Internet Explorer 8

[tomkin]

  IE8 appeared in my Microsoft Windows update. I wasn't intending to

  update as I'm quite happy with IE7. I decided to download and install

  it though. I must admit I haven't had the slightest problem on my XP
 
    machine.

  (touch wood ) 

     Tomkin

[Redroger]

I had the same experience as Tomkin, but in view of what I had read about it in the press as I posted earlier I decided not to risk it, though when I eventually get Windows7 I shall have no alternative.

[GOODDOG]

hi selina

 i upgraded to ie8 and have had no problems. i am using vista.

         michael

[tomkin]

decided not to risk it,

   Very wise mate.
   A lot of these programmes are rushed out and then the public

  do the testing and provide feedback to the manufacturers.Probably

  saves them a bomb.                           


Tomkin

[Redroger]

We've seen that before Tomkin, viz Windows 95, problems corrected in W98, the ME rubbish, but its problems largely corrected in 2000 and XP. Then Vista, and its problems (hopefully) corrected in Windows 7. Had they slowed down development we should have had 3 decent systgems, ie. Windows 98, Windows 2000 and XP,saving a lot of stress sorting out the duff systems, though of course profits would have been down for the suppliers. This is largely why I have looked at Linux systems.

[Nick29]

decided not to risk it,

   Very wise mate.
   A lot of these programmes are rushed out and then the public

  do the testing and provide feedback to the manufacturers.Probably

  saves them a bomb.                           


Tomkin

Not true.  Microsoft test their programs "in house", and then go through several stages of "beta testing" involving volunteers.  IE8 went through three stages of public testing (Beta1, Beta2, Final Release candidate) before it was finally released, and that process took several months, and involved millions of people (I was one of them).  Microsoft always do this - if you would like to try out the new version of Windows 7 (the successor to Vista), you can download the Final Release Candidate from the Microsoft site.

The fact that many people are using IE8 without a hitch must mean that it's not just down to the software - some other outside influences must be at work here.  A simple virus checker or firewall can cause havoc to other programs if it is not correctly set up.

[Redroger]

It sounds by that then Nick, that many of the of the anti virus and malware programs are badly written.

[Nick29]

I think my views on some AV programs are already quite well known, so let's not go there 

However, it's quite possible to screw up any operating system with a bit of tinkering, so to condemn any piece of software based on a few user experiences isn't really very productive.  Computers are very complicated machines, and "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" 

[tomkin]

Not true.

    Yer, right!!!!   That's why we keep downloading updates

  to rectify flaws.

    That's why P.C. games won't play without extensive patches. etc. etc.

  I could go on but bacon butties are requiring my urgent attention.

   Tomkin