Microsoft released Internet Explorer 8 yesterday, for Windows XP and Vista. So if you’re still running IE6, or someone you know is, it’s once again time to think about upgrading — or switching. (Assuming, of course, that you’re not locked in by corporate policy or another piece of software.)
- IE6 is now two versions behind the current release.
- IE6 is almost 8 years old (it was released in 2001).
- IE6 is lacking in many capabilities that all other modern web browsers have, in web technology, in security, and in features you can use.
You can read a review at Wired, a write-up from the IE team, or a summary of technical changes from WaSP.
Of course, Internet Explorer isn’t the only option out there. There’s Opera, Firefox, Chrome and a host of other alternative browsers that are worth checking out.
If you’re still running Windows 2000 or some other old version of Windows that can’t run IE7 or IE8, I’d absolutely recommend Firefox or Opera. Either will be much better than IE6, both will run on Windows 2000, and Opera will even run on Windows Me and Windows 98 (but you really ought to move to something more current than Windows Me.)
Nothing but crash after crash on my system. I'll stick with Opera.
“Though I wouldn't wish Windows Me on anyone”
My first windows destop was a Windows ME it came with Windows Media Player 1 (It now has 9)
Opera is pretty much the ONLY choice for these systems below windows 2000. Firefox is still supporting windows 2000 but I doubt its for long.