Internet Explorer 9 Beta Released: REVIEWS Of Microsoft's New Browser

The latest version of Microsoft's web browser, Internet Explorer 9 Beta, is available for download today, and the update, dubbed the "most ambitious browser release Microsoft has ever undertaken" by ZDNet, is being scrutinized closely.

Internet Explorer 9 Beta has gotten a major makeover, a host of new features, and speedier performance. It is still a beta, however, and, as PC World notes, there are a few "rough spots." Microsoft is expected to release a polished version sometime later this year or in early 2011, according to Wired.

Take a look at what reviewers, such as Wired, Technologizer, PC World, and ZDNet, are saying about Internet Explorer 9 in the slideshow below. (You can download Internet Explorer 9 Beta here. Note: It is compatible only with WIndows 7 and Windows Vista, )

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Technologizer: 'Just Plain Good'

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Technologizer writes, "It’s easily the best new version of Microsoft’s browser in…well, in this century: The last IE upgrade that was this pleasing was version 5, which shipped in 1999. In most respects that matter, IE9 finally catches up with the competition. In a few, it seems to have sprinted past them. It’s just plain good." Like other reviewers, Technologizer's Harry McCracken notes, "This beta is, after all, a beta. Most of the sites I’ve tried in it work splendidly, but I did spot occasional rendering quirks. And the editing window in WordPress, the blogging tool behind Technologizer, doesn’t let me edit, which is why I’m writing this review of Internet Explorer in Chrome.'

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Technologizer writes, "It’s easily the best new version of Microsoft’s browser in…well, in this century: The last IE upgrade that was this pleasing was version 5, which shipped in 1999. In most respects that matter, IE9 finally catches up with the competition. In a few, it seems to have sprinted past them. It’s just plain good." Like other reviewers, Technologizer's Harry McCracken notes, "This beta is, after all, a beta. Most of the sites I’ve tried in it work splendidly, but I did spot occasional rendering quirks. And the editing window in WordPress, the blogging tool behind Technologizer, doesn’t let me edit, which is why I’m writing this review of Internet Explorer in Chrome.'

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Comments

[Mikeeee]

08:47 AM on 09/20/2010

Doesn't matter what they do. Microsoft and Google have both shown a continued disregard for the privacy of the users of their product from constantly setting as default calling back to Microsoft or Google. Under NO circumstances should any software ever contact it's manufacturer without your knowledge and permission.

[Mikeeee]

09:14 AM on 09/20/2010

As just one example of micoshits and gobbledegooks constantly deciding what "you" need.
http://robertnyman.com/2009/01/26/microsoft-force-installs-firefox-extension/

[Ramkshrestha]

07:28 AM on 09/20/2010

Every year getting new. Problem: update or not.

[SaneThoughts]

10:39 PM on 09/19/2010

Haven't tried IE9.

Do you think it will actually support web standards?

Too bad Microsoft gives IE such a low priority except for once a decade.

I would like Microsoft to un-bundle it from the OS and not charge for plug ins.

[Silverwolf72]

04:37 AM on 09/20/2010

I find it really frustrating that you can not uninstall it due to it and windows explorer being the same program

[jasonedward]

05:55 AM on 09/20/2010

You can definitely uninstall it. It's not in the standard programs list. It's considered a Windows Update.

go to: Add or Remove Programs and click on View Installed Updates. Look for Windows Internet Explorer 9 and uninstall it.

I've heard it's easy to do and reverts right back to IE8 with no problems.

[RedDogBear]

08:21 PM on 09/19/2010

Its interesting to read these. Reminds me why I've never thought that much of the popular tech press. So many generalities. Its a "quantum leap forward" "very impressive" etc. but the actual new things new features I could get from these reviews are:
1) its faster
2) you can pin things (which if I understand the feature you can already do with any browser in Mac OSX
3) the UI is simpler

[jasonedward]

05:57 AM on 09/20/2010

Those "tech reviews" are worthless, aren't they? I was hoping for specific praise/criticism.

[docbungle]

09:40 PM on 09/20/2010

You're forgetting :

Hardware Accelleration
Improved JavaScript engine, which uses multiple processor cores
Compatibility with modern web standards (finally)

[RedDogBear]

08:17 PM on 09/19/2010

If I understand the Pin thing correctly you can drag a link into your dock and then launch to that URL from the dock as you would an application. Just for laughs I tried that with Firefox on OSX and it works fine.

[jasonedward]

05:59 AM on 09/20/2010

FireFox 4 Beta does not allow for pinning links on Windows 7.

It's not just about pinning a link. Certain links contain more options. Facebook, for example, has several options available when you right click its pinned icon. Messages, Friends, News.... goes to those specific pages in FB.

