Tech: Internet Explorer 8

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 01:27 AM

Joe O -

One of the features described is that tabs will be "grouped." This means, I think, that all the tabs you open from the same page will be kept close together, and ones you open from a different page will be in a separate clump. There was mention in one article that when it "changes the clumping" it will change the tab colors, so that may be what you're seeing. I haven't seen anything that actually tells how it decides to start a new grouping, so you may have to experiment to guess what's happening.

The new Microsoft philosophy is that nothing can be explained because it might scare you, and if you don't figure it out for yourself it's because you're stupid. (The corrollary seems to be that they only want stupid people to use Microsoft products.)

I'm still waiting for them to explain how they think their new Vista search is supposed to work. Mine doesn't, although it seems to be improving, so maybe it's beginning to catch up on indexing my drives. (It's been trying for almost a year now.) One report is that Windows 7 (now in beta) will let you turn off "Super Search" but they won't say whether that's a new name for "Vista Search" or if its another great idea that they're afraid you'll notice doesn't work.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 01:00 AM

Yeah, a lot of the features are a bit hard to figure out. I can't figure out why the tabs change color. They're yellow now, sometimes red, sometimes green - but all are the same color. Does that mean I'm at a site where I should use caution?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 08:13 PM

A "news release" at New Microsoft browser adds shortcuts, security may help those interested, or those who already have it, since it describes some of the "features" that probably are only described in "Microsoftese" within the program.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Maryrrf
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 11:04 AM

Well so far IE 8 seems to be okay. Installation was painless and no problems so far.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 09:01 PM

I'm using Firefox 3.0.7 (and Safari). Don't even have IE on this box. Just got an exhortation from Yahoo in my Yahoo mail to "upgrade" to IExploder, I mean, IExplorer 8 -- but it's not available for Mac (thank goodness, I think). I think it's IE 7 that's on my (PC) laptop.

Have a current glitch with Firefox, though -- won't let me bookmark anything. I tried trashing the localstore.rdf file which is probably corrupted, but that didn't change the situation. Haven't had the time to pursue any other suggested fixes.

Linn

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 08:26 PM

FYI: Firefox just updated itself to 3.0.8.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 06:10 PM

Barbara Shaw -

Congratulations on resisting the "click here" at the places that were pushing the update. No matter how "reputable" the site, it's always best to go to the original source.

(And I would not include MySpace as "reputable" under any circumstances due to the very high incidence of phishing scams circulated by people claiming to be your "friends.")

I haven't seen much to support the "better security" claims for IE8, although continuing improvement seems to be "continuing." It's not that the claims aren't there - just that they haven't described any changes in ways to show that they're obviously better.

For those with Windows 7 (still in beta) it is being claimed that you will be able to remove IE, which may be of interest to some, although in all the earlier Windows versions IE and Windows Explorer share too many files (and use each other for lots of local processes) to permit anything resembling a removal.

For those clinging to older versions of things, it should be noted that a recent schedule showed WinXP "end of life" - when full support terminates - next month. That's changed fairly frequently, so checking at the "Life Cycle" site might be wise if it's a concern.

Critical updates should remain available, but you may not get them automatically.

(You may be able to use the built-in WinXP Scheduler to set up your machine to "call home" to check on them, or at least to remind you to do it manually, but "home" may cease calling you. You may be able to continue getting Critical patchs automatically; but I haven't seen confirmation on it. Still to be sorted out when it happens.)

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 06:09 PM

No problems with IE 8.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 04:21 PM

The search functions are very impressive in IE8, giving options right on the toolbar for various filters, enabling very quick searches of a site with highlighted results, etc. Maybe this was available before, but I found the icons and procedures tedious and obscure before IE8 (I came from IE6). Still not crazy about icons (being fond of the written word) but realize I need to get used to each technology quickly or get obsolete even more quickly.

One thing that finally convinced me to upgrade was that sites like myspace kept popping up the suggestion that I should upgrade for better performance, better security, whatever else they said endlessly. I didn't take their link to do the upgrade but rather went there on my own to be certain it was the right link.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: GUEST,guest_olddude
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 02:46 PM

No No No
not yet you are asking for problems trust me on this one

Dan

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 09:57 AM

These guys still haven't learned much. My office uses Internet Explorer (now 8, some staff person installed it, and he hated it, but thank you), and it is still overloaded with useless junk. At home I use a Mac and Safari, and there is just no comparison for ease and friendliness and SIMPLICITY.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Simon G
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 09:43 AM

If your on anything before IE7 upgrade immediately, your at sea in a ship with so many security holes its amazing its staying afloat.

If your on IE7 you can afford to leave it a few weeks or months, but not too long the security on IE8 is much better than IE7.

Having said that I run Google Chrome which hasn't been out long enough to be properly understood from a security point of view.

Even if you don't use IE directly, upgrade it as many programs use it to display html pages.

Simon G

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Maryrrf
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 09:33 AM

Well I went ahead and "upgraded" to IE 8. So far, no problem. Thanks for the advice?

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 09:31 AM

Thanks for that, John, and I'm on the lookout for it. I do think its an update rather than an entire new version though. This (self-serving) quote is from the Firefox site Brian Krebs, Washington Post, 1/4/2007: "Internet Explorer users Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006" At risk" defined as publicly available exploits with no patch"

BTW, there are IE spoofs available for Firefox...they work most of the time.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 12:08 AM

Tabbed browsing is part of IE7 which has been the preferred version for a couple of years now.

