Ie8?

I keep my MS updates up to date. It changed IE6 to IE7 some time ago (one or two YEARS, i think), but has totally ignored IE8.

When I look at available updates it's not even in there. Not that I had it on "ignore" or anything, it was never even offered!

I've downloaded it from elsewhere on MS, but what's the deal? I see that it's been out more than 6 months already!

:confused

 

Hello again Cat

I believe Windows updates only offers the "critical" updates, you have to go get the rest yourself.


Although i would suggest to forget about IE altogether and get Firefox it is a much more secure browser.


Q

 

There is an unanswered question here. For several months Windows Update kept offering IE8 as an important update both to my Vista system and to my wife's, and each time I unticked it and hid it on both systems. But for the last two months it hasn't been offered at all to either of us.

And yesterday a MS flyer for Win 7 arrived and what was top of the 'Other popular downloads" ? Internet Explorer 7 !

Any thoughts?

 

Use what you like?

 

Not just "critial" updates, I have never seen it under the "optional" ones either!

I installed ie8 from elsewhere, like I said, and have no reason to look back now. But it wasn't till I read an article about IE9 development that I even knew we were ON ie8. Even when I've uninstalled things and let updates bring me back up to speed, it went to ie7 and no further.

Was ie8 the "new coke" of the IE family? Am I dumb even hand-installing it like i did?

 

IE* is no better or much worse than any of the previous IE's in my opinion, i just see better peformance and security in firefox than IE.

it is not life or death though so if you are attached to IE stick with it if not i suggest giving firefox a go, and see what you think (it can always be uninstalled)

You also have a huge library of "add-ons" to choose from when you use firefox, these can do many things from telling you the weather to helping you block the annoying adverts some sites have.

 

To me, I would download IE8 no matter where I had to get it. I think IE8 trumps the other browsers in many ways, and here's a list of SOME of the features: the Compatability View feature (which is reason enough, on its own, to use IE8), its Webslices, the new Tab features (including Tab Crash Recovery protection), the enhanced privacy browsing features, the new VISUAL search feature (not to mention its Enhanced Search and Search Suggestions), the new Favorites Bar, the ability to not only increase the Zoom level of every page -- but that IE8 SAVES your customized Zoom level, so that you don't have to increase it EVERY SINGLE TIME you go to a new page or screen -- PLUS of course, the 100 or so different customization and options settings IE8 offers (including the new Developers' Tools), the tons of IE8 Add-Ons and Accelerators, and probably some of the most important items, the multitude of impressively improved performance, security, and stability features, including ActiveX support.

 

Firefox is no more secure than IE.

 

Well i'm not gonna get into a debate over it so i guess i'll just say me and most of the internet disagree with you;

To quote Leo (from askleo).....

http://ask-leo.com/should_i_switch_to_firefox.html

And that is the reason windows firewall is less secure than most, windows OS's are less secure than most and it is no suprise that windows built in browser is less secure than most.

And when you bring Adblock and no-script into it the difference is greater.

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Would your fathers name be Bill by any chance

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And +1 to domluc's post,

Especially "but I don't see security as being a big issue anymore"

When it comes to browsers it really isn't a big deal as long as your running decent AV/FW, hence me saying earlier... "it is not life or death though, so if you are attached to IE stick with it"




Q

 

The browser wars are back You're more likely to agree arguing politics.

IMO FF is only safer when it doesn't have Flash, but that's like having a car with no stereo

 

No problem. I'll go so far to say that all the firefox users infected with malware are gonna disagree with you.

I'm sure if you thought that over before saying it, you would realize that this is a tech forum, not a place for humor, potshots, or the lack of noticing that I have a Mint Linux avatar, and am unbiased to all OSes.

 

Fair do's, i was just trying to keep it light hearted.

***************************************

What exactly does some firefox users being infected with malware mean or prove?

Computers get infected all the time regardless of which browser is installed, when someone downloads malware,

It's just firefox is a bit more secure than IE when it comes to browser security, do you not understand the difference?

 

Do you understand the difference?

Traffic when it leaves the browser is fair game for whatever hacker. The data that leaves Firefox is the same that leaves IE, is the same that leaves Opera, is the same that leaves Chrome.

Therefore, while using the browser, your largest security risk by far is going to be malware.

Browers are most people's portal to the internet. They aren't getting malware by merely being connected, unless they are using a incredibly out of date OS.

