Microsoft's newly released Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 is generating plenty of buzz around the Web, but there are a few things you should know before you decide to install it. The update, released late Wednesday, comes with some caveats:
1) You might not be able to uninstall beta.
Users of Windows XP who have Service Pack 3 installed may find it impossible to uninstall the new beta once the deed is done. It gets a little dicey, but here's the deal: If you installed SP3 after installing IE8 beta 1, your beta 2 installation will become permanent. Microsoft says you'll be able to upgrade as new versions come out, but you'll never be able to remove any of them from your system.
There is a slightly complicated procedure you can do to avoid this: Uninstall SP3, then uninstall IE8 beta 1. Once you've done that, re-install SP3. At that point, you'll be able to do a clean install of IE8 beta 2 without having the lockdown issue.
2) You might not be able to upgrade to IE8 beta 2 directly.
Users of Windows Vista who already have IE8 beta 1 will have to take several steps before getting the new beta 2. First, you'll need to manually uninstall beta 1. Second, you have to go here and manually install a system update. Then, you can move forward with the IE8 install -- though it will actually prompt you to accept a couple other system updates when you begin. Make sure you check the "Install the Latest Updates" option in the Setup Wizard.
3) You might not be able to use some of your existing programs.
IE8 beta 2 is completely incompatible with both Visual Studio .Net version 7 and Windows Live Mail. Either program will fail to operate correctly and will likely just crash once IE8 beta 2 is installed. Microsoft says there is no workaround as of yet. You also won't be able to view on-demand movies in NetFlix, use the Google Toolbar, or use some versions of the Skype add-on.
I can't understand why people use this bloated piece of crap software over Firefox.
Most Web Developers (the professionals of the web) acknowledge that Internet Explorer is miles behind Firdfox so I still don't understand why people use it?
Granted, this is a beta release but I still don't get why people choose Internet Explorer?
I've never really used any version of IE simply becouse of one reason...there are much better web browsers out there. I can't understand how it still is around and some people actually use it. After reading that quote, I got one more reason to keep using firefox.
The main reason people use IE is that it's there when they install windows - which is the most common OS (correct me if I'm wrong).
I switched to Firefox ages ago and have never looked back. Only using IE if the odd page or video plays up in Firefox (becoming less and less common nowadays).
Also use IE as when I click the "x new email messages" on Livemessenger it loads it automatically.
Why you'd want to beta test a new version of it is beyond me..
As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University
yes, yes, ok, I had a lapse and bought Vista with my new PC.
but if I could be bothered to rebuild the PC i would use ubuntu or Fedora.
And more often than not I am using Red Hat at work.
Theres a vortex in the fridge,
The food flies about
Throttled by sausages
I cannot get out!
