What are the advantages of IE?

from WinCustomize Forums
Hey..just got Mozilla Firefox and i think i'll switch to it after i get my DSL connection...it has lots and lots of goodies and helpful plug-ins,tabbed view of webpages,supports Java and Macromedia...it's totally free! What more could i ask...kinda makes me wonder...what are the advantages of Internet Explorer? What is it that Mozilla doesn't support that IE does? Any of you know?
10,153 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Firefox has trouble rendering web pages that are not written to the strictest of rules, IE is more forgiving in that area. Also "Windows Update" will not accept Firefox. You will have to spend some time adding some extensions and plug-ins that IE already comes equiped with. Don't get me wrong, I use Firefox most of the time, and have it customized to do things that IE can't. Have fun with Firefox, but you might coming back to IE from time to time, like an old pair of shoes that are already broke in!
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I use IE, simply for three reasons:

1 - It is already installed, so no need to add more programs

2 - It just works for me

3 - WindowBlinds can skin it, and add custom toolbar icons, which is a program I already use

I like things simple where ever possible.

SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
3 - WindowBlinds can skin it, and add custom toolbar icons, which is a program I already use


Good point,although Firefox comes with skins.

Firefox has trouble rendering web pages that are not written to the strictest of rules


Well it seems i haven't been using it much cause i didn't get this yet...
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can't relate. I use Opera.
Opera also has skins (not as many as firefox)

Customization (not as much as firefox)

Add ins (not as many as firefox)

But, advantage is it tends to be more forgiving on the coding and loads pages as deemed Only IE whereas FireFox can't.. All depends on your usuages for the browser, the functionality you want and the sites you visit.

I'd personally prefer visiting sites via telepathy, but that's not possible yet. (Microsoft might make it available in the version after Vista).

Basically, keep your options open and don't stick to one browser if you wish to defy IE.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try IE7 when it comes out.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try IE7 when it comes out.


Very good suggestion kona0197. IE7 seems to be a bit more functional to deter away a need for another browser. But, for now it's still in Beta. Hopefully, the final version will actually provide enough customization and functionality to be worth while as a primary browser to those whom demand those features.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try IE7 when it comes out.


ANy info as to when it does come out...
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I must say, I agree with all the comments here. I am fortunate enough to be able to use IE7 and can comment on it. I used to use Firefox about 90% of the time because of the way it handled downloads, the ability to clear out browsing files from the menu of the browser, and lastly, tabbed pages. Now, with IE7 I rarely use Firefox because IE7 includes all of the functionality I preferred in Firefox. This was enough for me to start using IE exclusively since these were the only functions previously missing from IE that encouraged me to use Firefox.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use IE, simply for three reasons:

1 - It is already installed, so no need to add more programs


If I'm not mistaken one of the requirements of the MS Monopoly settlement was that they would not be able to bundle the browser (IE7) with their next Windows release.....which would be Vista.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So IE7 is a much promising browser...can't wait for it...
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes, IE7 is coming out with new innovative ideas such as tabbed browsing. 

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes, IE7 is coming out with new innovative ideas such as tabbed browsing.


Does 'innovative' mean the same as 'about time'
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Also things that IE does that Mozilla/Firefox don't:

-Custom scroll bar colors, lots of designer/webmaster like to customize the scrolling browser bars to their page color (ie mameicons, my site (+4000 handmade Arcades .ico), retrogames, etc), IE will display these, FF won't are these are not 'officially' W3C Html code, submitted, but never accepted....
-As another user said, Firefox is really too strict: if a webmaster does a common error such as using / rather than \ in a link (or inverse, see how it can be confusing ^^), the link will send a 404 with ff, it will work with np with IE.. even if this can seem stupid, some Microsoft software save to html pages with these errors included!)
-Lots of Javascript, or other tricks and scripts, working nicely with IE, won't with FF or Moz, or Netscape, see some javascripts sites and check wich one work for IE only, IE and partially Firefox, or both.... you can check (in french) l'editeur java to see what i mean, in the image scripts section in exemple...

But mainly what IE has that firefox hasn't (or really very less): security problems that's usually the 1st reason why ppl using firefox prefer it to IE...
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use IE, simply for three reasons:
1 - It is already installed, so no need to add more programs
2 - It just works for me
3 - WindowBlinds can skin it, and add custom toolbar icons, which is a program I already use
I like things simple where ever possible.


ditto, Corko.
But mainly what IE has that firefox hasn't (or really very less): security problems that's usually the 1st reason why ppl using firefox prefer it to IE...


IE can be hardened, you just have to know what to tweak to get the security that you want. All browsers are vulnerable, just that more "cracker-hackers" like to mess with Bill's precious Windows.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have IE7 Beta 1.
Basically all of the end features are mostly there. The only good thing is the Tabbed browsing, the phishing is OK.

Not enough to make me switch to it from FF.

My answer: There are none. I do not use WU, and pages always render beautifully, if not better.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
IE can be hardened


I'll agree with that. Browsers are meant to be light-weight programs,not some kind of heavy armor tank!

Out of curiosity how much sys resources does IE use and how much does FF?
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Firefox has trouble rendering web pages that are not written to the strictest of rules,


My impression was that certain sites use non-standard IE-specific coding that other browsers (not just Firefox) have trouble rendering because they adhere the the standard... ?

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can have the best (well almost) of both worlds with Maxthon. Maxthon uses the IE engine but has all the extras already included like tabbed browsing. Over the years I've used Netcsape, IE, Maxthon, Firefox and Opera. I'm still using Opera 8.02 and I have no intentions of changing anytime soon.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you use Opera, you will have none of the problems of IE or Firefox.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If I'm not mistaken one of the requirements of the MS Monopoly settlement was that they would not be able to bundle the browser (IE7) with their next Windows release

Not sure on that one, I have heard both now - Vista will include IE7, Vista will not include IE7.

For my part, it would seem that the OS is incomplete without an internet browser - sort of like creating a car without including the ability to drive at highway speeds.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have IE7 b1, had FF, have Opera....
In reality I prefer Opera over the others.
Will likely stick with Opera and play with IE7 some more. Besides, Opera work on my smartphone too!
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Out of curiosity how much sys resources does IE use


(IE6) 31,250k with msn toolbar and all the goodies it comes with: popup blocker, email, anti-phishing plugin, search, tabbed, and deskbar.