IE6 Gets Pseudo Tabbed Browsing
By David Worthington | Published June 8, 2005, 3:21 PM
Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser will not have to wait until IE7 to experience tabbed browsing. MSN has shipped a new build of its MSN Search Toolbar that adds basic tabbed browsing support to IE6. But the feature is not fully integrated into the browser, instead relying on the toolbar to create tabs.
Tabbed browsing capabilities first appeared in beta releases of the MSN Search Toolbar, but were stricken from the final 2.0 build that was released last month.
Microsoft has said it will add fully integrated tabbed browsing into Internet Explorer 7, which is due to be released in beta form at the end of the month. "IE 7 will have tabs, providing end users with a unique tabbed browsing experience separate from MSN's new Toolbar," an MSN spokesperson told BetaNews.
Tabs in IE7 will run in their own process, Microsoft has said, ensuring a single tab cannot crash the entire Web browser.
The MSN toolbar suite bundles three separate toolbars: one for Microsoft Outlook, a toolbar for Windows and Internet Explorer, and a toolbar for the Windows taskbar. Added features include a pop-up blocker, form fill functions to make browsing more convenient, and built-in desktop search functionality.
Windows Desktop Search indexes e-mail messages, appointments, documents, multimedia files, and other popular formats. Plug-ins are available to add more supported file types such as Adobe PDF.
Microsoft faces competition from Google, Yahoo, America Online, and other companies that have produced their own desktop search software.
Yahoo licenses desktop search technology from Idea Labs' X1 and AOL uses technology from Copernic. Recently, Google moved beyond the consumer market, releasing an enterprise desktop search solution.
MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search may be downloaded from FileForum.
Nate Mook contributed to this report.
On the right track lots of buggs to work out yet
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|Looks like a beta...surprised its a final edition...totally sucks....if this is a glimpse to IE7....its getting very obvious how badly IE7 will suck!!!
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|Give it up already with the garbage toolbars!!! We don't need more Tracking Devices connected to users computers! User have learned how to Bookmark their Search Engines and there is no need to waste resources on more crap.
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|Tried it. EXTREMELY LOUSY!
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|WEEEEEAAAAAAAAKKKKK
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|Great start. This is what I've been waiting to see. I don't see why so many ppl are expecting it to live up to say Firefox, Opera or Maxthon (which sucks anyways, and yes I've used it). They're just testing the waters, we'll see the full thing in IE7. Keep it up MS!
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|Nice try but...
- Flickers when switching tabs.
- Can't move tabs around. (Or tell it to open next to current one)
- Can't use mouse gestures like in Maxthon.
- And what if I don't want MSN search...?
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|Then don't download the "MSN Search" toolbar..
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|You can configure it to use any search engine you want.
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|Finally!
I used it for about 5 minutes then uninstalled it.
Hopefully it won't stay bundled with the desktop search... gah!
At least it's a start.
I'll stick to Maxthon & Firefox.
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|IE6 with Tabbed Browsing lags too much for me!
Opera is way faster! Everything I need is in
Opera!
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|Opera is so much faster that CyberDoc999 got impatient while it loaded the next screen and clicked "Post your comment" a second time!
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|Aww man, that's lame. Even I have double clicked the post button occasionally.
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|IE6 with Tabbed Browsing lags too much for me!
Opera is way faster! Everything I need is in
Opera!
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|At last, Microsoft has followed the world standard. :P
This is my quick review:
- s*** + Click still opens the link in a new window. No method to open a link in a new tab with 1 click. Firefox uses Ctrl + Click to open a link in a new tab.
- Cannot drag a tab and put in a new place to re-order the tabs.
- Cannot double click to close a tab.
- Cannot insert a new tab immediately after the current tab.
- 'Open each link in the new background tab' option does not remember. Whenever you go to another tab, the button is reset.
- Cannot hide the search bar only. When you hide the MSN Search Bar, the tabs is hidden too.
It seems like I see only the bad side, but it's true. Hopefully, it will be improved in IE7.
If you want to use a tabbed browser with IE engine, I suggest Maxthon. It's free. http://www.maxthon.com/.
If you want to try something new, highly customizable, and open source. Try Mozilla Firefox. http://www.getfirefox.com/
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|Seems to be that the only thing, with all the billions that flow to Microsoft, they are capable of doing is "trying" when "forced" to. They didnt do anything to IE for years, other than security updates. Suddenly after Firefox, things started to happen.
Its actually pretty sad...
