Like almost everyone else using Windows from Windows 95 to XP, I found Internet Explorer to be the browser of choice. I didn’t really want anything else, as it just worked for me and I was content. Finally a friend convinced me to try Firefox about 18 months ago, and the tabs hooked me almost immediately. I once heard someone describe the tabs as, “Okay, I guess,” but I find them to be incredibly productive. On a single page, I often right-click on numerous links and choose “Open in New Tab”, and then go browse those tabs at my leisure.
I’ve been using IE 7 beta 3 (and before that, beta 2) and I’m happy with the tabbed browsing. In fact, I’m happy with a lot of things. However, there are things that Firefox does that I miss. So here are a few of the features I find beneficial, and how they’re handled.
Tabs
In my opinion, IE 7 wins. IE might not have been the first with tabs, but it is doing them better. The reason I think IE 7 tabs are better boils down to a couple of features. First, I love having the close button (the little x) on the tab itself, rather than far off to the right as Firefox does it. I never realized how unproductive it was to have that x way off to the right. However, when I am in Firefox now I find myself on a tab way to the left, and having to go all the way to the right to close it. In IE 7, the x is on the tab itself. It couldn’t be easier.
Also, I like that there is always a blank tab showing in IE 7. In Firefox, I either have to press Ctrl+T or click File, New Tab in order to open a tab. In IE 7, I click on the blank tab (just to the right of the right-most tab) and I have a new tab ready to go. It may sound minor, but once you get used to it in IE 7, you’ll miss it in Firefox.
Tabs in IE7: 
Tabs in Firefox: 
Find
Firefox wins this one. I like having the Find area appear on the browser instead of as a pop up window. This is just personal preference and if you like it as a standalone window, that’s fine. I also like that the Firefox find searches while you type, rather than forcing you to type your string and then click a Previous or Next button.
Find in IE7: 
Find in Firefox: 
Phishing Filter
The phishing filter in IE 7 has worked well for me in my limited testing. When I get emails that I know are phishing, such as problems with “my account” from banks where I don’t have an account, I click on the link to see what IE 7 tells me. So far, it’s caught them all. I appreciate that.
One thing I find odd is that in IE 7 beta 3, the phishing filter is off by default when you do an installation. I believe it should be on by default, and there’s time to change this before IE 7 is released.
This is in no way the opinion of Microsoft Corporation; it is my opinion only.