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Microsoft gets pushy with IE7
On February 12, there might be some angry IT managers who aren't happy with Microsoft. This is because on the next "Patch Tuesday", Microsoft is going to include Internet Explorer 7 in the list of updates and patches being pushed out to Windows computers that:
- Use WSUS 3.0 to manage updates in their organization
- Have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) that have Internet Explorer 6 installed
- Have configured WSUS to auto-approve Update Rollups for installation
As Ars Technica is reporting, there is a lot of mis-information in the blogosphere about this issue.
People who have Windows computers at home will not get IE 7 put on their computer by Microsoft's updates.
The only group of people who need to be aware of what's happening are IT/Network administrators who have previously deployed the IE7 blocking toolkit to halt IE7 from being installed on computers within their network. These IT managers should closely read this knowledge base article.
There, you've been warned :)
Comments
14
Subscribe to commentsToddJan 24th 2008 3:58PM
People still use Internet Explorer!?!?!?
eugeneJan 24th 2008 4:23PM
People are still asking rhetorical questions?!?!?!?
ScooterJan 24th 2008 5:17PM
Uh, as long as people continue to use asp and active-x, uh yeah... still using Internet Explorer.
Try using Outlook Web Access with Firefox.
DanJan 24th 2008 4:13PM
Anything that shifts people away from Internet Explorer 6 is a good thing in my (web designing) book. Even if it's IE 7. Of course Firefox/Safari/not Microsoft would be even better.
InsomnicJan 24th 2008 4:52PM
I just had to go through this with some people at my company. They were convinced by the misinformation and didn't believe me until I showed them the Ars article. Funny how that works ain't it?
NateJan 24th 2008 5:11PM
I personally don't mind if Microsoft forces people to upgrade to IE7. It would make web developer's lives a lot easier!
brianJan 24th 2008 5:49PM
i dont see what the big deal with IE7 is? it may not be the best browser ever, but its defiately leaps and bounds better then 6. IMO it IS the best browser, simply because so may sites are ASP/activex based and just dont work right in firefox. Safari....well you couldnt pay me enough to use that piece of garbage.
Gardiner WestboundJan 24th 2008 7:11PM
This registry hack will stop Microsoft from forcing an IE7 install.
http://www.technipages.com/prevent-internet-explorer-7-from-installing-via-automatic-updates.html
StephJan 24th 2008 8:40PM
Regardless of what tech people think of IE, the fact is that most businesses will continue to use it because that's what they know. I think it's good that IE7 is coming as an upgrade, because I am so sick of IE6 at my office. Coming home and using Firefox has never made me happier.
michaelJan 25th 2008 12:05AM
Why would you NOT want IE7? You'd rather stick with IE6?
IE6 has tons of flaws in it, and it doesn't come with any good features and available add-ons like IE7. Who would want to block an update that's a matter of better web browsing?
I love IE7!
Dwight StegallJan 25th 2008 4:07PM
You wouldn't love it if you knew how many problems it causes for web designers.
There are about 100 browsers or so available. Almost all follow web standards except IE. Nothing works as good in it or displays the same as it does in the other browsers.
If Vista would allow me to delete it I would have done so the first day.
Gardiner WestboundJan 25th 2008 7:04AM
I hacked the registry and stopped IE7 from downloading and installing because I use Mozilla Firefox. IE7's bloat is excess baggage.
michaelJan 25th 2008 4:47PM
IE7 and bloat? No you must be kidding.
I thought you were talking about Firefox...
Dwight StegallJan 25th 2008 3:28PM
Microsoft must hate us all to be forcing that worthless browser on everyone. IE wouldn't even make a good paper weight and i can't believe they don't know that.