Many online application and websites don't work properly in the new browser. Microsoft effectively is telling web developers to update or face the consequences.

Vnunet (the publisher of this blog) for instance uses a (very nice) online content management system. It's a cutting edge Ajax tool based on open source technology that has take years to develop. It currently doesn't work on IE7 and I haven't heard anything about make IE7 compatibility a priority.

Enterprises will be able to block the update, but our enterprise IT guys have never even touched my laptop. And there are tons of small businesses that lack the IT staff to pro-actively think about blocking the update.

The decision is even more wrong on another level. Any product update provides a window of opportunity to switch to a different vendor (Firefox, anyone?). This way of pushing the IE update smells of plain abuse of Microsoft's desktop monopoly.

Don't take this the wrong way: I applaud the work that Microsoft has put into IE7 and especially the security aspects. But since the company can't guarantee compatibility for all online applications, the update should be 100 pct optional.

Tags: microsoft, IE7,  windows, windows vista, internet explorer