Internet Explorer 8: It's a new browser
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 is now available for PC users to try, though Microsoft specifically says that the beta is targeted at Web Developers and Designers. I am neither, but I like to try new stuff when I can.
So IE8 is sleeker and smarter. I have used it for half an hour now and have faced no problem yet (but then I haven’t even thought of looking under the hood). What is new this time? Activities, WebSplices, Automatic Crash Recovery.
“Activities give users ready access to the online services they care about most from any page they visit, and developers gain an easy way to extend the reach of their online services. It’s as simple as selecting text to get started with an Activity.” (Microsoft.com)
“Developers can mark parts of webpages as “WebSlices” and enable users to monitor information they rely on as they move about the web. With a click in the Favorites bar, users see rich “WebSlice” visuals and developers establish a valuable, persistent end-user connection.” (Microsoft.com)
And just in case you don’t like the way IE8 works, you can shift back to IE7 ‘mode’ with the click of a button. IE8 features an ‘Emulate IE7′ mode with a nifty ‘7′ icon on the standard tool bar. Though I haven’t still faced a scenario where I would like to do that (chances are I’ll never face one either).
This time “Internet Explorer 8 includes built-in tools that work well for professionals as well as those trying CSS and scripting for the first time.” (Microsoft.com) These tools include a JavaScript Debugger, a utility to work with the DOM, CSS 2.1 Support, Data URI, AJAX enhancements and more.
Automatic Crash Recovery will help you during your ever-so-frequent crash experiences with Microsoft Software (though I must agree that in the post-xpsp2 world I have faced these crashes rarely).
IE8 has even got one of those cool bookmarks toolbar that we are so used to in Firefox, Opera and all the other browsers. And needless to say, IE8 is the most reliable and secure IE-edition to date.
All in all IE8 looks good first hand, but yet it is Internet Explorer. Will I switch from Mozilla Firefox 2.1 to Windows Internet Explorer 8?
No. Will you?
Comment by Taylor on September 2nd, 2009
i am pretty much satisfied about the features and stability of Internet Explorer 8. it is much better than IE6 or IE7.
Comment by Kinshuk Sunil on September 2nd, 2009
that is true… IE8 is much more standards compliant than any previous version
Comment by Acnerdz on September 11th, 2009
Internet Explorer 8 seems to be the best browser for me. I can open more than 20 windows simultaneously without crashing. IE7 and IE6 is unstable that if you open more than windows at a time it just freezes or causes the blue screen.