In my predominantly Linux network, Google Chrome and his neat and less colorful brother, Chromium, can do no wrong. Mozilla Firefox, on the other hand, is still the default browser included with most Linux distributions so it's always around on my PCs as back-up on the rare occasion Google Chrome crashes due to an Adobe Flash foul-up.
When I boot into Windows 7, however, to update my iPod using iTunes or work on Windows-only software such as CorelDraw, I find myself clicking on that all-too familiar blue E. Even with Opera and Firefox pinned to my taskbar, I always launch Internet Explorer, the most lampooned and derided browser in all of Internet-dom.
It is not without embarrassment that I admit that it's a great browser and my browser of choice when I'm using Windows.
Now, discussing and reviewing browsers isn't the most sexy technical topic out there. It's nearly as dry as discussing consumer external hard drives. Chrome, Firefox, Opera, IE, and Safari all have their merits (Safari being that it's the IE5 of Apple devices - you can't get away from it in iOS). I find it sad that there are people who still believe the old articles published before about how only old people, widowers, and Internet-illiterate people use Internet Explorer. That was Internet Explorer 6. It was bad, but admit it, companies were all running it at the time. IE8 had its bugs and IE9 still gets shocked when you try to play a streaming Quicktime video, but both browsers have shown that Microsoft has gone a long way.
It's so easy to throw apples at anything with the name Microsoft and Internet Explorer (an application that really, really needs a new name as cool as Microsoft's SkyDrive). IE is especially the easiest target for Apple users and people who believe they are technical. Internet Explorer 9, for all its horrible pedigree, is a competent and dependable browser during the long period I used it. Its interface is a welcome change of pace especially if you spend most of your time with a Linux-powered system or a Mac.
As part of my work, I've tested the "App version" of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8 and was more concerned with my inability to use the touch screen UI than the browser itself. Now that Microsoft has finally released Internet Explorer 10 (which Microsoft tagged as a Release Preview just in case something goes awry) for Windows 7, I get to use Microsoft's spanking new browser without worrying about sliding my finger or opening the Charms bar.
Downloading the installation file was a surprise. I regularly use Windows Update on my Windows machine but found IE10 wasn't even part of the Optional Updates. It shows a certain amount of wariness on Microsoft's part perhaps due to old complaints about browsers being forced down people's throats (which is mostly Apple's game now). My second surprise was how long additional updates took after running the setup file. Again, as a regular follower of Microsoft' weekly patches, it seems that IE10 requires more than the usual maintenance.
Out of habit, I rebooted Windows 7 and there was the expected slow bootup after several updates. The blue screen and cursor displayed as Windows 7 digested the cumulative updates struck me as somewhat more comforting than Linux's almost casual disregard for any new changes to the system (Don't get me wrong, it's great having not to reboot after running Linux updates but it can get scary sometimes). I launched Internet Explorer 10 immdiately and opened up a few sites to check for issues with the "new" browser. China's 360Buy site didn't have any language issues. I was expecting Adobe Flash errors assaulting me at every turn but nothing happened over at ArsTechnica, SuperheroHype, Newsarama, Amazon or at any of the other technical and entertainment sites I routinely visit. Newsarama, which is notoriously difficult to render even in Firefox and Chrome, was particularly a surprise since it loaded quickly and didn't have any incomplete pages. Finally, I went over to the Apple Trailers site doubly sure that the Quicktime plug-in would halt the browser. I pulled up the trailer for Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage and Oz, the Great and Powerful. Quicktime reminded me there's a new version available but the trailers played fine. As did several other previews.
I was actually hoping to troubleshoot some issue but even the software rendering error I encountered with Internet Explorer 7 and 8 with the Nvidia Optimus GPU had no problems whatsoever. In fact, it felt like I hadn't even updated to IE10 - which is actually a good thing for users who are easily affected by jarring changes. I am now satisfied that I can continue using IE10 for now, though I still reflexively look over my shoulder every now and then in case anyone was watching.
So, if you're using Windows or you're a Linux user dual-booting into Windows, give Internet Explorer 10 a shot. The water's warm and there's not a Safari in sight.
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