Customers
are reporting a high level of satisfaction with the Microsoft®
Internet Explorer 5 beta release and
its introduction of IntelliSense® technology to the Web. Over 93
percent of testers responding to an online Microsoft survey stated
they were satisfied with the new simplicity features in the Internet
Explorer 5 beta and that those features were directly relevant to
their daily browsing.
Released for public testing one month ago,
demand for the Internet Explorer 5 beta release has been more than
double that for the Internet Explorer 4 public beta release over the
same period, with approximately 600,000 downloads from the Microsoft
Web and Windows® Update.
Yusuf Mehdi, director of Windows
marketing at Microsoft, says customers feel the
focus on simplicity will make this the most compelling release of
Internet Explorer yet.
The Internet Explorer 5 beta release is
designed to give IT managers and computer enthusiasts an opportunity
to evaluate the technology, provide feedback, and become familiar
with the functionality early in the development process.
Customers Pleased With Incorporation of
IntelliSense Technology
Based on data gathered from nearly 1,200
respondents, customers testing Internet Explorer 5 are excited about
the beta's incorporation of IntelliSense technology for the Web.
IntelliSense is a collection of Microsoft technologies built into
the browser to simplify complex tasks and automate routine ones,
saving customers time on the things they do most often on the Web.
"The Internet Explorer 5 beta release
has improved my Web experience in a number of areas, but in
particular when searching for information and navigating back to
previously viewed sites," said Keith Furman, president of
KeithNet, an independent software vendor in West Nyack, N.Y.
"It is so much easier now for me to quickly find the exact
pages I want."
"I've enjoyed taking advantage of the
IntelliSense functionality in Office for years," said Douglas
Rohm, a network administrator in the software development industry.
"I'm pleased that Microsoft has brought this technology to the
browser to make complex tasks easier and common tasks faster. My
time online now is more productive, allowing me to reap the full
benefits of the Web."
Beta testers have provided additional
positive feedback in a variety of areas throughout the development
of the Internet Explorer 5 beta release:
- Simplicity.
Internet Explorer 5 simplifies complex browsing tasks so users
can spend less time worrying about their browser and more time
being productive on the Web. Ninety-seven percent of respondents
stated they found Internet Explorer 5 easy to use.
- Automation.
The built-in intelligence of Internet Explorer 5 automates
common and difficult Web tasks by eliminating unnecessary clicks
and keystrokes. Ninety-three percent of users who customized the
installation of Internet Explorer 5 were pleased with the way
their browser enabled them to automatically install additional
components as necessary, such as the Microsoft Java Virtual
Machine.
- Flexibility. Internet Explorer 5 offers key
enhancements to enable customers to access information from
anywhere on the Web as well as integrate their browser with the
portals, search engines, and applications of their choice.
Eighty-nine percent of respondents found that the beta release
integrated well with existing software on their PC, such as
their e-mail and office productivity programs.
Hundreds of
browsing tasks such as searching, navigating, organizing and
accessing information have been simplified and automated throughout
Internet Explorer 5 to improve the overall browsing experience.
Pricing and Availability
The Internet
Explorer 5 beta release is available for free (connect-time charges
may apply) from the Microsoft Web site and from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site . The Microsoft
Internet Explorer Administration Kit 5 beta is also available
for download free of charge (connect-time charges may apply).
