Evaluating Internet Explorer 5

The first steps in planning the deployment process are to evaluate the new and enhanced features and functions of Internet Explorer 5 and to understand how these features and functions can help you reduce the total cost of ownership.

Understanding New Features and Functions

To evaluate Internet Explorer 5, you should review the contents of this Resource Kit, which is a technical supplement to other browser product documentation. Each team member who assists with Internet Explorer planning and installation should obtain a copy to read and use during the deployment process. In particular, review the chapters in Part 1, "Getting Started," which provide an overview of the browser. These chapters can help you evaluate new features and functions so that you can better prepare for deploying Internet Explorer in your organization and training and supporting your users.

Reducing the Total Cost of Ownership

Microsoft has implemented Internet Explorer features and functions that can help you reduce the total cost of ownership while maximizing the return on your technology investment. Internet Explorer delivers both economic and business benefits without affecting browser scalability and flexibility. Your organization can quickly recover the time spent on Internet Explorer deployment and continue to realize cost savings by taking advantage of these features and functions:

• Integrated, multiple-platform capabilities - By integrating browser, desktop, network, messaging, and productivity applications, Microsoft offers a single desktop solution for users. The Internet Explorer Active Desktop enables users to browse the Internet, intranet, local network, or hard disk, and provides a standard method for accessing business-critical content, applications, and resources. Internet Explorer further enhances desktop integration by providing a common browser across multiple platforms, including Windows 32-bit, Windows 16-bit, Macintosh, and UNIX versions.
• Internet Explorer Administration Kit - You can use the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) to centrally customize, deploy, and manage Internet Explorer on your users' desktops from one central location. The IEAK includes the Internet Explorer Customization wizard, which enables you to create custom browser packages that you can distribute to your users, and the IEAK Profile Manager, which enables you to manage Internet Explorer settings after the browser is installed. These comprehensive, cross-platform tools work with your existing infrastructure without additional browser or server expenses.

  For more information about using the Internet Explorer Customization wizard, see Chapter 15, "Running the Internet Explorer Customization Wizard." For more information about using the IEAK Profile Manager, see Chapter 22, "Keeping Programs Updated."

• System policies and restrictions - Using the Internet Explorer Customization wizard or the IEAK Profile Manager, you can set system policies and restrictions to control user and computer access to Internet Explorer features and functions. System policies and restrictions enable you to customize the Internet Explorer work environment by deploying a standard configuration that best meets the requirements of your users. You can limit functionality to reduce browser complexity, or provide access to more advanced browser functions, as needed.

  These tools provide a simple, flexible method for customizing and administering user and computer settings. The system policies and restrictions you set are stored in a policy file, which overwrites default settings for HKEY_CURRENT_USER (user-specific policies) and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (computer-specific policies) registry keys when users log on to the network. You can allow users to change these predefined settings, or you can choose to lock down all system policies and restrictions, which prevents users from making any changes. For more information about system policies and restrictions, see Appendix E, "Setting System Policies and Restrictions."

• Channels - You can use Internet Explorer channels to easily distribute and manage important information and software updates that your users receive on a regular basis. You can also use system policies and restrictions to predefine the channels that users can subscribe to, set limits on channel bandwidth usage, and control the frequency of channel updates. Organizations can use this technology to manage key business data and instantly notify users about important information and tools that can enhance their decision-making capabilities.
• Security - You can preconfigure Internet Explorer security settings to protect the work environment and the privacy of its users. These settings enable you to control the types of information and software that users can access, download, or run on the Internet or local intranet. You can set security zones to differentiate between trusted and untrusted content on the Internet and the intranet, so you provide rich browser functionality within the safety of the local firewall, while restricting incoming untrusted content from outside this environment. You can also manage security ratings, which control the users' access to undesirable content. For more information about Internet Explorer security, see Chapter 6, "Digital Certificates," Chapter 7, "Security Zones and Permission-Based Security for Microsoft Virtual Machine," and Chapter 8, "Content Ratings and User Privacy."
• Application development - Using Internet Explorer as a platform, you can develop your own custom Web-based applications that take advantage of state-of-the-art Web technologies based on Internet standards. Microsoft simplifies the development process by using familiar languages, such as HTML, Dynamic HTML, and Visual Basic. For more information about developing Web applications using Internet Explorer, see the MSDN Online Web site.
• Usability features - Users can benefit from the many usability features in Internet Explorer, which enable them to quickly and easily access important Web sites and desktop information. These features, which include the Search page, History bar, favorites, and Active Channel™ subscriptions, can help users complete tasks more efficiently and increase productivity. For more information about usability features, see Chapter 1, "What's New in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5?"