Upgrade to user-unfriendly IE8

L

Laura

I only upgraded from MS IE6 to IE8 now, since a particular web page
I regularly visit doesn't render properly any longer in IE6.

Other than being slower to respond compared to IE6, I have a hard time
getting used to it because it cannot be customized any longer the way
IE6 could - unless I'm missing something?
For instance, the MENU bar is unmovable now, even though it has the
little bar one the left that previously could be dragged up or down.

I'm only able to move the COMMAND bar, but this doesn't help since it
cannot be moved next to the MENU bar to free up extra space.

The worst part is that the BACK and FORWARD buttons are fixed on the
far left side. I had them on the right side above the scroll bar before,
which is the most logical place to be so one doesn't have to move the
mouse back and forth across the entire page after using the scroll bar.

There are other annoying quirks, such as the mouse pointer dropping
to the bottom of the screen after clicking on certain functions.

My question again is - am I missing something, is there perhaps a hidden
menu / way to better customize IE8? Does anyone know if IE9 follows
the same user-unfriendly design? Thanks...
 
J

Johnw

Laura presented the following explanation :
I only upgraded from MS IE6 to IE8 now, since a particular web page
I regularly visit doesn't render properly any longer in IE6.

Other than being slower to respond compared to IE6, I have a hard time
getting used to it because it cannot be customized any longer the way
IE6 could - unless I'm missing something?
For instance, the MENU bar is unmovable now, even though it has the
little bar one the left that previously could be dragged up or down.

I'm only able to move the COMMAND bar, but this doesn't help since it
cannot be moved next to the MENU bar to free up extra space.

The worst part is that the BACK and FORWARD buttons are fixed on the
far left side. I had them on the right side above the scroll bar before,
which is the most logical place to be so one doesn't have to move the
mouse back and forth across the entire page after using the scroll bar.

There are other annoying quirks, such as the mouse pointer dropping
to the bottom of the screen after clicking on certain functions.

My question again is - am I missing something, is there perhaps a hidden
menu / way to better customize IE8? Does anyone know if IE9 follows
the same user-unfriendly design? Thanks...

There are a lot of IE engined browsers, I do have a lot installed (
refer screenshot ) as I like to know how they work. As long as Lock
Toolbar is'nt ticked, you should be able to move things around on most
of these.
Screenshot
http://img844.imageshack.us/i/sinstalledbrowsers.jpg/

TheWorld Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/TheWorld-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/TheWorld-Browser-Screenshot-70722.html
http://www.ioage.com/en/index.htm

Visual Explorer
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Visual-Explorer.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Visual-Explorer-Screenshot-117359.html
http://www.visual-explorer.com/

GINternet Explorer
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/GINternet-Explorer.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/GINternet-Explorer-Screenshot-101978.html
http://www.freewebs.com/joejoesdownloads/

BrowseIt
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/BrowseIt.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/BrowseIt-Screenshot-124668.html
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gsbrowseit/

In2Net
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Internet/Browsers/In2Net.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/In2Net-Screenshot-138760.html
http://in2net.jimdo.com/

Fastest Web Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Fastest-Web-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Fastest-Web-Browser-Screenshot-123424.html
http://www.fastestwebbrowser.com/

Acoo Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Acoo-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Acoo-Browser-Screenshot-18447.html
http://www.acoobrowser.com/

GreenBrowser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/GreenBrowser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/GreenBrowser-Screenshot-6948.html
http://primewares.com/links.php?search=GreenBrowser&la=en
http://www.morequick.com/indexen.htm
Hit Cancel, if it ask's, do you want to download the Language
conversion.

SlimBrowser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Slim-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Slim-Browser-Screenshot-6974.html
http://www.flashpeak.com/sbrowser/sbrowser.htm
FAQ
http://www.flashpeak.com/forum/faq.php
Forum
http://www.flashpeak.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=15&st=0&sk=t&sd=d

Sleipnir ( Uses the IE engine )
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Sleipnir.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/screenshots//Sleipnir_1.png
http://www.fenrir-inc.com/au/sleipnir/
http://sleipnir.pos.to/software/sleipnir/index.html#download
http://www.onlinedown.com/detail/11591.htm
Portable Sleipnir
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Internet/Browsers/Portable-Sleipnir.shtml
Wiki
http://www.kit-a.net/wiki/

Crazy Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Crazy-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Crazy-Browser-Screenshot-73.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=549&file=11&evp=555cc484944e4dff76475f8cdd417fa3
http://www.crazybrowser.com/
Portable Crazy Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTAB...ble-Applications-Portable-Crazy-Browser.shtml

