I feel I need to put IE fanatics in their place.

You think IE has made strides to be equal to all other browsers? Do you realize Phoenix 0.1 which was released in 2002 scored a 35/100 on the acid3 test and IE8 released in 2009 cant even score a 30/100?

So a browser that is 7 YEARS OLDER than IE8 did better on a test that didn't even exist yet. Got to love IE and their being light years behind the rest while everyone keeps saying their getting better. Sorry if your behind a 7 year old browser in any way, you aren't catching up.

FYI in case no one knows what Phoenix is, it is the initial browser release that later has it's name changed to Firefox. Phoenix didn't have add-ons or themes yet and you couldn't customize the about:config yet either.

Only one problem with IE8...
1. It is a super duper mega ...resource hogger.
2. Just open the browser and see how much RAM it eats...
3. If it were me i would stay with IE6 until Microsoft released a proper version of a browser

I tried to download IE8. Here's what happened.After download, needed to update,okay, update not needed! IE8 would not install because the not needed update was needed. WTF. I use firefox and am very happy with it. Online banking doesn't like FF, so I think maybe IE8 would be a good idea. Wrong!

i think not bad.
so, try up

IE 8 and XP sp3 just dont compliment each other i guess.. its givin me so much trouble... i think IE8 RTW works fine... but once u ve IE 8 & XP SP3, u ve to go thru so much install n unistall to get things bac to workin condition in a smooth manner...

i feel even the OPERA 9.64 is good... doesnot leav room for a lot of trouble...

Technically anyone who has used Internet Explorer since the very beginning and never fully switched to anything else, really as no reason to talk. The fact Microsoft says Firefox is old is laughable seeing as IE's technology is at least 3 years behind everyone else. Firefox 1.0 does better on the Acid3 test than IE8 and that's just sad.

But let those brainwashed by Microsoft believe IE is the best. It's a shame Firefox keeps gaining ground on IE and their attempts at flaming Firefox only continues IE's demise.

Microsoft lies. They know Firefox's technology is newer than theirs. They know most of their browser including IE8 is built around old Firefox technology. So if Firefox is old and IE8 uses old Firefox technology, I'd say that makes IE ancient.

stable as a rock. can't crash it. silly amount of tabs open, video running, for days, etc etc. protected mode is great, firefox and google chrome and opera aint got this.

I use both Firefox and IE8 and must say I like them both. Before I really did not use IE at all and even hated it because of its slow processing, huge system load and lack of everything other browsers have. But since IE8 came to the picture I discovered agein the pleasure of working with IE. I am not saying it is better than Firefox, but I think it is a huge (and good) step for Microsoft.

My view is its interface is very good compared to the last ie, but sometimes the explorer browser does not respond immediately, hence ie8 is a very good improvement since the last. I like the style of a new tab instead of a new window that you must open to make a new search, saving space, and comfortable to use. I hope you don't stop at making more improvements on your products, and I think you are very successful in providing us the best... -- Klyntr Sarile from the Philippine

First off I am a supporter of the best products available, I am not committed to any product to the end.

Firefox is the best browser out when you think of all it can do. There is no browser on the market that combines customizability with security and speed.

If another browser comes along and offers more, I'll switch without a second thought (Opera and Chrome blow in the customizability department)

Finally no one who goes to Firefox goes back to IE. Those who claimed they switched over or back are lying, they are die hard IE faithful and are trying to get back what Firefox took away. You don't switch from an inferior product to a superior product then back to an inferior product that while better than before is still inferior to the current. NO ONE DOES THAT.

Simple user can enjoy the very fast browser and a lot of useful accelerators - many of these I really like. There are also features that were missing in the previous releases. I really did not like IE before and never used it - instead used Firefox and Chrome - after this release I left Firefox, but Chrome I deleted, because it is good to work with IE now

Good, but not as good as IE7. If I were you, I would stick with IE for few more months.
IE7 is definetly the best browser and even little better than FIREFOX3, and 10 times better than IE6.
Back on IE8. IE8 delivered little better interface, better security, but there are a lot of compatibility issues. That's why I recommend to wait a little bit longer.
Al in all, nice browser.
There are a lot of users who are going from FIREFOX to IE, but I've donne completely different thing. I turned from FIREFOX fan boy, to an IE fany boy.
:)

STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY

Out of 27 Browsers tested (Both web and mobile) Internet Explorer 8 ranked 24th (20/100) and Internet Explorer 7 25th (14/100).

There were 16 Web Browsers Tested. These are how they fared against IE 8.