"I don't see the big deal about tabbed browsing right click open in new window is just as good."
Any "power browser" knows that tabbed browsing is a must.
Firefox + extensions = browsers dream. :)
Extensions/Customizability is what FF is about. Any extra security is just plus.
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|Your funny Mystiqq never said i use IE exclusivly actual have a couple browsers installed.
As for your any power browser knows tabbed browsing is a must use your brain you still have to click on the tab you want open just like i have to click on the window i want open very simple isn't it.
Your just a MS hater that thinks that just because something is made by Microsoft it can't be good.
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|I don't see the big deal about tabbed browsing right click open in new window is just as good.
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|Think about this, you're writing a report for your school assignment, you have open your word processing program of choice for the report and maybe another instance of the program for notes, you have open 12 windows containing sites, search results and pictures for that report not to mention the fact you also have three IM conversations going on in the midst of this.
What happens to your Taskbar space? Your screen space? Your CPU and Memory?
Tabbed browsing done right will use a single process cutting down on memory use and CPU overhead, uses less Taskbar real estate and less screen real estate.
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|Agreed.
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|I assign IE a shortcut of Ctrl+Alt+I, and have done so way before FF came along.
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|task bar sapce can be increased just unlock it increase the size and set it to hide automaticaly pops back up when you move the mouse to the bottom of the screen and with the taskbar hidden increases screen space.
AS for cpu and memory unless your using an old computer it should handle this no problem at all and still have music playing in the background.
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|Personally I have two Monitors hooked up and I keep most of what I'm reading on one screen and what I'm working on... on the other. So personally I have plenty of screen space for all my apps, I'd actually like one more monitor. :o)
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|Dude...single process = all gone on crash.
Ideally, I'd like to have a browser that can be customized. Not sucky customization like IE, or slightly complex customization like FF, but TRUE, SIMPLE, GUI customization. I have yet to see a program(except Clickteam stuff) that can have ANY piece moved ANYWHERE simply by clicking and dragging. Rightclick that bar you don't want and choose to remove it, or overlay an image ontop, or move it to the bottom right corner of the screen and turn it into a square instead of a bar. Clickteam is a 5 years ahead of everyone when it comes to GUI stuff - now if only they would actually make programs. :P
Even "customizable" programs like Netbeans and Macromedia Flash failed horribly in this IMO due to requiring placing things in rows/columns, or having some components stuck.
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|Athird monitor hmmm lets see a newer video card can suport 2 monitors mabe try a PCI slot card or 2 probaly cause some stability problems thou.
I wouder if it's posible to run 4 monitors and play a shooter game front view on one rear on another and the other 2 for the sides that could be cool.
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|Im a firm fan if FF, but its good to see MS taking note and showing they are trying.
once IE7 comes along ill note its memory footprint , features, security etc and make a desicion about what my prefered browser should be. It will be good to see if its better, cus if it is id try it.
sorry MS, a tab plugin gont cut it for me this time, throw me it as standard in IE7 and ill give it a shot.
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|Well, the tabbed browsing in IE6 w/ MSN search isn't all that good. I cannot double click to close/refresh a tab. all the extra things are annoying.
The Search, I have, Copernic desktop search, and use Google always. Pop-up blocking is something that is useful, but I use Google tool bar.
It’s also a bit of a memory hog, more so then opening two windows. I feel that Microsoft is trying to copy functionality that others have already created.
Now the personal beef that most people won’t have… when using Y’Zshadow the tabs circulate through, as in “tab a “active then “tab b”, then “tab a”.
So, will I use it, no. if you try it and like it then great! It’s just not for me.
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|Kinda sucks actually. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love everything that it does, it's just that it doesn't do much. Won't pull me off FF, but now it's there it can start improving.
The thing I like most about it is the fact that each tab runs in a seperate process. This is a memory hog, but the stability it offers is very welcome. I've been burned a few times (no pun intended) when I had to force three firefox windows, with average five tabs each, closed, just because one tab had problems with a webpage.
Short version: The train's barely left the station, but at least it's on track.
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|Dumb!
I'm not installing that junk toolbar to get tabbed browsing.
I'm also not going to PAY $$$ for an ad blocker. That's just retarded. Firefox kicks so much butt.
Have fun using your unchanged 4 year old browser.
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|Fine, dont pay money for anything, just know there ARE far superior products out there and that by limiting yourself to only freeware programs, you could be robbing yourself of functionality far superior to that of what most open source and freeware programmers can provide. Commercial programs have their pluses, the programmers do their coding for a living, and can add more since they have a budget to work with.
