Comments on: MSN toolbar adds tabs to IE6

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:39:26 +0000

To Ed Bott:
If you suggest Firefox, what version? we have been a little let down with msn, google is ok, but not real great.
We have been thinking about Firefox, what version would you suggest? we have the windows xp media center.
Thanks in advance!!

By: penn

penn — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 13:13:55 +0000

I’m surprised MS released the tab feature. It’s so poorly done, with stuff opening and closing in the task bar, the tab going wherever it feels, the inability to open a new window in the background with any key I’ve found, and it still opens new windows. Why did they bother? Just about every other browser, including those that use IE are far supperiour.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

The executable I downloaded from the MSN Search Toolbar link you gave above didn’t work for me– it seems to be a patch or something. I was able to get the full version from http://toolbar.msn.com.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

The older and wiser I get, the less I deviate from basic XP or IE and, remarkably, the better my OS and applications run. Imagine that! Anyway, I don’t even know what a “tabbed” browser is. Presumably, if it’s MSN toolbar, it’s a Microsoft add-in that presumably won’t compromise overall performance or stability. Or am I off base here?

By: Ryan Walters

Ryan Walters — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I’m excited about tabs in IE6 via the MSN toolbar, but I can’t get them to display in IE. I’ve toggled “tabbed browsing” on and off and restarted and reinstalled, and I can’t get it work. Anyone have any hints?

By: Ed Bott

Ed Bott — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks for pointing that out, Jen. I fixed the link.

By: Ed Bott

Ed Bott — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Ken, a tabbed browser allows you to open multiple web pages in a single browser window, switching from page to page by clicking a tab at the top of the page (usually, although the tab can also be at the bottom).

Based on my experience so far, I don’t recommend the tabbed browsing add-in. However, I do recommend that you try either Maxthon or Firefox. Either one will be greatly superior to IE in terms of user experience, and both are thoroughly acceptable in terms of stability.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks. That does seem like a very useful feature.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I’m a little disappointed with the tabbed browser. While you can basically create one ‘favorite’ with ‘My Tabs’ I want to create tabs for each subgroup of sites I visit regularly. So when I open ‘Weather’ I get 6 different weather pages for various zip codes and sources. When I open ‘News’ I get the eight different news sites I regularly use. Hopefully, they’ll get it right next time.

By: Wile E Coyote

Wile E Coyote — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Ed, you are doing a disservice in your description of tabbed browsing.

The crucial property isn’t that it allows you to do all your browsing in one window. OK, so taskbars can get crowded, but so can tab bars. After all, who really cares if you click at the top or at the bottom of your screen?

No, the crucial property is that it enables you to open links you click in the *background*, not distracting you from your current page. This is why it makes browsing a more pleasant experience.

Also you are being unfair to Asa. His post was full of constructive criticisms about the way MSN toolbar handles. A more legitimate complaint would be the immature way he dealt with the ‘Opera lied about PC World award’ post.

By: Ed Bott

Ed Bott — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I considered mentioning the Opera posts, which I agree were less than classy.

I wrote my original post after Asa had written a single “it sucks” post. He later added “it really sucks” and it wasn’t until after I posted my full entry that the actual, constructive criticism appeared.

As for tabbed browsing, the background loading isn’t what appeals to me, it’s the ability to manage many windows easily, which is impossible with a whole bunch of IE windows. Different strokes…

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I’ve gotten the search part to how I like it and have now replaced Google Toolbar. However, the tabs are still buggy. Whenever I open a new tab, the screen flashes for a second and after the flash, the IE window is in “restore down” form, but still the same size as if it were maximized. I would like it if the tab problem is fixed so that there is no screen flash and the IE window stays maximized. Also, a “Search Site” function like Google Toolbar would be nice.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Newer version fixes one problem. IE no longer loses its place in the taskbar. It used to go to the very right of all other open programs when you switched tabs. It doesn’t do that anymore, but the annoying screen flash and the IE window going into the “restore down” form are still there. Also, to be more competitive with Google toolbar, there should be some kind of “Search Site” function like Google’s toolbar.

By: Neil's World

Neil's World — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Tabbed Browsing in IE6

Asa Dotzler has a review of the new MSN Search Toolbar, which adds tabbed browsing to Internet Explorer 6, meaning that IE users can finally experience the joys of tabbed browsing.

By: Life On the Wicked Stage: Act 2

Life On the Wicked Stage: Act 2 — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

IE Tabbed Browsing: Not There Yet

I did some experimenting with the new MSN SearchToolbar last evening and this morning between meetings. As I sat down for lunch to catch up on some news and post about my experiences I noticed a post from Marc Orchant