Alpha/Beta/Nightly Releases
-----------------------------
1. Safari 4 Beta 4 (100/100) Beta Release
1. Opera 10.0 Alpha 1 (100/100) Alpha Release
3. Google Chrome 2.0.171.0 (100/100) Beta Release
4. Firefox 3.6a1pre (94/100) Alpha Nightly Release
5. Konquer snapshot 4.2.67 (87/100) Beta Release

Current Releases
------------------
6. Opera 9.64 (85/100) Official Release
6. Konquer 4.2.1 (85/100) Official Release
8. Google Chrome (79/100) Official Release
9. Safari 3.2.2 (75/100) Official Release
10. Firefox 3.0.8 (71/100) Official Release

Older Releases
---------------
11. Konquer 4.0.2 (61/100)
12. Firefox 2.0.0.12 (52/100)
13. Opera 9.27 (46/100)
14. Safari 3.0.4 (41/100)

IE Releases
-------------
15. Internet Explorer 8 (20/100) Current Release
16. Internet Explorer 7 (14/100) Older Release

Here are things you will never hear Microsoft mention when it comes comparing IE8 to all the other browsers.

1. The acid3 test (because IE8 does worse then even browsers released in 2004)

2. The fact IE8 has been in development before Firefox 3.0 was released as an Alpha build (yes Firefox 3.0 not 3.5)

3. Zero Day Attack Simulations. (IE8 fell before Firefox 3.0)

4. Compare IE8 to Alpha and Beta builds of other browsers (they wouldnt even do it when IE8 was in Beta release itself)

5. IE's only most used because it comes pre-installed on Windows and most people use what comes already installed.

I'm afraid to download IE8 again. I already had my computer freeze one too many times. I haven't even been able to access IE8, yet. So, I don't have any opinions as to updates/interface/ease of use. I've installed and unistalled the program and can't get it to run properly - and without any error messages on my end. I'm back to IE7, but am going to use Firefox or Safari from here on out. Microsoft hasn't posted ANYTHING as far as trouble with this Beta 2, so I can't find help.

Well IE8 is official and it still does worse on web standards then even Firefox 1.0. Thus even officially released IE8 is 4-5 years behind in web standards.

Seems like Microsoft likes playing catch up instead of using their money to scrap IE and rebuild it from the ground up.

Im giving it the worst possible rating because Microsoft has the money but would rather use old technology over be innovative with their browser.

OMG the ie8 rc1 still only scores a 20 on the acid3 test. The very 1st firefox ever created did better than that. like 4- 5 yrs ago. so ie is 4-5 years behind everyone else not just a year or 2.

This is a rating based on what i call the 5 web standards

the standards are
1.website compatibility
2.browser customizability
3.security
4.speed
5.acid 3 tes

the results are

1. Mozilla Firefox -(2nd,1st,1st,1st,3rd)
2. Opera - (3rd,4th,1st,2nd,2nd)
3. Internet Explorer (1st,2nd,3rd,5th,5th)
4. Chrome (4th,3rd.4th,3rd,4th)
5. Safari (5th,5th,4th,4th,1st)

its ie fans who dont wish to accept the reality that ie would be nothing if it didnt come preinstalled on windows. 90% of the world including windows users wouldnt choose to install ie. most of ie's success has to do with people just using what comes installed on their pc and just update it.

remove the preinstalled aspects and ie is the minority. those who choose to use and install ie are far and few between. who chooses to use outdated technology? who chooses to use a browser that refuses to live up to web standards? exactly no one.

firefox keeps gaining ground because ppl who actually choose which browser to use, choose firefox. the reality ie users wish to deny. if ie was so popular firefox wouldnt gain ground because not only would ppl use ie but they wouldnt go to another browser. boy reality does suck to the loyal ie faithful which is less then the firefox faithful. so keep bring out the numbers ie is used more and ill bringing out the fact that ie would be nothing if it didnt come preinstalled. the only numbers that count are those that are by choice. and the facts are the facts. the majority who choose which browser to use choose firefox and by a large margin.

I just believe that these reviews are constantly banging on about firefox! See how big Microsoft is compared to firefox! pffft.
Big deal that Firefox does so well. what do the most majority of users use as an operating system? exactly, WINDOWS!
Internet explorer does a good job to me and it's more suitable to my needs than Firefox.
Will you lost stop cussing Microsoft, we don't cuss Firefox do we? no!

here's the sad reality for ie fan

1) microsoft has more money then its competitors combined
2) ie does worse on the acid3 test then firefox 2.0 (released in 2006)
3) chrome which is newer in development is also doing better on acid3
4) ie8 beta 2 technology is old firefox technology
5) ie8 beta 2 has been in development longer then firefox 3 was

so basically ie8 beta 2 fans are giving ie high marks for scoring worse on the acid3 test (about 50-60 pts lower the the other big named browsers) then a browser that was released almost 2 yrs ago (firefox 2) and for having the least new technology then the other browsers mentioned even tho microsoft has the most money of all the others mentioned combined (minus google). they refuse to spend money and rip off old technology and ie fans cheer? thats too funny.