Maxthon [Softpedia Edition]
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Maxthon-Combo.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Maxthon-Combo-Screenshot-6199.html
http://www.maxthon.com/
Maxthon Standard/Classic ( I have Classic Version installed )
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Maxthon-Standard.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Maxthon-Standard-Screenshot-9637.html
http://www.maxthon.com/download.htm#classic
Portable Maxthon Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTAB...e-Applications-Portable-Maxthon-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreen...ortable-Maxthon-Browser-Screenshot-66922.html
Maxthon 3
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Maxthon-3.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Maxthon-3-Screenshot-130092.html

Smart Bro
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Smart-Bro.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Smart-Bro-Screenshot-13549.html
http://www.smartbro.com/index.html

Element Browser
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Element-Browser.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Element-Browser-Screenshot-97475.html
http://www.elementbrowser.co.cc/
http://elementsoftware.987mb.com/products.htm
Mobile
http://www.elementsoftware.co.uk/elementbrowser/mobile/

Yoono
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Internet-Applications-Addons/Mozilla-Extensions/Yoono.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Yoono-Screenshot-54668.html
http://www.yoono.com/
 
T

Tim Meddick

If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then here, at
least, is a fix for that :

Menu bar and toolbar missing in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962963

....and, on the same [Microsoft] page above, is a "Fix This..." button
(Choose "Run" when prompted by Windows):
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9646673
[Windows Installer Package 630Kb]

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
L

Laura

Interesting... I have gone through many, but not all of those links yet,
but do you happen to know if there is one where you can move the
BACK and FORWARD buttons to the right side? They all seem to be
fixed on the left side of the screen shots I have seen so far. Thanks

[I couldn't quote your links - "too many lines" as per my News IP]
 
A

Alias

Interesting... I have gone through many, but not all of those links yet,
but do you happen to know if there is one where you can move the
BACK and FORWARD buttons to the right side? They all seem to be
fixed on the left side of the screen shots I have seen so far. Thanks

[I couldn't quote your links - "too many lines" as per my News IP]

You can use the keyboard to do that by using Alt+left or right arrow.
 
L

Laura

Tim Meddick said:
If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then here,
at least, is a fix for that...

--
No, I have no problem seeing it, but I'd like to move / rearrange the
location of the buttons which was possible with IE6.

The MENU bar (File, Edit, View...) cannot be moved, but while the
COMMAND bar (Home, Print, Mail, Zoom...) is movable, it cannot be
moved next to the MENU bar (all on one line), which would increase
the vertical viewable area of the screen.

But as mentioned, my biggest beef is that I'm stuck with the BACK
and FORWARD buttons on the left side. I much prefer to have them
on the right side, closest to the scroll bar, because I tend to click
on them in conjunction with using the scroll bar. Zipping back and
forth across the entire screen just doesn't make any sense.
 
V

Vote for Pedro

But as mentioned, my biggest beef is that I'm stuck with the BACK
and FORWARD buttons on the left side. I much prefer to have them
on the right side, closest to the scroll bar, because I tend to click
on them in conjunction with using the scroll bar. Zipping back and
forth across the entire screen just doesn't make any sense.
Neither does IE 8. Good luck. It is NOT user-friendly.
 
A

Alias

If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then here,
at least, is a fix for that...

--
No, I have no problem seeing it, but I'd like to move / rearrange the
location of the buttons which was possible with IE6.

The MENU bar (File, Edit, View...) cannot be moved, but while the
COMMAND bar (Home, Print, Mail, Zoom...) is movable, it cannot be
moved next to the MENU bar (all on one line), which would increase
the vertical viewable area of the screen.

But as mentioned, my biggest beef is that I'm stuck with the BACK
and FORWARD buttons on the left side. I much prefer to have them
on the right side, closest to the scroll bar, because I tend to click
on them in conjunction with using the scroll bar. Zipping back and
forth across the entire screen just doesn't make any sense.


With FireFox, all is on the left. IE perpetually has security problems
and it's not a good idea to use it except for Windows Updates.
 
C

choro

Your fix has solved the problem IE8 Menu absence for me.

A problem that I was not even aware of but it also installed a Bing
toolbar which I promptly disabled. Too much space wasted at the top of
these damned wide screens even though I've got a 1920x1200 screen.

