Watch out! Internet Explorer 8 Is Now Part Of Windows’ Automatic Updates!

Posted on: April 29th, 2009

Today (April 29, 2009) I have noticed during running the updates on two Windows XP machines that the automatic updates tried to download and install Internet Explorer 8. I’ve opted out on both computers.

Why?

The reason I don’t recommend installing Internet Explorer 8 just yet is because it has just grown out out the beta version (testing version) and it usually takes several months before all the major kinks and compatibility issues are worked out. Internet Explorer 7 will still get all the security updates for at least a year so there isn’t really any rush to get the new version installed.

IE 8 has also very few new features that would make it worthwhile creating a potential trouble by installing a new and still buggy software. I looked up what IE8′s new features were and Microsoft’s website listed a meager list of 5 – none of which made me say “wow”. Check it out, if you want: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/overview.aspx?tabid=1&catid=1

I also had a case already where a software issue in IE8 caused problems. When trying to change a Yahoo password, it got into an endless loop and hogged the processor – fortunately the computer had a dual core processor so it was still able to operate. Resetting the settings in IE didn’t resolve the issue. Going to the same page using Firefox went through without the slightest hitch.

There could be hundreds of little glitches like this in IE8 at this point which will get worked out eventually but why court trouble if you don’t have to.

My recommendation is to hold off on installing IE8 until around October, November 2009. By which time the majority of software issues will be worked out and most of the websites will be corrected to work right with IE8.

Here I’d like to reiterate that I recommend using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. It has much better security and I can attest to that statistically computers where users use Internet Explorer as their default web browser get infected at a much higher rate than users who prefer to use Firefox.

Did you find this information useful?
Please consider donating.

You can leave a comment for the above article. Comments will not show up automatically but will be reviewed and incorporated into the article if they contain useful information.

cforms contact form by delicious:days