If Internet Explorer is so bad, why keep releasing newer versions?

If IE is such a terrible browser, why does Microsoft keep releasing new versions? IE9 is out now, and at some point. With everybody now jumping to Chrome, won't Microsoft just have to make an IE final or ultimate version and call it a day?

 

I still don't get why some people like IE over Chrome or at least Firefox, it's the crappiest browser I've ever used. I hate having to tweak my designs to work better in it, because it's so much trouble.

However, IE10 looks pretty good, don't have to fix anything on my sites on it. Still don't recommend people use it though.

 

Well they like IE because without it your operating system cannot run. When you install windows first and foremost, you cannot get online without IE. From there, you can download any other online browser like MSN, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, etc. And packaging the newest IE release with the newest windows release keeps people hooked on IE. Especially considering microsoft is the creator of both windows and IE. But chrome is so superior. Better looking and quicker and less glitchy.

 

I wish Microsoft gave you a choice of which browser to install as the default like they do with the UK version. In the UK, they're forced to give users a menu with browser choices, and IE isn't installed by default.

 

Interesting. So you can install the latest version of windows in the UK with Chrome as the default browser and no IE at all?

 

I have always despised IE with a vengeance.

But, bizarrely, in my windows 8 setup, IE9 is actually the fastest and most stable browser. I have firefox, chrome and opera installed too and they do not seem as fast.

Is 8 optimised for IE or is this a ruse by MS to make other browsers slower in IE?

 

Thanks to a lawsuit claiming Microsoft's monopoly of internet browsers, which they lost, they now have to give you the option. So yes, you can. But it's not by their choice so don't expect to see that here.

I think most people stick with IE because the majority of people that use the internet are just casual browsers. They know no better, and stick with what they are comfortbale with, or don't go looking for it. Years ago I finally got my parents and grandparents using Firefox because I took the time to install it and hide IE from the obvious places. They're still using Firefox because I havent taken the time to do it again, this time with Chrome.

 

I don't mind IE. Like someone said, if it's not bundled with Windows then I would have a problem getting onto the net to get my favorite browser, Firefox. I don't suppose I can totally give up IE since there are still millions of people using it and I need to find out how my sites look like in IE, too.

 

I run a website and I only test compatibility with Firefox, Chrome, and Maxthon. It may sound kind of elitist but if you're still using IE, and my site doesn't work for you, I will just tell you to upgrade.

 

It's my understanding that IE is so integrated with the OS, it's impossible to remove IE. With the selection screen IE is only disabled but yet still on the system.

 

Not too sure about that. I think I did remove IE once. I must have a closer look to see whether it's still lurking in there somewhere. The Windows uninstall function generally doesn't do a clean uninstall.

 

Maxthon? What's that? Does it have any strong or solid future potential?

 

Ah I see. Yeah I love Chrome. Before Chrome, I was using the latest version of MSN to do my browsing and stuff. No way I was using IE. It's too ugly. Now, I use Chrome 80% of the time. I use MSN the other 20%. IE is not even in the conversation.

 

I haven't seen it yet. I still use it occasionally, but they claim the newest version is 200% faster than Google Chrome. Maybe should update and see? I am not all that impressed with it, but it has eked it's way into third place on my personal list of browsers. I spent some time trying as many as could to find which ones I liked the best, and it came out closer to the top. Still not Chrome though.

 

200% faster than Chrome? My chrome is ultra-fast. So I guess Browsing on Maxthon would literally push your skin and hair back as you sit in your desk chair if it's that fast.

 

Yep, and that's awesome.

Maxthon is unnecessary if you have Chrome, it's based on Webkit just like Chrome is, so webpages look the same unless you use the IE mode in it. Besides that, Maxthon has such a tiny user base it's not worth making sites work in it even if they are broken. Same way with Opera, even though I love it.

I say that's total BS, it's based off of Webkit like Chrome is, it can't be that much faster. It's also got a crapton of features that don't make any sense, and because of that it's interface is very cluttered.

 

Slightly off-topic.

If you like Chrome but you are not happy with the way it tracks your surfing, then you can consider using Iron which is exactly the same as Chrome with all the tracking removed.