IE 7 Full Of Holes?

As many are aware, Microsoft last week officially introduced Internet Explorer 7. The new browser features a simplified interface, dedicates more real estate to the Web pages you're browsing (which Apple's Safari's done for years), adds tabbed browsing (also available for years in Mozilla Firefox) and introduces supposed security enhancements (long a weakness of Windows' popular browser).

In my tests, the IE 7 beta looked really good. Unfortunately, it didn't always work properly. I encountered several crashes and, often, Web sites simply didn't load or function properly.

Many of my clients depend upon Web-enabled applications to fuel their operations and e-mail, so for the interim I've recommended they not move off IE 6 until they can confirm their tools and programs work properly with IE 7.

I'm increasingly becoming comfortable with that decision. As an IT consultant, I subscribe to several security e-mail newsletters. The last few days have seen my inbox filling with new IE 7-related bug, hole, vulnerability and exploit warnings. While I'm not a big Firefox fan, except on my Mac, I'm planning to stick with IE 6 for awhile.

Am I alone, or is everyone else permitting Microsoft Update to automatically load the new Internet Explorer 7 browser?

If you are, pay close attention to the new security warnings. They're coming fast and furious.