'Prepare For Microsoft Internet Explorer 8','
The IT industry speaks highly of Microsofts next version of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8. There are several new features, including private browsing, advanced screening of malicious Web sites and downloads, and a compatibility tool that allows the software to correctly render pages designed for older browsers. Microsoft will be distributing IE 8 via Microsoft Update as a recommended upgrade for all Windows users.
The only problem with this plan is that unless your tech team is centrally managing your Windows updates with Windows Server Update Service or Systems Management Server 2003, your computer users on your network might upgrade to the new software automatically. Unless you have tested all your critical Web apps to make sure that they will work with IE 8, you could be in for some user support nightmares. Nothing will screw up your day like not being able to get the work done after an automatic update.
Rolling back to IE 7 once the later version is installed is not easy, so it would behoove us to prepare in advance. Microsoft has released a tool that can help you. They call it the Internet Explorer Blocker Toolkit, and it consists of an executable registry script (which can be run on any machine) and a template for Group Policy administrators. If you use the Blocker Toolkit, your machine won’t apply the IE 8 upgrade as part of its automatic update schedule.
However, if you have users on your network with administrator rights, be aware that IE 8 can still be applied with a manual visit to Microsoft’s update site.
Coral from Nuvox asked: Greg - How will this compare to Google Apps? Good question! Internet Explorer 8 competition is Google Chrome and FireFox. http://www.google.com/chrome I do not care much for Chrome. It is “new†but it may mature into something useful in the future. I use FireFox about 70% of the time. Internet Explorer is imbedded into the windows operating system and you really cannot function in windows without it. Also, some important banking, shipping, insurance, government, … websites demand internet explorer. Google Apps consists of: gmail: Fast, searchable email with less spam google talk: im (instant messaging) and call your friends through your computer google calendar: organize your schedule and share events with friends google docs: share online documents, presentations, and spreadsheets google sites: create websites and secure group wikis 20+ other google apps Google Apps competition is Microsoft Live. I don’t know who copied who, but they both do the same thing. Google Apps and Microsoft Live are good for “down ‘n’ dirty get ‘r’ done stuff and allows you to work online from anywhere. However, for most business use, Microsoft Office (good but expensive) or Open Office (good and free) does a much better job..