IE7, beta or final?

Jack Michaelson posted this at 14:56 — 12th July 2006.

Joined: Dec 1999

I just found something funny...
When you go to the default IE-page on microsoft.com, it tells you to download IE7, while it's still on beta!

Before you move your cursor over the tabs 'New Look' and further, you'll find a text telling you that 'Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 is a major step' etc (screenshot). But when you do move your cursor over these tabs (which I did the first time and why not?), you'll completely miss the word 'beta' [(screenshot)]. And there's no way (beside a reload) to get that first text back. Unexperienced users might think this beta is the current release. This could be quite dangerous to some people.

For instance, let's say I told my aunt to download IE, there would be quite a chance that she'd download a beta version, while it still could be full of bugs and security issues. And I suppose it is, because it's a beta.

There is a link to IE6 on the left, but why would my aunt bother? The page gives her the impression that a newer (= better) version has been released.

Microsoft still didn't learn?
Or am I completely missing something? (it's end of the day here, I need either rest or coffee )

[rant on a sidenote]
the dutch IE page explicitly tells you to click the tabs, while that is exactly the thing you shouldn't do with these fancy tabs that update onmouseover
[/rant]

Shakespeare: onclick || !(onclick)

Megan posted this at 15:42 — 12th July 2006.

She has: 11,421 posts

Joined: Jun 1999

It doesn't work at all in Opera, the tabs just point further down the page! I've seen a few bad web designs buried in MS-land that were obviously done by a co-op student or something.

But you're right - it's odd that they're promoting this so heavily now. Maybe a desperate attempt to gain back market share before it's too late??? I'm a little afraid to install it since I still need to test on v.6.

Megan
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