Also, as for the 4 year old unchanged browser, seems to me that yes, the core hasnt changed but guess what, there have been plenty of shells developed (netcaptor, maxthon, avant, greenbrowser, etc) that all do what firefox can do, and more with added security. Since using maxthon, and windows xp sp2, I have yet to have a single piece of LEGITAMATE spyware (I dont consider cookies spyware, since the spyware programs never check the cookies of firefox or opera or other third party browsers, ONLY IE, coincidence? I think not) installed on my system. Firefox is great, but you get the same and more levels of customizability in IE with a shell than with firefox. Maxthon does everything firefox can, and more.
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|First of all, Maxthon is not a browser, it's a crutch. Maxthon is just a shell for a bad browser that adds some functionality. It is not as fast as Firefox, and by your own admission, it lacks some functionality. With Firefox, all I have to do is add some code to a user file and all ads are gone. No adblock needed, no $24.95 admuncher, just a copy and paste and the ads are gone. Firefox is far more configurable than Maxthon will ever be, and most importantly, Firefox is modern code, not some shell slapped on a moldy browser.
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|"...that all do what firefox can do..."
Yeah, like render pages correctly according to CSS and other Web standards?
Didn't think so.
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|Metshrine,
Hahahahhaha. Whatever. I can see why you pay for stuff. There is nothing at all better for IE. Even if you pay for it you cannot get the blocking power of Adblock in firefox. Especially if you use the 'userContent.css' file in conjunction with Adblock.
I don't use Firefox because it's free, I use it because it's a superior product. Microsoft has become complacent and I'm tired of being forced to use their stuff. Same reason I switched to VoIP from SBC local phone. SBC sucked and was getting too big for their britches. Companies get so big that the little guy doesn't matter anymore. Firefox is not like that, neither is open source.
Maxthon is a joke. Why use IE with a shell and all this crap when you can just use Firefox?
Not to mention that IE doesn't render pages properly. They don't obey the W3 Consortium at all. I wont use them simply becasue they cannot listen and follow the rules.
Hey.....it's a free country. Have fun using Junkthon with Junk Explorer. :)
=================================
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|Will the browser bashing never end?
The Fox is relatively new, extensible, and frequently updated. It does the old tricks in a few new ways, and has until recently been almost bulletproof, (though exploits are becoming more and more common as it gains in popularity).
IE is the browser for which 90% of the web has been made for, and has a serious budget... but cannot radically change as much as FF due to the vast aray of MS / 3rd party apps that depend on IE's core to function, (a responsibility FF doesn't have). IE will obviously be exploited more due to it's maturity and popularity, but only for now. (BTW, look into ad blocking in IE thru custom HOSTS files. VERY effective, very free, and zero overhead).
Just use what works for you, and try to have an idea of how and why it works.
Finally, if you find the browser issue is one so vital as to inspire passionate praises and foaming attacks, i suggest fresh air and sunlight.
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|What was I thinking, adblock is SOOO MUCH simpler. Copy and pasting every time you see an ad is so much easier than doing nothing while admuncher auto-updates itself and blocks every ad without me ever seeing them in the first place. Wow, I am a moron for ever bad mouthing adblock. [/sarcasm]
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|You have no clue what you are talking about. I don't use adblock, I don't need it. I have a pref file that has code in it that blocks virtually all ads (flash ads, too). I pasted the code in ONCE and I don't ever do it again. Dude, read what people write to you and you will avoid looking like a moron!
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|Ad-Blocker? Here's the one I've been using for several years... and it's still the best on the market and yes It is FREE. http://www.southbaypc.com/NoAds/
IE rocks when the rest of the browsers are still in the sand.
I've said it before and I'll say it again I drive a Jeep because it takes me places where other vehicals can't go (ps... yes Jeeps like water up to their door handles)... and just like IE it takes you places where other web browsers can't go.
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|lol
Timmy: My red ball is better!
John: No MY blue ball is better!!!!
p.s. Firefox, Opera, and Maxthon have nothing to do with this article
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|Interesting analogy. Now imagine this: Jeep recalls all their cars and issues propriety wheels for them. These wheels will only drive on modified roads. Now, these modified roads don't work well for all other cars, giving them lousy gas milage, reduced speed and acceleration, etc. Now, Jeep releases a new car with these wheels that becomes so popular that 60% of drivers are driving it. Don't you aggree that this would make life pretty lousy for those of us who can't afford a new car?
