A quick look at IE8 beta

Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 8 beta 1, but so far it doesn't seem to be the drastic overhaul that Internet Explorer underwent with version 7. That's not to say that there aren't any substantial new features, like the potential for Firefox extension importing, but this beta indicates that Microsoft is building on what they created in the last version, not reinventing their wheel.

Microsoft is promoting the Activities and Web Slices, a "web clips" feature that updates only selected parts of Web sites, such as front-page headlines or eBay auctions. What I found most interesting is that during the installation process, when you are asked if you'd like to import from another browser IE8 includes "extensions" with "bookmarks" and "feeds".

IE 8 beta 1's installation asks users to import their Firefox extensions.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Yup. Extensions.

Never say never, but I think the chances of the final version of IE8 supporting Firefox XPIs is slim. What's more likely is that Microsoft is trying to build the IE community and developers into creating more add-ons for IE. In this beta, when you import extensions, IE opens up the Windows Marketplace Web site and automatically searches for analogues to your Firefox extensions.

The Activities feature is a place to consolidate things you do on the Web: blogging, searching, word definition, and so on. There's also a toolbar button that switches the rendering engine back to IE7, but it requires a browser restart and frustratingly there's not a button for that.

The default setting for IE8 is to strip out the favorites from behind their toolbar button in IE7 and give them their own toolbar, but this actually detracts from the slick interface design. As with most Microsoft products, IE8 requires a system restart.

Empirically, pages seemed to load at about the same speed or a little bit faster as compared to IE7. Compared with Firefox 3 beta 3, though, and Firefox was noticeably faster on graphics- and script-heavy pages.

Don't forget that this is a beta release, and so it's likely to be very buggy and work imperfectly at best.

[myliang0]

see!!!

[koitao]

???????IE8

[koitao]

???????IE8

[xhaavardx]

I know of an even faster Internet Browser For Windows and Mac, then Opera, Firefox, IE, Avast and Netscape.

Its called Safari, it works for both Windows and Mac

[jp.adam]

Safari may be faster SOMETIMES but it's still beta, VERY beta. I tried it out a couple of times but it crashed a LOT. I'm gonna stick to Firefox which is fast secure customizable and not beta :P

[skiracer712]

Glad to here that they are pushing for more extensions.

I use Firefox2, IE7, and Opera. Only reason I still use firefox is due to the extensions. Firefox takes more memory, and has longer program load times than IE7, and more security issues. Anyone who dosent believe that hasnt actually looked at the system requirements and has not compared the current amounts of "hole's" in each. Some of the security problems in firefox have been around since 1.1 and still havent been fixed in 3.

I like Opera more than IE7 but no extensions does not work for me.

[tuel]

If Firefox is taking up too much memory, than a) get more, or b) remove some of your beloved extensions. that said, FF may have more holes, but they get fixed more quickly than IE, thanks to OPEN SOURCE.

[upslifer]

One huge issue with IE8 here. If you have downloaded XP SP3, you ain't getting IE8. Just another overlook by the giant dying M-soft monster.

[sturdyoak]

When one sees some of the decisions Micrsoft makes with IE, one really does wonder if it is fading alright. I am frustrated to have the HOME button clear in the other side of the browser on another toolbar altogether, instead of exactly where it used to be in IE6 and where it is in Firefox. At least give that option! But I've seen the withdrawal of toolbar functionality complained about profusely as far back as 2006, obviously on deaf ears. Many times I need to get back to my Google homepage, and roll my eyes cuz the home button is on the opposite side of the screen.

[sturdyoak]

I'll take Firefox any day over IE and I was a die hard fan of IE for years, but here's an issue with Firefox that makes me wonder about their decision making process. In Firefox you need to get a link to your opened web page to your desktop and how do you do it? In IE, as you know, it's just "File, Send, Shortcut to Desktop" - I was in disbelief to see that the mighty Firefox, king of the hill, does not have that simple feature. Instead you must "Minimize" the browser window, then drag the site icon from the Address window to your desktop, then maximize again. Now what if you have other programs open? You must minimize them all. All this takes extra clicks and time. You can get an the add-on, but the "deskCut" right-click option frustratingly isn't there for all sites! How is it possible that the programmers at Mozzilla FIREFOX could not have seen in all these years that the Shortcut to Desktop option is still very much in need and sorely missed?

[alice_b0wie]

i have my own security and really don't care much for slow browsers. i use the world browser, the speed is amazing.

[jxballard]

Oh NO! Not Internet Exploder 8! I wonder how my online pc gaming will hold with the new version. Yikes....

[digitalbliss]

I installed IE8 onto my windows xp pro computer, I noticed it had a faster start up time, but as soon as it loaded, it crashed, 3 times..so I said to hell with it, uninstalled it. I really wanted to try it but unfortunately until microsoft updates this beta release, i'm not going to touch it.

[devilknevil]

Another nice app.