IE8 gets automatic rollout nag

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 14th April 2009
Comments (11) Stumble
IE8 gets automatic rollout nag

The Welcome to IE8 download will prompt users to install the latest version of Internet Explorer, but can be dismissed with a single click.

If you've been ignoring Microsoft's latest web browser, be prepared for some nagging: the company is due to include an automatic update option via the Windows Update service imminently.

According to an article over on BetaNews – which cites a post by lead program manager Eric Hebenstreit over the weekend – Microsoft is opting for a soft rollout with the option being made available for an easy install via the Windows Update service for those that choose.

Hebenstreit was careful to point out that it will a choice, however: in his post, he states that “IE8 will not automatically install on machines” and that if users want to snag the latest incarnation of the default Windows web browser they will be required to opt-in to the upgrade.

That doesn't mean that users won't be prompted, however. Anyone with Automatic Updates switched on is due to receive an alert some time over the next week – which will be flagged as High Priority for anyone running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, or Important if you've got Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 – to download the “Welcome to Internet Explorer 8” package. While this update doesn't contain any new browser code, it will – once installed – pop up a dialogue offering the chance to upgrade to IE8 in a single click. Users who aren't sure will be given the option of dismissing the dialogue temporarily, or giving it the boot for good – after which they will have to download the update manually if they change their minds.

Although Microsoft has distributed a tool to allow corporations to block the automatic installation of IE8, it's clear that even without the blocker it's unlikely that the new browser will find its way onto anyone's system unwanted.

Will you be upgrading to IE8 as soon as the automatic update becomes available, or do you wish Microsoft would stop nagging you when you've already chosen an alternative browser? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote icutebluezone 14th April 2009, 10:07
Jst downloaded it off there site. not off auto updates site. :D
Quote Nedsbeds 14th April 2009, 11:56
They need to go further and force IE6 users to upgrade.

If you are on XP there really is no valid reason to use it.
Quote amacieli 14th April 2009, 12:30
good browser. fast on win 7. there are debugging features too, like firebug, haven't tried them out yet. firebug is the main reason i used ff3.
Quote B1GBUD 14th April 2009, 14:08
Yeah, I'm sure it will be as smooth as the roll out for IE 8 Beta that found it's way on to Vista PC's without their owners knowledge or consent.

Well done Microshaft
Quote Dreaming 14th April 2009, 17:18
of course ill be updating to the latest version, for the 0.1% of the time I use it i would rather have ie8 with up to date security patches rather than ie6 because im 'sticking it to the man'. i think really it's just luddites who wouldnt upgrade, its like those people who get a pop up window every time they boot windows telling them certain apps have updates available and just ignore all of them. why bother having an auto update feature if you cant be bothered to update?

of course its different maybe in a corporate environment where there may be specific software compatibilities and you need to test these rollouts before they happen but for most people the reason they would appose ie8 is because they dont like microsoft, not because they have a problem with it being updated. most of us are using whatever else as our primary browsers anyway, but boot up steam and go to the community page and yes, its powered by internet explorer because every single windows pc has internet explorer installed.

so for me its about minimising my vulnerability by making sure i have the most recent updates and security patches.
Quote Firehed 14th April 2009, 18:27
Thank God. Now I can legitimately tell IE6 users to fark off and save myself countless wasted hours trying to get pages to look presentable. TWO versions out of date qualifies as unsupported in my books.

I don't even care about the speed or security aspects; I use browsers that don't suck, so that's not my problem.
Quote Redbeaver 14th April 2009, 19:01
ive been testing it for over 2 weeks. its actually pretty freakin great.
Quote samkiller42 14th April 2009, 23:22
IE8 has been a joke ever since i installed Windows 7, random crashes, lack of support for Flash and external apps that use Flash also (EA download manager wouldn't work due to not loading the Flash files, yet would on Vista and XP with IE7) BBC iPlayer wouldn't work sometimes due to this, as well as youtube also, yet both would be fine in IE7 and Firefox.

This is my general opinion of the almost continuous use i gave it.

Sam
Quote Stormwulf 15th April 2009, 01:48
Sorry, I'll be sticking to firefox. It's always proved faster and more reliable than any of the IE offerings.
Quote dicobalt 15th April 2009, 05:10
Internet Explorer? What's that? That came on windows 95 didn't it? I use windows 7.
Quote azrael- 16th April 2009, 11:48
I'll keep using a combination of FireFox and IE6. I will not be upgrading IE to a later version, simply because of my intense dislike of the new user interface (as of IE7). Especially the way the menu is placed ticks me off. But hey, Firefox knows how to do a proper interface and it's what I use most anyway...
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