ie8

[craft1948]

I have been offered this as a download but declined as I seem to remember negative comments about it on this site.............should I upgrade or not?

[redman41]

I am currently using IE8 which I downloaded as part of my Windows Vista Updates and to be honest I don't have any problems with it. Are you using XP or Vista ?
On IE8 there is a setting which you can use i.e View All Sites in Compatibility Mode and that is how I have it set at present.
Do not know how it would work with XP.There have been 2 or 3 Updates to IE8 but as long as you keep system up to date you should be OK.

[craft1948]

hi redman....I'm using XP....

[redman41]

Chuckfickens or VHG could advise you better regarding IE8 on XP

[craft1948]

thanks anyway redman x

[Mobius1]

If you're using Internet Explorer as your browser then you MUST update to IE8. You don't have to, but you'd be highly advised to do so. IE is the least secure browser you can use, so if you're going to use it, then use the absolute latest version available at all times, since that's going to be the one with the most patched security.

I don't recommend it as a browser full stop, but if it's a necessary evil, then make sure it's an up to date one.

[craft1948]

Well that went well.....not. Downloaded IE8.....won't connect.

[redman41]

You have to un-install IE7 from your Installed Programmes section first

[ACtheTROLL]

lol
mixed bag of advice

I use ie8 with XP and vista - no problems at all
just accept the update - don't install/uninstall anything yourself - just let the system do the work

reboot ... manually run update again - reboot and you should be fine

IE does need patching regularly - but as firefox is gaining popularity - it's now become worth targetting - and malware is out there specifically exploiting the "immune brigade" and the variants are steadily increasing - nothing is immune ... it's never been the case that it's impossible ... it's just been not enough numbers to be worth it.

as people recommend it - it becomes worth it ... and becomes a target

[Mobius1]

Whilst I agree with that to an extent, IE still has a large majority share of the browser market, somewhere around 70% last time I checked. So, whilst Firefox is getting more juicy a target, it's still only around 15-20% so it's not anywhere near the target that IE is.

As a browser, IE also has activeX going against it in terms of security. It's also not very standards compliant compared to it's competition.

So, whilst it might not be the evil it once was, it's still a poor product compared to it's peers. A market in which the products are essentially free means that, objectively, there is little reason to "choose" IE8 over something else given that the something else is likely to be better in one way or another.

[craft1948]

thanks chaps.....I down-loaded IE8 via google and it wouldn't work......however when I removed the google toolbar from my applications it does work.......however I keep getting an irritating pop-up when I first log on........oh well....

[ACtheTROLL]

it's trying to help you set up your new browser - I seem to remember a don't show this again tickbox which will make it go away.

the best way to install it would have been using the help and support update centre ... not via google

now you have it - you need to patch it to the latest version ...
so fire up the update centre and do it now...

as mob says ... it's the leading browser - so it's the prime target

the upside is that ms issue patches immediately they get an alert - not all the others have the staff to do that...

the biggest down for the likes of firefox ... is when you talk to the muppets - they believe it's like superman - impervious - and when pressed ... they are using their "favourite" 3 year old version that was on a cd someone gave them.

it's my favourite - it pays my bills

[craft1948]

AC.....update centre?

[craft1948]

AC have been onto Microsoft site and taken their advice re managing add-ons and it's running like .... off a stick now........fingers crossed.
Thanks everyone for your kind assistance.....

[NoK]

crafty go and get a adult off your street to come and help you

[Therema]

im on XP and updated to IE8 when told to and it was the worst thing i had ever done i had nothing but problems so i got rid of it and got IE7 back and my old pooter is running like a wee sweetie again

[beso]

IE8 did have problems at first with some other applications that plugged into IE. They must also be upgraded to the compatible versions. The probelm was not with IE but the plugins. IE has since been modified to tolerate most incompatible plugins by offering to disable them.

The advice is to remove the plugins first, upgrade to IE8 and then reinstall the plugins using the latest installer.

Regarding IE8 standards compliance. Microsoft has lifted their game and this is their most compliant browser ever.

Mobius1 is incorrect. IE6 and IE7 are still both fully supported by Microsoft through automatic updates and there is nothing wrong with continuiing to use them.

However Firefox2 is NOT supported. Using it at all is taking a risk. You must upgrade to Firefox3. Incidentally anyone still using Windows98 or earlier should never connect to the internet. These versions are not maintained.

Personally I like IE8. I've used Firefox and it is OK but some parts such as the overly verbose favourites and history display I really don't like. It is also painfully slow to load though it is slightly faster at rendering pages once it is loaded.

The main advice I give regarding browsers is that downloading the installer for Safari for Windows is a waste of traffic. It fully sucks.