IE7 moved toward better compliance with the standards, and IE8 claims to be "fully compliant." To accomodate sites that need some of the "extras" (non-compliant features) that were in older IE versions, reports are that IE8 includes a "run as old IE" switch to let you get into them.

Any IE8 that people have been running for more than a week or so has been a "beta" version, so those who have been running a beta version probably will want to get an update to the "final release" version that started being available officially about a week back.

I haven't seen any comment that gives compelling reasons not to use IE8, but on the other hand I haven't seen anything other than advertising blather that says you need IE8.

Note the link (fourth post) about the Firefox update. Firefox has been found to have a "critical hole" that needs patching. A new version will be needed to get the patch, which should be available now or within a few days, so Firefox users should be looking for it. All Firefox users are affected, regardless of OS, according to the report.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 11:12 PM

Joe, there is a wonderful little program called Startup Control Panel put out by Mike Lin. He developed it when he was a student at MIT, I think, and hasn't done much more with it but it still works great.

Visit http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml and download the Standalone EXE version (it's a zipped file, very small). It opens and becomes an icon in your Control Panel. Open it from there and easily kick out all of those programs that have set themselves up to pre-load into your quick launch bar down at the bottom. It's much quicker on many fronts when you don't have Real and QuickTime and Adobe and Nero and all of those programs essentially starting up when you turn on your computer. How long does it take to start them when you actually need them? Not long, so why fool with starting them every day and letting them slow the whole system?

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Austin P
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 11:02 PM

Oooh multiple tabs. Bit like Firefox 2 then.

But you are right Joe, Firefox crashes on some people (3.0 was a nightmare - another Mark 1)- I found that upgrading Java helped with that. Apparently Firefox 3.5 is due out any time and will apparently be faster than IE8.

In the end, competition between browsers is a Good Thing. If people like IE8 why not stick with it; just be wary about security holes ...

AP

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 09:47 PM

Well, I'm one of those people who likes Windows Vista (although it's aggravatingly sluggish right now and I can't figure out why).
I downloaded Internet Explorer 8, and I like it. For now, it seems faster then Firefox 3, and I quit Firefox for now because it keeps crashing on me. No doubt I'll switch back to Firefox when they come up with a new version.
But yes, Internet Explorer 8 is very nice.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 09:47 PM

I just upgraded recently to IE8 from IE6, and found it painless. Things seem to run a little faster. The menu bars are different, but change is good sometimes to keep out of the rut and keep the synapses firing. I like the multiple tabs feature. Maybe this was possible before but completely missed my consciousness... There seem to be several new features which I have not explored yet, but the same ole stuff I always did can still be done. No problems.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 07:54 PM

those sites were written (by lazy idiots)

Many government sites (world wide) work best with only IE.

It is worthwhile to have several different browsers...as Austin noted above.

I would be VERY suspicious of anyplace giving you a pop-up and saying you need to upgrade to 8 through their link.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Multiple browsers - with different IP proxies are helpful for posting to restricted one-time-only polls and surveys - and sometimes the Mudcat when multiple personalities are required.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 07:50 PM

I am sticking to Opera, Firefox & WinXP.....and learning about Linux as fast as I can. Micro$oft is rapidly heading toward online programs that THEY control, with very little software left that is YOUR choice.

Vista and 64 bit machines already refuse to run certain programs. I have only opened IE about twice in 2-3 years.

There are reasons for this...it is not just paranoia. Go read and look and decide,

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Austin P
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 07:27 PM

It's Micro$soft, it's a Mark 1. Avoid, avoid avoid.

Wait until all the security holes and bugs have been patched before you upgrade. Or switch to Firefox 3.

One of the criticisms of Firefox I've heard is that some sites won't work properly with Firefox - this is because those sites were written (by lazy idiots) for Internet Explorer only and IE7 is not 100% compatible with Web Standards. This is where it gets interesting. Micro$oft claim to have written IE8 to comply with web standards, so those sites won't work with IE8 either!

So no reason not to move to Firefox, or Safari, or Opera ....

AP

(Posted from Firefox, running Ubuntu Linux not a M$ product in sight ...)

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 07:26 PM

But do note:

Firefox Critical Patch

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: artbrooks
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 07:12 PM

Firefox, Mary, Firefox.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 06:45 PM

IE8 has been available in "beta" releases for some time, and the reviews have been generally pretty good; although the ones saying it's good also claim to like Vista and/or are trying out the pre-release Windows 7. Release dates have been given a couple of times for turning loose the final version; but they've been rescheduled so many times I quit keeping track.

As with all recent Microsoft releases, they'll tell you it's "greatly improved" and "you'll love it" and that it does "great 'things,'" but they never actually say anything about what it does, or how it's different.

The reviewers mostly say that "it's good," but they are all members of the class/caste called "editors," which is a subclass in the more general "idiots" group (in special section "idiots with money and lots of toys"), so I'm not rushing to change. The beta releases have been out long enough to have eliminated most of the major clinkers by now, so it's probably "safe enough" try it now; but I haven't seen a reason why you actually "need it."

John

Subject: Tech: Internet Explorer 8
From: Maryrrf
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 05:57 PM

I keep getting these messages that I need to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8. Has anybody done this and have you experienced any problems?