[RedDogBear]

07:43 AM on 09/20/2010

Thanks. That makes more sense. I agree with your other comment about tech reviews. I usually learn more from the comments on these Huffpo tech reviews then I do from the article itself.

[RedDogBear]

08:10 PM on 09/19/2010

So the first review seemed pretty positive given that the reviewer had to revert to Chrome to actually write up the review.

[mmike1969]

06:12 PM on 09/19/2010

hmm... Calling IE 9 "speedier" is kind of silly since IE has always been slow like Sarah Palin... You can't get any slower (you would think)...

Any simple speed bump would make IE9 seem faster... But I doubt it.

[llibsetag]

05:00 PM on 09/19/2010

Ooooooh Let's make a new browser that is focused solely on the user's experience on the Web! It's lean, efficient, based on new HTML technologies & Open Standards!

Uhm... you mean like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, Mozilla, etc, etc. have been doing FOR YEARS?!

Too little, too late & slow on the draw MS Buckeroos!

Microsoft : Always late to the party & always ending up being a party pooper.

MS IE9 : The 21 Century Netscape
Meh...Yawn...Nothing to see here...move along people.

[crispee]

01:43 PM on 09/19/2010

It doesn't matter if no one upgrades which is the real problem. So many still use IE6 that it makes no difference what's in 9 or even 8.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

04:24 PM on 09/19/2010

It's amazing how many banks and other financial institutions still have applications that require older versions of IE, like IE6.

[Doonbuggie41]

10:17 AM on 09/19/2010

Time to test my website...

[goijra]

10:06 AM on 09/19/2010

How many backdoors will they discover on this version?

[Lordcron]

05:51 AM on 09/19/2010

This is a very ambitious project and I'm feeling it. The acid3 test puts it on par with the other browsers. Anything over 90% is doing really well. A few seconds between them all in speed don't make me any difference. Explorer 8 is a dog but 9 is feeling really good.

I'm finding that the more I use it the better it acts. It's pretty stable for a beta. I'm fighting the urge to hate it because Microsoft makes it. It feels light and agile. Microsoft is kicking some butt with this one. I hope the final version feels as good or better then this one. Good Job So Far!

[docbungle]

07:50 PM on 09/19/2010

Nice to see someone actually try it before bashing it, like most of the posts here.

[Silverwolf72]

04:41 AM on 09/20/2010

I've tried to installing it 3 times with out success so far on Vista.
gets about 10% and locks up

[jasonedward]

06:02 AM on 09/20/2010

Amen to that! So tired of people criticizing it and not even trying it out. Don't like it? Don't use it and don't talk about how bad you think it might be. ugh.

[RedDogBear]

11:28 PM on 09/19/2010

I'm a bit confused by your comment. It seems that you are saying you are excited about and really like it because its almost as good as the leading browsers. To get excited about it shouldn't it be better, at least a little, than the competition?

[Lordcron]

01:58 AM on 09/20/2010

No. It only has to be as good as the competition. This is Microsoft. This browser will be on millions of PC's without even trying to compete so it might as well be just as good as the competition. The competition is currently smoking IE8.

[docbungle]

09:25 PM on 09/20/2010

First of all, IE IS the leading browser. So ,there's that.

Second, this is only a BETA, so it shouldn't be better than anything quite yet. However, it is already quite good. Faster than Firefox, hands down.

Third, browsers don't excite me; they simply serve a purpose. I simply grow tired of listening to people rant about things they know nothing about. There can be no "BEST" browser, as everyone uses their browser differently. I mean, that should be obvious...but from your statement, I can see it is not.

I personally prefer Chrome over all other browsers, but as technology moves forward, I am always trying everything. And as of right now, IE9 runs extremely well on my machine and is showing lots of promise.

Are you still confused?

[Jeremy Kao]

04:15 AM on 09/19/2010

Microsoft is again "too little, too late." They're failing in Mobile Phone department, Mp3 Player department, and almost failing in the Game Console department. What's next?

[crispee]

01:43 PM on 09/19/2010

I would say their game division is probably ahead of all their others.

[stunvegas]

05:48 PM on 09/19/2010

You might have some credibility in your critique were it not for the "almost failing in the Game Console Department"

Exposes you as a hater.

[Vernon Brown]

02:21 AM on 09/19/2010

Irrelevance Extraordinaire 9.

[iblogleft]

04:54 PM on 09/18/2010

I downloaded the 64 bit version and it upgraded my 32 bit version as well...

I am not impressed with it at all. Back to Chrome. (Oh, my spell check doesn't work right on it either, and that is something I need soooo bad :-0 )

[Silverwolf72]

04:43 AM on 09/20/2010

I've noticed that on all IE versions