Both companies recently released new versions of their software
This week the two biggest contenders in the Internet browser competition released brand new versions of their software. Microsoft, the current leader, released its new Internet Explorer 7, while Mozilla Corporation released their new Firefox 2.0.
Many students at CU use both Windows Explorer and Firefox.
“I like the format of Explorer better, but I keep getting a ton of viruses,” said Matt Fockler, a junior history and education major. “It has crashed my laptop three times with all of the viruses.”
Microsoft’s Web site said that “Internet Explorer 7 is a major step forward in end-user experiences, security, privacy protection and platform advances for Web and application developers.”
Microsoft’s new Internet Explorer 7 will include new features like tabbed browsing, pop-up blocker and multiple-engine search bar, all with striking similarity to Mozilla’s Firefox.
Firefox, which has had tabbed browsing since its original launch in 2004, is hoping to impress newcomers with a lot of the same features Internet Explorer is offering. The new Firefox release will also include RSS feeds and spell checking, similar to Microsoft’s.
In an online press release, Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker said “Firefox 2 delivers the best possible online experience for people today. The improvements Mozilla has made to the ease of use, performance, and security in Firefox 2 reflect our ongoing, singular focus on meeting the needs of Web users all over the world.”
“I like Firefox because I was told it had better spyware protection,” said James Larson, a sophomore fine arts major.
Like Firefox, Microsoft will also be including a host of new add-ons. Since Firefox is an “open source” application, meaning anyone can modify it and add to it for free, add-ons are created by people who use Firefox. Microsoft, however, has created its own set of add-ons using many of its own products including Windows Defender. Windows also includes add-ons from some independent third party companies on its own Web site.
“I use Internet Explorer because all of my favorites are there,” said Jessi Carlin, a senior economics major.
Currently on campus, Internet Explorer 7 is not supported by some academic technology, including CU Learn, the new version of Web CT. Although Information Technology Services (ITS) is working on a way to integrate Internet Explorer 7, it may be some time before the new browser is fully supported.
Executive Director of ITS, Dennis Maloney, released an E-memo sent to Faculty and Staff: “Testing of beta versions of the application by Information Technology Services has surfaced some compatibility issues with ITS-supported applications; however, ITS feels these compatibility issues are outweighed by the functionality and security benefits users will gain by upgrading.”
