Is Microsoft Internet Explorer 8's version targeting good or bad?

Bad

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by Raymond D. Johnson

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Microsoft's marketing of Internet Explorer 8 beta is a very bad thing. It is a dirty little trick!

Allow me to explain. Beta really means there are numerous bugs in the program that need to be worked out before the final release to release full version one. So you see the consumer is basically testing the new beta software out and will encounter many bugs. Then the consumer must spend quite a bit of time when it does not work as expected, and it will not. Chances are the consumer will call Microsoft and may have to shell out money to technical support to fix their new bugs and there is no guarantee that Microsoft will acknowledge the problem is their fault or fix the bug. A lot of bugs in new or beta software never get fixed! They will probably blame it on your computer.

Another thing to consider is that Microsoft just released Internet Explorer 8 beta so now they are going back to a Beta version of a full Internet Explorer 7 release, so in my opinion it is of no use to go back to a beta version of Internet explorer seven full of bugs and mistakes. The more logical choice would be to stay with the full release of Internet Explorer 7 or if you want to chance it upgrade to Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 beta; although that is a beta version as well so it is the same scenario as before. The consumer is testing it out. Microsoft should be sending you a check for finding bugs in their beta software.

With the beta versions of Internet Explorer 7 and 8 they may not and probably will not interface correctly with some websites, especially secure websites where the consumer needs to sign in such as banking, and purchasing transactions. Then Microsoft and that company need to resolve the problem and who knows how long that will take and if it will ever get fixed.

In my humble opinion the best thing to do is stick with the full release of Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13. If you are unsure what version of Internet Explorer you currently have simply open Internet Explore select help, and then about Internet Explorer and the version number will be displayed.

If you decide to upgrade you can remove it and go back to the old version you were using but that can be tricky and risky. So again I think at this point the safest and best choice is to stay with the full non beta release of Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 and wait until Internet Explorer 8 finishes the beta stage and comes out as a full release. Then decide from there whether or not you want to upgrade.

As far as advantages to Windows Internet Explorer 7 beta and Windows Internet Explorer 8 beta I have not heard of any new enhanced features such as enhanced security or enhancements in browsing capabilities or other new features. Perhaps there are some, but it does not seem like Microsoft is telling.

In closing, ask yourself this question: "Do you trust Microsoft?" I personally do not.

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