Internet Explorer's lack of support for the w3c stadards makes it so those of us using a non-windows platform either have to shell out $200 for Windows XP + IE or use Firefox/Opera/Konqueror and experience all the "Only works in IE" propriety bull. The only reason those "Only IE" sites exist is because IE intentionally renders different from the standard, and that makes it render different from other browsers. Honestly, I would love it if IE 7 supports the w3c standards to a T, but I don't see that ever happening. Until then, I'll support Firefox, or Opera, or Konqueror. At least my use of those browsers doesn't affect other peoples browsing experience.
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|I'll wait for IE7... Personally, if they have to include it in a 'toolbar', then it really isn't integrated into the browser. Again, that's a personal call and I know it. I'll stick with Opera for now ;-)
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|It's sad when people are so irrationally addicted to one software company that they will deny themselves a popular feature (along with increased security and speed) until their pseudo-leader finally tosses them a crumb. Kinda reminds me of a cult, or maybe lemmings?
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|Some may be "irrationaly" addicted to IE as you state but I have tried FF. Yeah, I like some of the FF features a little more but just can't understand the big "to-do" about it. Although it uses slightly less memory than IE (BEFORE you rant, I keep my 'Prefetch' folder empty, modify the registry to not load uneeded services and drivers, etc., and IE loads almost completely from scratch only when I doubleclick the icon, not when Windows loads), it is much less "memory intensive"--that is to say that if it uses your pagefile at least IE doesn't cache the !@#$%% out of it as FF does, nor use the processing utilisation that FF does assuming no spyware and add-ons.
With the add-ons removed, IE is actually much more stable than FF (in matter of opinion--) , and especially removing that wicked memory hogging-performance- destroying Acrobat plugin.
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|What I and I think most people like so much about firefox is how much it can be customized. The extensions system is genius. Right now I have a mouse gestures extension with a few custom gestures, a couple extensions to make tabbed browsing better, the web developer extension so I can test out things I've been working on with all kinds of setups, and a user agent switcher so I can pretend to be some other browsers and see if pages work that aren't supposed to be supported. There are just so many things out there and if I wanted something that isn't, I could probably make an extension.
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|Wow, and you havent been able to customize IE from the start? IE has had "extensions" since its inception. People act like everything firefox has or includes via an extension is an original idea, its NOT. Most of the stuff was borrowed from browsers like the IE Shell netcaptor, or opera (which is FAR superior to firefox, although its not extensible due to their choosing to block out 3rd parties, which is my only reason for not using it as my primary browser). Give me a break. "Extensions" have existed since the inception of the web browser. Just because firefox has them doesnt mean they were the first.
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|Most of what you say is true, however Firefox utilizes extensions far more extensively than anyone has before. Firefox may not be the first, but an argument can be made that it is the best.
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|It's nice to know there are FF supporters out there willing to have a mature discussion :)
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|seconded.
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|IE7 Tabbed Browsing Implementation - 26 May 2005
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie.../2005/05/26/422103.aspx
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|At last they did it! Domou arigato, Microsoft!
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|Although the tabs are welcome, something about the whole MSN search/tabs/taskbar search made Outlook go into some weird crashing loop.
Back to ff for me.
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|Does IE7 having an AdBlock equivalent?
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|There has been ad blocking available for most browsers/platforms for far longer than FF has had it implimented. Just because FF implimented the adblock extension and got it publicized alot doesnt mean they were the first to impliment it. People commend proxomitron for its abilities, but I prefer a product that is still supported and far easier to configure. I've been using AdMuncher (www.admuncher.com) (No, its not free, so that means it immediately sucks to most OSS addicts/fans, but its worth the 24.95 you only have to pay ONCE for lifetime free upgrades). It does MORE than adblock or any other content filtation system out there (all in a nice 250kb package, the installer is 150-180kb) and is far easier to configure (right click - remove image/ad ability in the latest betas available on #admuncher on irc.efnet.org), it comes with a HUGE default filtering list so out of the box it removes 95-98% of all advertisements on the web (The list is updated almost 2-3 times per week and can be auto-updated via the programs options menus) (it blocks popups too, I have all three browsers popup stopping capabilities disabled (IE, firefox, and opera) and I still see not one popup that I havent wanted/clicked on). www.admuncher.com you wont regret trying this. AND GET THIS, It even removes the advertisements from programs toolbars such as opera, icq, aim and the like. It can be configured to hook into any application that uses the HTTP protocol to deliver its advertisements.
