Get the latest beta release of Microsoft’s popular Web browser and e-mail client. The IE6 Public Preview features all the familiar bells and whistles of IE5, as well as some new features that are sure to be a hit with users.
The Personal Bar adds ease of use and simple navigation for Web surfers of all levels, from newbie to veteran, by allowing you to choose from a variety of individual Explorer bars to display in the Explorer bar pane. The integrated Advanced Search bar makes it a snap to find whatever you may be looking for on the Web. The Image Toolbar feature allows you to quickly and easily save pictures, e-mail pictures, and print pictures that you find on Web pages. You can also view all your saved pictures in the My Pictures folder. When you point to pictures on Web pages, the My Pictures toolbar appears, giving you instant access to My Pictures functions. Another new Explorer bar, the Contacts bar, allows MSN Messenger Service members to use instant-messaging features from within the browser window while they surf the Web. The advanced security features, such as the Cookie control feature and the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P), will be an instant hit with many surfers.
One feature that may not sit too well with users, however, is the fact that this latest edition of IE will not run on Windows 95 systems. You will need Windows 98 or newer installed on your machine in order to check out this beta.
The disadvantage is thatt ools such as MSN Messenger integrate awkwardly with the browser; beta version still buggy; won’t run on Windows 95 machines.
So far, this browser promises to outshine Netscape 6. In the meantime, stick with IE 5.5; download version 6 with caution.