I installed IE 8 but whenever I clicked on a link on my Windows live page for a news story a new tab would open and then freeze. Oddly enough the only way I could read news stories was on my Google Page. Then it crashed my Windows live page to the point I could not longer sign in. Unistalled IE 8 but my Windows Live page was still hosed. Had to use system restore to get everything back to normal

Makes me angry as a Web designer to see this, again. Someone Please tell me why Microsoft Don't follow Web Standards. They're bringing the Web down... My problem with IE is just the rendering engine, CSS 2.1? We're moving to CSS 3 - And CSS 3 is one of the biggest moves in Web history! I think we'll find if this continues that Web designers and developers just won't support Internet Explorer - Full Stop.

It's not like Microsoft couldn't follow these standards right NOW, They're flipping open-source?! 20/100 on ACID3 compared to Safari 4 which gets now 100/100 and Safari 3 / Firefox 3.0 / Opera 9.5 which all get around 75/100 for ACID3.

Otherwise, this GUI is totally clunky and poor. I know this is BETA and IE 7's GUI changed a hell of a lot, but please - what is up with this?

Last time when installed exp 8, frequently colsing explorer and finally I had to uninthe software. Plse help me to solve this problem this time.thanx

better than beta1, much faster than beta1 & rather works quicker, than ff3. Still - problems with interpretation of some css.

About time for a revolution for Microsoft. I do agree with the previous poster that IE is ripping off Firefox, but I've honestly gotta admit that Beta 2 does have a good amount to offer. If this is Beta 2 and Microsoft is getting all types of help and reviews from those at work at Microsoft Connect, then the final release scheduled for November aughta be fantastic. It'll hopefully give many other browsers a run for the money.

A piece of crap.

This offers nothing original (yet again). adds stuff firefox 3 had over a yr before in late alpha.

their new suggested sites is a rip off of Firefox's Places

their one click web history cleaner does less then what firefox did from day one. firefox you can delete all privacy data every time you close your browser.

the InPrivate browsing is a less secure version of Firefox 3's anti-malware and anti-phishing.

so what microsoft promised as big updates for beta 2 from beta 1 is just more ripp offs from firefox.

is the final version of ie8 gonna scan downloads for viruses like firefox 3 already does? or are we gonna have to wait till firefox is on version 4 or 5 before that happens?

HEY MS WHEN ARE YOU GONNA OFFER NEW FEATURES INSTEAD OF RIPPING OFF FIREFOX?

the truth is ... microsoft doesnt care.

1) ie7 wouldnt of been made had firefox not given ie competition

2) ie is already installed on every pc so they dont see a pt in making the best browser. they know most who use ie either use what comes on the browser or just get it through auto updates.

3) they will never release the best browser. they will always use technology from 2 yrs ago because all these ppl who use ie are too lazy to try another browser thus they dont see the need for it

in the end the only reason ie is outselling firefox is because ie comes with windows and the new incarnations are pushed thru auto update. no one in their right mind would choose to download and use an inferior product. but as long as there are lazy and clueless ppl out there ie will continue having 1 of the worst browsers, knowing ppl will use it regardless

IE 8 On the Acid 3 test is disgusting. What the hell are Microsoft doing? How the hell can the biggest company in the world produce this? Microsoft will have to prey that the official release is good and fixes all these problems.

Internet Explorer 8 beta 1 is the worst web browser which has ever been made. Microsoft software engineers say they have added extra CSS and Javascript support, but you view some of the most popular website in the world and they don't look right? I view my websites which I own and some of them... Don't look right. You use Javascript and with the Green 'Arrow' menu which appears makes a white screen appear on the web page. Seriously, Another poor product from Microsoft.

only losers use internet explorer anymore that and lazy ppl or those who just wont try new things. internet explorer cant hold a candle to firefox in any way. and here's the reason why

1) any useful feature ie or any other browser has, firefox will have an add-on for it thus 0 advantages using another browser over firefox for features

2) those who say they need internet explorer to go on ie only pages are WRONG. ie tab allows firefox to go onto ie only sites and within firefox

3) firefox has add-ons for just about everything.

