the point of bankruptcy. The *only* tool that actually improved was Outlook, and quite honestly, I haven't been using Outlook since I moved to Thunderbird. I use the calendar on my phone.

Then there's Windows. Windows XP is cool. It is reasonably fast. It runs almost everything (compatibility mode was a good idea). Of course, I run it without those irritating themes, but then I'm a power user.

Then you have Internet Explorer. I remember converting from Netscape to Internet Explorer when IE3 came out. It was better. We know why with hindsight. IE4 was a disaster, and IE5.5 finally fixed that problem. IE6 was really good, but Microsoft forgot about it. FOR FIVE YEARS!

Now Firefox, the phoenix rising from Netscape's ashes, has an almost 10% share of the market, with version 2 being released tomorrow. I've been using a beta for a while now and it's more stable, more secure, and faster than IE7.

And I don't have to turn off my anti-virus or anti-spyware to install it. I don't even have to access the Windows Registry (which Microsoft *themselves* say you shouldn't be writing into if you can avoid it).

Hypocrisy rules, OK?