"BOOTIFUL!" compared to 1920x1050 screens even though these 1920x1200
screens come at a price. But this is money well spent as far as I am
concerned! And I would recommend these screens to anybody who is not
tight fisted!
--
choro
*****

If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then here,
at least, is a fix for that :

Menu bar and toolbar missing in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962963

...and, on the same [Microsoft] page above, is a "Fix This..." button
(Choose "Run" when prompted by Windows):
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9646673
[Windows Installer Package 630Kb]

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)




Laura said:
I only upgraded from MS IE6 to IE8 now, since a particular web page
I regularly visit doesn't render properly any longer in IE6.

Other than being slower to respond compared to IE6, I have a hard time
getting used to it because it cannot be customized any longer the way
IE6 could - unless I'm missing something?
For instance, the MENU bar is unmovable now, even though it has the
little bar one the left that previously could be dragged up or down.

I'm only able to move the COMMAND bar, but this doesn't help since it
cannot be moved next to the MENU bar to free up extra space.

The worst part is that the BACK and FORWARD buttons are fixed on the
far left side. I had them on the right side above the scroll bar before,
which is the most logical place to be so one doesn't have to move the
mouse back and forth across the entire page after using the scroll bar.

There are other annoying quirks, such as the mouse pointer dropping
to the bottom of the screen after clicking on certain functions.

My question again is - am I missing something, is there perhaps a hidden
menu / way to better customize IE8? Does anyone know if IE9 follows
the same user-unfriendly design? Thanks...
 
C

choro

Neither does IE 8. Good luck. It is NOT user-friendly.

Oh, I don't know. Some people expect miracles. Or may be they expect a
browser to serve them with tea of coffee too.

IE8 is a great improvement over previous versions. I admit to using
Google Chrome more regularly but I might even consider switching over to
IE8 as my default browser.
 
T

Tim Meddick

True, that is why I have blocked my copy of WinXP from installing IE7 / 8
and continue using IE6 even though I cannot view many of the newer
web-pages created using HTML 5 and sometimes have to switch to using Google
Chrome to view them (but still have IE6 as my default browser).

Because of the simple fact that one has not got the same control over
customization of the File Menu / Toolbars in IE 7 /8 , I have resisted
upgrading.

Because of the increasing difficulties in web-compatibility in using such
an old version of IE, I have been "toying" with the idea of installing IE8
and then using it: "Full-Screen" -

What do you think?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


P.S. The best I can do, I have found, by way of making the IE7 / 8 top
menus / toolbar a little more aesthetically pleasing, is to use the
following "Tweak" to place the Address Bar at the top.

Add the following registry value -

------------------- copy between lines -------------------

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser]
"ITBar7Position"=dword:00000001

------------------- copy between lines -------------------


Copy between the lines and then paste into a simple text file, save it and
re-name it, giving it a *.reg file extension. Then simply double-click on
the new reg-file to import it.

(The above registry key on the line beginning [ and ending ] should be all
on one line but may not appear so due to line-wrap. Please ensure that
this line begins with '[' and ends with ']' )

*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a
backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.


Laura said:
If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then here,
at least, is a fix for that...

--
No, I have no problem seeing it, but I'd like to move / rearrange the
location of the buttons which was possible with IE6.

The MENU bar (File, Edit, View...) cannot be moved, but while the
COMMAND bar (Home, Print, Mail, Zoom...) is movable, it cannot be
moved next to the MENU bar (all on one line), which would increase
the vertical viewable area of the screen.

But as mentioned, my biggest beef is that I'm stuck with the BACK
and FORWARD buttons on the left side. I much prefer to have them
on the right side, closest to the scroll bar, because I tend to click
on them in conjunction with using the scroll bar. Zipping back and
forth across the entire screen just doesn't make any sense.
 
P

Peter Foldes

Tim Meddick said:
True, that is why I have blocked my copy of WinXP from installing IE7 / 8
and continue using IE6 even though I cannot view many of the newer
web-pages created using HTML 5 and sometimes have to switch to using Google
Chrome to view them (but still have IE6 as my default browser).


Tim

I am still using IE6 and I have it locked down very tight. With IE 7,8 and even 9
you do not have control over the browser which is a very bad move on the part of MS.
As long as I have text showing up correctly, I do not need eye candy which is of no
use when you work the browser as for your own specific work. Text always will tell
you more than eye candy.

Besides I have my IE6 customized with my own programs which does not work with the
other versions of IE
--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


Tim Meddick said:
True, that is why I have blocked my copy of WinXP from installing IE7 / 8
and continue using IE6 even though I cannot view many of the newer
web-pages created using HTML 5 and sometimes have to switch to using Google
Chrome to view them (but still have IE6 as my default browser).

Because of the simple fact that one has not got the same control over
customization of the File Menu / Toolbars in IE 7 /8 , I have resisted
upgrading.

