Ready or not, you're getting IE 8 or 9

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Windows Secrets Newsletter this week has an interesting article on IE9:

Microsoft wants to strong-arm us into abandoning IE 6 and embracing its latest browsers.

Starting Jan. 17, Microsoft began pushing out IE 8 and IE 9 to all customers through Windows Update.

It began in Brazil and Australia. As noted in Microsoft's Dec. 15, 2011, Exploring IE blog, the company's plan is a slow rollout of IE Versions 8 and 9 to all Windows XP, Vista, and Win7 users who have automatic Windows Updates turned on.

IE 9 has been offered to users as an optional update (prechecking the update box), but this is the first time a new version of IE has been set to automatically install. If you previously said no to IE 9 on Vista or Windows 7 (or IE 8 on Windows XP), Microsoft will continue to respect your wishes — neither of those browsers will automatically download to your machine.

Ready or not, you’re getting IE 8 or 9

Also covers:
Fixing what Microsoft did to your IE settings

Don’t forget the security updates for IE

Hotfixes for IE 9 and compatibility issues

IE 8 is just as important for Windows XP systems

The poor people using auto updates won't know what hit them. I can hear my phone ringing any minute and screams from across the room for tech support.

[Dreamrage]

LOL, forgive me, hahahahahahahaha I can toss em a raspbery in the mix as well. My updates are set to show me what needs to be updated, and not to just go ahead and do its own thing. (I have control issues with my laptop I guess).

Its not going to be as popular as firefox or an other browser out there that outranks IE. I used it once because I was busy with software testing for work, and it had to be tested with IE9 as well.... Never used it since then and don't intend to start either.

[mikewertheim]

This makes sense to me. Why should MS be supporting their ancient browsers?

IE9 isn't perfect, but it's *WAY* better than IE6 or IE7. Anyone who uses IE6 or IE7 should seriously consider upgrading.

[c5c1lia]

Why don't microsoft consider to develop a web browser like firefox, chrome. I don't know why microsoft is not concentrating on its browser, if they were concentrating then why don't they get any results? i.e. because there is not potential with the browser either in speed or reliability in rendering the web pages.

[codefish]

The main purpose of MS is to make money, but not to make best software. Sometimes these two things are very different. The good browsers will allow better web apps and the winner will be Google. For MS it is much better most desktop apps not to have a good web alternatives as they control the windows development enviroment but not the Internet.
I know it sounds like a conspiracy, but I just can't see any other reason. i just don't believe that they can't do it.

[PhilZco]

Microsoft can do what they want to try and force IE 8/9 unto us, but in either case the newer versions will remain to sit in its own little file being untouched.

[snakeair]

Put it this way, websites are no longer being coded for previous versions of IE and the folks using old versions will now have trouble viewing websites, blogs, forums... any site correctly in a outdated IE version.

I've had IE9 since it's beta version and like always, make sure my laptop and it's software is the latest and greatest version to give me more features to use at my disposal..etc

[Dan Williamson]

IE9 has steadily gained market shares from what statistics I have seen - that's because it's a good browser. People need to drop the misconceptions which should have ended years ago, IE6 was great, then it just didn't evolved now IE9 is here, it's not IE6.

[stephengfm]

Who uses IE?

I abandoned it.

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Originally Posted by stephengfm

Who uses IE?

I abandoned it.

Puts hand up. Why?
-'cause I have over 4000 bookmarks in IE which I have collected since 1996 and it's too much trouble to keep the other browser bookmarks updated each time I add a new one.
-I develop websites. The average Joe/Josey lives with the default browser on their machine therefore you have to make sure your site works in all browsers and yes, some back issues too.
-I have 4 other browsers on this machine for testing purposes.
-Laptop has IE6 for testing purposes. One machine has IE7. Another has IE8.

e.g. Once I asked a group I was creating a website for, "What browser do you use". The replies were "I don't know, my kid set it up" They couldn't even tell me whether it was an E (for IE) or an N (for Netscape which was the competing browser at the time) that they clicked to access the web.

People who are net/computer savvy tend to forget that not everyone is like them.

[stephengfm]

Originally Posted by stephengfm

Who uses IE?

I abandoned it.

I abandoned it because I could not figure out how to get IE to stop asking me to change all my browser settings.

I guess IE didn't like the settings I had and they kept battling me to click over and over.

I tried to find a way to get IE to stop asking me questions.

The last thing I want from a Browser is to be asked questions.

I "forced" changed all the other computers in the house too.

Everyone got use to it, eventually.

It also seems to have reduced a lot of the household aggravation related to surfing the net.

[vastila]

The only thing IE is good for is downloading another browser!

[AlterMatrixe]

I guess it will be a good news for web designers.

[falcao9]

Microsoft can do what they want to be honest, IE will continue to become less and less popular...

[Jim Gillum]

The beauty of it all is you can use what you want......
I use IE9, FF, and Chrome......make sure my sites are compatible.....))

[Rub3X]

IE8 and 9 are not nearly as bad as IE6 and to some extent 7. Hating on IE is pretty outdated nowadays. It's a decent browser for most users who don't need extensions.

[neo127]

It is a quite good thing to update them automatically. I'm using XP and had updated IE6 to IE8 when it was launched. I think it should be done necessarily as it reduces security issues a bit and I don't think it as a bad thing just the way is wrong they are doing.