Microsoft & IE8?

Any idea as to when Microsoft will present IE8 via it's updates?

 

Yes. I do know it's available for download right now. But IMO it's not quite ready for public release. I know several people who installed it and they ALL had to get rid of it and go back to IE7. I figured when Microsoft releases it via their updates then it may be a bit better than it is right now.

 

Arie, thanks for the info on IE8. I just got around to installing IE7 only a couple of months ago, and it seems to be just fine for what I do on my computer. I was a little hesitant about the possibility of breaking the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule.... so I, too, will wait awhile before installing IE8. Just a side question (because I'm not a pro here by any stretch)... Why so many frequent IE browser updates? In this case, what is better about IE8? Thanks for your time!

 

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I do see what you mean by the infrequency of the browser upgrade. Although, a friend recently commented that if other machines required the kind of software/hardware attention that computers do, then we would be faced with far more inferior machines than we currently have. For example, what if a car's carburator had to be, or should be, updated as frequently? Is this why so many computers are compromised by computer viruses? Because people do not update their browsers and other software as necessary? Thanks again!

 

Well, I do often - or more specifically, I compare defensive driving to defensive computing all the time. Replacing carburetors might be compared to replacing an old technology AGP graphics card with new technology PCIe cards, or old EIDE drives with new SATA drives - in otherwords, replacing old mechanical carburetors with new technology, computer controlled fuel injection.

That is one MAJOR reason why, and why keeping computers updated is part of a disciplined approach to "practicing safe computing ". Of course one of the biggest group of offenders are software thieves using illegal copies of Windows. Although MS makes security updates available to everyone, many don't for fear of being caught.

Well, that is simply wrong. If our cars were updated like computers (should) be, you would rarely need to buy a new car to keep up with the latest technologies and safety device - you would just replace the old part with the new and improved part - assuming the rest of the car is not a rust bucket due to inadequate cleaning.

Of course that will never happen because (1) there is no ATX form factor standard for cars and (2) car makers want you to buy new.

And lets not forget that badguys are a HUGE impact on how we compute and the changes that come about because of them - there is no such destructive force in the automobile industry seeking to destroy the makers and victimize the users.

 

Thanks, Bill!

Thanks, Bill, for taking the time to post your reply to my question. Detailed responses such as yours help keep us "newbies" coming back. I probably have more computer questions than IBM can handle, but there's nothing like good old-fashioned "verbal algorithms" to make things seem simpler, and help the light bulb shine brighter. Thanks again!