Because of the increasing difficulties in web-compatibility in using such
an old version of IE, I have been "toying" with the idea of installing IE8
and then using it: "Full-Screen" -

What do you think?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


P.S. The best I can do, I have found, by way of making the IE7 / 8 top
menus / toolbar a little more aesthetically pleasing, is to use the
following "Tweak" to place the Address Bar at the top.

Add the following registry value -

------------------- copy between lines -------------------

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser]
"ITBar7Position"=dword:00000001

------------------- copy between lines -------------------


Copy between the lines and then paste into a simple text file, save it and re-name
it, giving it a *.reg file extension. Then simply double-click on the new
reg-file to import it.

(The above registry key on the line beginning [ and ending ] should be all on one
line but may not appear so due to line-wrap. Please ensure that this line begins
with '[' and ends with ']' )

*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a backup and
/ or create a 'System Restore' point first.


Laura said:
If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then here,
at least, is a fix for that...

--
No, I have no problem seeing it, but I'd like to move / rearrange the
location of the buttons which was possible with IE6.

The MENU bar (File, Edit, View...) cannot be moved, but while the
COMMAND bar (Home, Print, Mail, Zoom...) is movable, it cannot be
moved next to the MENU bar (all on one line), which would increase
the vertical viewable area of the screen.

But as mentioned, my biggest beef is that I'm stuck with the BACK
and FORWARD buttons on the left side. I much prefer to have them
on the right side, closest to the scroll bar, because I tend to click
on them in conjunction with using the scroll bar. Zipping back and
forth across the entire screen just doesn't make any sense.

 
B

boatman312

Oh, I don't know. Some people expect miracles. Or may be they expect a
browser to serve them with tea of coffee too.

IE8 is a great improvement over previous versions. I admit to using
Google Chrome more regularly but I might even consider switching over to
IE8 as my default browser.

Firefox: Right click on the menu bar to open the Customize menu. You
then can move the back/forward icons by dragging them to the new
location. Problem solved...
 
C

choro

Firefox: Right click on the menu bar to open the Customize menu. You
then can move the back/forward icons by dragging them to the new
location. Problem solved...

Now that you mention it, given a choice and since we have nowadays got
wide screens, I would prefer my Menus etc on the LHS of the screen which
would enable more of the actual web page to be visible on the screen.
Actually this could be made available for all programs.

I have done this with for the main screen on my new Win7 machine and
find it extremely useful. Like this I can fit in more of any document
onto the screen. With screens so wide, height becomes far more important
than the width.
 
P

Peter Foldes

T

Tim Meddick

The only reason that the common perception is that Internet Explorer has
security problems, is because Microsoft is forever revealing to us any
known issues with the latest IE release, and is constantly issuing us with
patches and security updates for it!

This should be reassuring to us rather than, what most people wrongly and
hastily conclude; that it's therefore "full of holes" !!

I am *still* using IE6 and have never had any problems with it so far
(despite the fact IE6 really does have "security issues" as it is so old ).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)




Alias said:
If I understand you correctly, and [one of] your problem is that
your
cannot see the "File, Edit, View, Tools, etc", top menu bar - then
here,
at least, is a fix for that...

--
No, I have no problem seeing it, but I'd like to move / rearrange the
location of the buttons which was possible with IE6.

The MENU bar (File, Edit, View...) cannot be moved, but while the
COMMAND bar (Home, Print, Mail, Zoom...) is movable, it cannot be
moved next to the MENU bar (all on one line), which would increase
the vertical viewable area of the screen.

But as mentioned, my biggest beef is that I'm stuck with the BACK
and FORWARD buttons on the left side. I much prefer to have them
on the right side, closest to the scroll bar, because I tend to click
on them in conjunction with using the scroll bar. Zipping back and
forth across the entire screen just doesn't make any sense.


With FireFox, all is on the left. IE perpetually has security problems
and it's not a good idea to use it except for Windows Updates.
 
T

Tim Meddick

Wouldn't be much of a cyber-attack if I didn't know about it - would it?!!

And they'd have to be soooo stealthy that even my bank didn't even know
anything was taken.

An attack with absolutely no visible signs or long-term consequences?

Mmmmmmmmm!?

(I will concede, however, that I could have been successfully hacked in the
last few days - it would then take a little time to find out some possible
ramifications of that occorrance.)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
L

Laura

boatman312 said:
Firefox: Right click on the menu bar to open the Customize menu. You then
can move the back/forward icons by dragging them to the new location.
Problem solved...
 

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