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|Haven't gotten to try it yet, but it's definitely a good move by Microsoft. Knowing that full tabbed-browser capabilities won't be available until IE7, having MSN throw something together in the mean time should keep some people quiet.
Personally, I don't really like tabbed browsing. I much rather prefer separate windows where I can use ALT-Tab to get to the exact window I want, but whatever. I'll give this a shot just because I always try the latest and greatest.
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|Try Maxthon, my dear. You can do Ctrl-Tab to quickly switch between tabs, and you won't get non-browser apps mixed in the middle... ;-)
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|Maybe it's not so stupid as you think. This could be an attempt to save its parent from the mob of unhappy Win2K users. I mean since they chose not to support 2K under IE7.
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|Uhh....I don't think so. Most Win2k users are unhappy because they were told 'screw you, your security doesn't matter - upgrade and give us your money'
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|1995 Called and they want their name back. LOL, I can't believe you actually call yourself something from the movies Hackers. Hahahahhahahahah
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|Yeah, they should have said something more along the lines of, 'Yeah, sure, we'll spend millions updateing the outdated OS you absolutely refuse to give up, clinging on to your cult-like claims of superiority, just to please a tiny minority of users...of course, we'll have to delay the launching of all our other projects to do this, but I'm sure the majority of users will understand that we have to please the whining minority still clinging to Win2k like some idiot clinging to a bouy when land is only 20 ft away."
Give it a rest already. Win2k's EOL is what...3-6 months away? The OS is past it's usefullness. Get with the picture and friggin' upgrade already.
Oh, and THIS TOPIC HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WINDOWS....IT'S ABOUT IE6!!!
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|I can't believe you called yourself a plumbing tool....moron. Why don't you go wrench a pipe and shutup.
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|Indeed, as far as MS is concerned Win2K is ANTIQUATED, DEAD, HISTORY....Get with the program Win2K is over upgrade, quite crying, and get over it
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|I beleive it to be utterly stupid that MSN - despite its obvious ties with its parent, as a content provider, has left it so late to cash in on this trend.
It's good for those who need IE for certain tasks where other browsers can't be used, & need to use multiple pages, due to the fact it's (hopefully) so much simpler, lighter & easier to use than downloading a whole third party front end such as Maxathon or Avant, which obviously aren't needed for such little use.
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|Well at least there is an option for it now. If I actually still used IE I might use that.
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|Well--with dialup hard to tell :) But here at work--I can't try it I need admin rights (darn). Dunno about performance, but the move in general was smart Microsoft. Now IE naysayers can't say there hasn't at least been an attempt by Microsoft to support tabbed browsing in Windows 2000, very smart there. This satisfies MOST parties here though the naysayers shall come bombard this forum, ranting about how it's not "real" tabbed browsing and how MS stole it from so-and-so. I can't tell yet about performance--broadband cometh today, so might be an update for you tomorrow morning.
Update - Tried with broadband, no performance lag at all from what I can tell--I told you people'd start complaining about AN OPTIONAL ADD-ON to IE.
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|Thought I'd give this a try. I like the desktop search, but the tabbed browsing seems to slow down IE considerably. Anyone else experiencing this?
----EDIT----
Update: it seems to be a lot better now. I don't notice any lag in browsing at all now. I'm not sure what was going on before, but it must have been a coincidence (the slowdown happening right after I installed the MSN toolbar).
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|I didn't notice any slowdown. The only slowdown I ran into was trying to find out how to open a link in a new tab. Still not even close to Firefox better with Tabbrowser Preferences installed.
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|A little creative thinking led me to this:
Type
"http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=$w" (without the "") into the general prefs for Web Search Service, and it will search Googel rather than MSN :)
I dont like IE, but if you are forced to use it, it might as well do what you want it to.
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|very nice... I had given up trying to get it work with Google. Then I saw your post and figured out that I was leaving the "$w" wildcard out. Thanks for the help :-)
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|Or you could do it the long way.
Click 'Search'
Click 'Change preferences'
Click 'Change Internet search behavior'
Click 'Google' (or any search engine you want)
Click OK
Buggy
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|Personally I find the tab integration in IE 6 only adds to the bulkiness of its interface with msn search toolbar. Yuck! Its functionality feels unrefined too. "Shell" is written all over it. I'll stick with Firefox (cleaner interface and much better functionality with the tabs and other extensions). However, the Windows Desktop Search is really nice. Great integration. I've removed Google's alternative for the time being.
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|