I'm pretty impressed with the feature list here, in fact I must say this is a confusing experience for me though...
I'm used to Microsoft promising alot, then cancelling alot. Sure what they deliver is still good, but it tends to be less than what was promised. This time they seem to have delivered more in terms of features and it is a pretty darn impressive package. However...
User interface? Maybe it's just because it's new and different and hasn't grown on me, but Microsoft seem to have completely switched around. The interface is what they do best. Consistency, consistency, consistency is the Microsoft mantra. This looks like something the GIMP boys through together (don't get me wrong, I love the GIMP, it's layout is very efficient if you take the time to learn it, but it's still a pain to learn, and counter intuitive).
If there is one thing that Microsoft has prooven again and again it is that Joe six pack loves a simply intuitive (not necessarily efficient) interface. I recently commented on thier new Office interface. It was a classic example of what Microsoft do best. Consistent, improved icons (although I'm still worried about some looking a little less distinctive than I used to), the works. I didn't like it, it was too pretty for me. That should of been the first sign that it was a good move by Microsoft.
But this? This looks like a browser for geeks. Maybe I'm missing a grand plan here, but this doesn't look like your average users web browser. It feels cluttered, with lots of small icons. I cant see the menu bar. All things regular users will notice and have problems with.
I feel like Microsoft are trying to win back the geeks from Firefox with this one. In the process they might be letting down the very people who use thier browser because it is the most suitable for them.
The market doesn't need another Firefox in my opinion, it needs a better version of Internet Explorer. I cant help but feel that isn't what we are getting here.

ProfessionalFurryElephant