want a download manager? downthemall or use flashgot and use whatever download manager u choose.

how about wanting to download flash videos and music mp3s from your favorite video or music sites? while suckers pay for this crap firefox's downloadhelper does all this for free.

need to block ads? fools who use all other browsers besides firefox tend to pay for what firefox users can get for free with adblock plus

in the end to choose any other browser over firefox is saying "i want less. give me less features, give me less security, make me pay for stuff i can get for free, give me a browser 3 years behind the rest and please dont allow me to customize my browser the way i like it with add-ons and themes"

i tried a few weeks ago and it crashed very often. i dnt know why but i had to uninstall and now i use ie7 again. i will wait for a later release

need to update the acid 3 test for firefox 3.0b4 which now also consumes less memory than ie and opera. ie now has 0 advantages over firefox. oh and the advantage of ie being able to open on microsoft only pages is also no longer an advantage seeing as firefox has ie tab which allows firefox to go to microsoft only sites. like i said ie has 0 advantages.

acid 3
firefox 3.0b4: 66/100
ie 8 b1: 17/100
ie 7: 14/100

now firefox is better than double the combined score of ie7 and ie8 on acid test 3. way to stay behind the curve ie. u now have nothing on firefox. less secure, use more memory, less configurable, worse on acid 3 tests. guess ppl love the worst browsers over the best.

The interface and features of the Internet Explorer 8 look almost like Internet Explorer 7.

tried IE8 Beta yesterday when Microsoft Downloads emailed its availability. I thought it was pretty good, except glitch with cursor, then today IE8 Beta fell apart.

Address bar would not go to 3/4 of stored favorites, only giving me image from this computers history files, in other words, not connecting, just using saved image. So I tried to uniinstall, NOT possible, its on c drive so all partitions became corrupted, you can go to c drive thru computer on start menu, & find IE8 Beta in non public folder, not where I expected it, it takes bit of exploringto find it away from Windows folders & it does go away, yet nuances are enough to prevent reloading IE7?, if its possible for Vista from microsoft at all, it is on your disc, you already have it is microsofts reply from ie7 download site.No one can retrieve second IE7 image from microsoft.

So I downloaded SEAMONKEY & ithas improved tremendusly in few years time as with firefox Beta, I should of had back up to begin with as it turns out. yet slow corruption saved enough of IE 8 beta to get back up with SEAMONKEY & FIREFOX while fighting IE8 Beta.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND IE8 Beta , WAIT FOR IE8.

Signed:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.

just took the acid 3 test for firefox 2, ie7 and ie8 beta. here are the returns

firefox 2 : 50/100
ie7: 14/100
ie8: 17/100

as you can see firefox is way ahead even on newer tests. ie8 passed the acid2 test but only on the main site, it failed on all other sites offering the same test. firefox and opera are clearly ahead of ie in every step of the way from acid 1, acid 2 and acid 3.

i mean acid test not lacid test =P

have to change my rating on the fact it as a beta cant even pass the lacid test ((i tried to see if it passed or not but at the time the acid test was down for maintenance)) that both firefox 3.0a1 could and opera can. this is no better at best than the current firefox 2.0 feature wise and about as safe as the very 1st firefox was. so i guess its total value is that of firefox 1.5.

way to live in the past microsoft, next time try and get your own ideas rather than wait a year to rip off last year's firefox or opera.

This SMELLS good and that is everything as strict as you can be at this point of BETA 1, which in case you don't know, MEANS UNFINISHED!!!!!

its very disappointing everything new it offers firefox and opera already have minus 2 features that are just small conviences

1) ability to emulate ie7. im still at this pt trying to find out the major differences that would warrant such a feature. maybe people want less features or less safety?

2) microsoft updates button which allows instant navigation to microsoft updates.

these are small enhancements and as a matter of fact the current firefox 2.0 and i believe firefox 1.5 ((possibly even the 1st firefox if the extensions were compatible then)) can do all this with the proper extensions. oh and even the microsoft update button i could do for firefox all you need is the ie tab extension as well as bookmarking the microsoft updates page placing it in the firefox bookmarks toolbar.

the only thing this can supposed do which firefox 2 cant is pass the acid browser test, which firefox 3a1 could do the moment it was released. like i said microsoft over a yr behind.

conclussion. there are no advantages over this over firefox. everything it offers firefox can offer and more. its a very small upgrade over ie7 nothing to drool over. if you dont care about the small enhancements, just stick with ie7 or better yet use firefox which is better in all ways and hope microsoft makes actually improvements rather than make it ie7 with enhancements when ie8 becomes in full release.