IE8 Released As Critical Update For XP 409
Binestar was one of several readers writing in to note that Microsoft is listing IE8 as a critical update to Windows XP. CNet reported a couple of weeks back that Microsoft would be rolling our IE8 to users in a gradual fashion, and requiring an opt-in before installing it. Opinion has been split as to whether IE8 is worth installing or not. Binestar notes delicately, "For those not interested in upgrading to IE8 at this time, the MSDN released information back in January on how to keep IE8 off your machine."
Re:So what (Score:5, Informative)
Some software uses IE embedded. Valve's Steam & the HTML help system both do and I'm sure theres plenty more too.
Re:And by critical they mean? (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, Standards mode is default, although it is easy to override, either from the user side or the web author side: <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=7" />
http://blogs.msdn.com/askie/archive/2009/03/23/understanding-compatibility-modes-in-internet-explorer-8.aspx [msdn.com]
Re:kdawson = trollmagnet (Score:2, Informative)
Re:And by critical they mean? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:So what (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, and no.
If you use XP and/or the 'view in IE tab' extension, then yes, you should be using at least IE7 for on-line security.(IE 5,6,7, or 8-whatever is installed, is just opened in a FF tab/window-vulnerabilities will still exist somewhat)
If 'no to both', then don't worry about it.
The 'bottom line' is: get rid of IE 6, or earlier at all costs. (as a 'Home' user-at work:YMMV)
Not only XP... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:IE8 on XP (Score:3, Informative)
It doesn't, by itself.
IE8 does have "improved" namespace support, meaning that MathML and SVG plugins are not limited to <objects>, they can also work on inline xml.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd565690(VS.85).aspx [microsoft.com]
Re:Didn't XP ship with 6? (Score:3, Informative)
Just to be a pedant, you actually have to have something a lot larger than a telephone pole. You tried to cover yourself by saying "made of tungsten," but I'm going to guess the deceleration would break or melt even the toughest of elements.
Re:Didn't XP ship with 6? (Score:3, Informative)
please don't work for any large company. I work for a large financial institution and we still only support ie6 =(
Re:Didn't XP ship with 6? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:So what (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Using older versions of IE? (Score:3, Informative)
Perhaps a bit OT, but it seems apropos to me.
I have no problem upgrading to IE8, as I use FireFox as my primary browser, but I do use it to test web applications and design. Even as a critical update, IE8 won't take out the huge number using IE7 and IE6 for some time; and there are still a small number using IE5.5 (horror of horrors). Since IE is tied into the OS, it's my understanding that you can only have one version installed at a time.
Is there some way to use older versions of IE on the same PC? I've seen an "IE Pack" of sorts, but it got a lot of bad reviews and haven't tried.
Microsoft has freely downloadable VMs on their site, even if you dont use virtual pc (which you also can get free) which most non windows users dont (and most windows users dont either due to speed reasons) you can crossconvert those images by third party tools!
The VM images expire usually at a certain date but Microsoft then adds a new one on their site!
This is probably currently the cleanest way to test it.
Re:what's so critical about a web browser? (Score:5, Informative)
We're just waiting now for the sales to drop off (or the phone lines to be swamped) as our business to business customers get their browsers upgraded and don't buy online from us. We've got $m's worth of projects on the go to replace the platform but the business feels it has been strongarmed into replacing the platform with a like for like replacement with no business advantage.i.e. they are set back 2 years to get to the same place we are at now.
In a way, this is a blessing in disguise because MS is never going to be selling enterprise solutions (beyond file & print) here again and now open source is certainly not frowned upon and is a real contender for big enterprise systems. It's certainly not fluff - This organisation deals with a quarter of the population of UK and employes 10's of thousands of people.
yawn (Score:5, Informative)
If you're on a corporate LAN, you should be using WSUS to control updates yourself anyway. its a free download with minimal updates, all you need is a domain controller or copy of regedit to push your workstations to the WSUS server's IP instead of microsoft directly.
Re:what's so critical about a web browser? (Score:2, Informative)
Personally, I have no stake - I'm a late adopter, but not that late. :)
But I've worked with some very slow moving companies that would be unhappy to have their platform yanked early. It's not a matter of how long is reasonable - it's entirely about what they were promised and planned for.
If it was part of the OS, it's not fair to expect people to upgrade their OS early, not that I personally believe that line.
Microsofts support life cycle for an OS is known years in advance to it taking effect - for example, MS already publishes the fact that Vista transitions from Main Stream Support to Extended Support on 2012-04-20, and exits Extended Support on 2017-04-11.
This isn't some last minute rug-pulling carried out by Microsoft - its out there for all to plan around.
Re:Still using IE6 (Score:2, Informative)
Re:So what (Score:3, Informative)
Well, you can keep up with IE 6/7 updates (security, as long as they ship) but you can't simply ignore System's default browser for updates. Some Mac users doing the same mistake too, they pass the Safari security/performance updates because they use something else. "Safari" update means update of Webkit and several OS core frameworks (even including libxml) update. Just like even if you use VLC, you gotta keep up with Quicktime (Framework) updates.
So you better run Windows Update, pick all except "IE 8", and keep IE 7 updated. IE 6 is really beyond fixing pile of junk and a security threat just by "being there".
BTW, once again for MS apologizing people: Please don't compare IE and Safari based on what I write above. I speak about webkit.framework and mshtml.dll , they have nothing to do with each other in sense of development model, open/closed source and company being convicted monopolist.
Re:what's so critical about a web browser? (Score:2, Informative)
How can Microsoft claim that Windows XP is at the end of its life when they are STILL selling it? Full support should continue on for at least a couple of years after they cease to sell the product.
Re:do i have to allow wga? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:what's so critical about a web browser? (Score:4, Informative)
Which version of XP? the new one (SP3)that comes on netbooks with IE7?
SP3 does not come with IE7, if it's shipped by default on your netbook that means the OEM added it seperately.
Re:So what (Score:3, Informative)
By my reading of that page it will probablly be getting updates for a lot longer than that.
"Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first"
Since it is unlikely that there will be another service pack for XP that means it should be supported until XP itself ends support (sometime in 2014 IIRC though it wouldn't entirely surprise me if they extended it).
Re:I don't see it here (Score:3, Informative)
It is true even if it isn't exactly prompt. The rollout of IE8 to critical updates began between 2-3 weeks ago.