 

I don't feel i can continue with this convo without breaking a few rules, so ill just bow out peacefully.


Q

 

Children, children! I never asked for an IE vs FF debate! I have Firefox, I have Opera, I have Chrome, I have Safari. No one needs to sell me on the plusses or minuses of ANY of them.

What I was asking about is why MS seems to be jumping from IE7 to IE9. For all of IE8's greatness (thanks Imp1 for a great rundown!), Redmond seems dedicated to brushing it under the carpet. I'm just curious WHY.

 

*Shrug*

I've never been offered Vista Sp2 on my machines, yet its been out for how long?

Now why would Microsoft push from IE7 to IE9?

Purely speculation, but compatibility with certain websites hasn't been real great with IE8.

 

That's really interesting Adrynalyne, because I WAS offered IE8 several times, both in Microsoft emails and as IE updates. In fact, it was the IE8 descriptive emails that made me interested to update from the IE6 that I had been using at the time, almost directly to IE8.

And I know what you mean by the incompatibility between certain websites - I had a huge problem about that when I briefly tried IE7, BUT IE8 solved that problem with its COMPATIBILITY VIEW. The Compatibility View is a fabulous app, and has tons of different options for different incompatibility situations!!! It solved all of my compatibiity problems, and I have loved IE8 ever since!

 

I've had to uninstall IE8 on business machines when it has disrupted web communication with devices, that not even compatibility mode could solve.

Security in IE8 is nice though, as are the security related features.

 

I hate to burst your bubble, Imp1, but IE7 too had "compatibility view".

I know this b/c I've been using IE7 for half a year now, completely in the dark about the very EXISTENCE of IE8.

OK, OK, I exaggerate. I too got those emails you mention. But since it never showed up in "updates", it never really sunk in. Until I started getting reading blogs about "IE9 imminent!".

 

Well, if you want it, get it. Otherwise, no biggie. Its not going to be a life changing web experience. Don't rely on Windows Update alone for your download news

Certain updates need to be installed before it will alert you to other updates. OEM machines seem to have bigger trouble with this, than any other. For good reason, I might add. OEMs will often use non standard drivers for their OEM hardware, which may or may not be customized from a retail version, or another OEM.

Heck, did you know that I couldn't hardly use IE8 due to flickering on images and videos? (HP TX2 Tablet Notebook)

Guess what it was? It wasn't a video card update.

As for IE7 having compatibility mode, post screenshots? I'm looking at a Vista machine right now, and compatibility mode is nowhere to be found.

That would be actually kind of funny if you were using IE8 right now and didn't know it There aren't any real UI changes from 7....I actually get them mixed up looking at them side by side.

 

Seems I'm blessed :-D
Have IE8 on XP-SP3, Vista-SP2 and Win7RC. But all x86
Did check for hardware driver upgrades b'fore the SP upgrades for Vista and SP2. IIRC it was advised by MG then. I know HP Tablets on Vista, had a write up on their site for installing SP2. I ran HP update for Vista.
Cheers...

 

Ahhh, 2+2 doesn't equal 4 in this case

In this particular case, I installed Windows 7, which this laptop supports and was eligible for update. The Vista SP2 comments were on another machine. Two different machines.

It wasn't any sort of driver, but, ready for this? A BIOS update.

 

Hmm Adrynalyne, Did you wangle the IE8 installation etc issues you had.
Like I said I'm prob blessed. Since You had issues. Bizare!! Eh..:-D

 

Not so much issues, as setbacks

The BIOS thing I please ignorance on, because...who woulda thunk it?!

 

Been using IE8 for a week now with no problems. Until NOW.

The ole "untitled...bitmap" glitch is back! As in, right click/save can't latch onto the name of a pic or its extension (usually JPG).

What was the cure for this again? I recall it being quite simple.

Thanks

 

Myself, I am currently running IE6 on my XP Home and XP Pro machines.
IE8 is listed as "Critical" in Updates, but I stick with 6.I IE8 is checked as "Do Not Show Again".
Maybe you just hid it?

 

Again, no. I've been in and out of "critical", "optional", and "hidden" for months now.

If it was EVER on offer, it removed itself. Definitely has not been "lurking" there all these months.

And, like I said, I've done several "rollbacks" along the way. And each time that I let updates bring me back up to speed, it goes to IE7 and no further.

 

I already gave you the reasons why. I am sorry that it bugs you but thats not going to change anything. Just download it from the MS download center.