CNET Editors' note: The Download Now link will take you to the Microsoft download site, where you can select your operating system.
CNET Editors' review
Internet Explorer 8 addresses just about all of the major concerns that users and critics have had with the world's most used browser. Whether they get answered in a way you like is another matter.
There are several new and interesting features. Web Slices lets you save predefined sections of a Web page for at-a-glance viewing. Instead of going to a traffic Web site for updates, the latest commuting news comes to you. Similarly, Accelerators make repetitive tasks one-click behaviors, for instance finding directions or blogging. InPrivate browsing introduces a cache and history on-off switch, while related tabs are color-coded and automatically reorganized as you open them. There's also tab sandboxing, which means that when a tab crashes, IE itself won't, and it even tries to resurrect the page that crashed.
There's a greater emphasis on Web standards and security than before. The SmartScreen and cross-site scripting filters throw up a red warning page when you're about to visit an unsafe site. There's also domain highlighting, which grays out the name of the URL you're looking at except for the domain itself. This sounds simple, but effectively draws attention to spoofed site URLs. There's also a compatibility button so that sites designed specifically for IE 7 and earlier can still be viewed.
IE 8 lacks a default "smart" location bar that many other browsers have, but you can search your history and most visited pages from there. Also, the installation process still requires a reboot--unimpressive, to say the least. Drawbacks aside, there's no reason to not upgrade if you're an old fan of IE, and there's even a few things in IE 8 for new users.
Publisher's Description
From Microsoft:
Internet Explorer 8 adds accelerators to provide instant access to information like maps, web searches, translations, email, blogging, and more; faster performance; a smart address bar; improved privacy protection; and Compatibility View for displaying websites designed for older browsers.
Internet Explorer is in the Web Browsers category of the Browsers section.
More Popular Web Browsers downloads
- Google Chrome
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- Internet Explorer
14,436 downloads
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All versions:
2.4 starsout of 1,669 votes
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Current version:
2.4 starsout of 575 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Better than it used to be but that is not saying much"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
I can't think of any.
Cons
Slow, buggy, insecure unless you do a lot of tweaking.
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"An amazing improvement!"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
I stopped using Internet Explorer several years ago. I have used Firefox and Chrome - I was not fully satisfied with either of them due to small but reocurring problems (periods of slowness and similar things). Recently I went to Internet Exployer 9 and have been extremely pleased and amazed with all the improvements!!
Cons
Would like to see more themes added.
Summary
If you haven't tried IE 9, YOU SHOULD!
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"The fastest and the beautiful web browser."
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
Internet Explorer 9 downloads files faster than any other web browser.
Cons
Not that many addons.
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"If you are on XP stay with IE 6 we can't use IE9"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
That I can use and love Opera as my main browser.None IE 6 is better than this and I read on Google the Death of IE6 won't be until 2014 about the time XP will no longer be supported.I keep Windows automatic updates turned off so they can't force ie8 on me.I go get updates manually and get the ones I want.Would love to try ie9 but XP users can't.
Cons
Not good and can't try ie9 with XP
Summary
IE 6 is better than this and I read on Google the Death of IE6 won't be until 2014 about the time XP will no longer be supported.I keep Windows automatic updates turned off so they can't force ie8 on me.I go get updates manually and get the ones I want.Would love to try ie9 but XP users can't.
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"I give it half a star for trying."
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
Improved over IE7
Faster web page loading than any previous IE before itCons
Slow program boot
Program freezes quite often
Ugly as all heck
No web site pinning
Crappy old Trident web engine (that thing is super ancient)Summary
A huge leap up from Internet Explorer's 6 & 7, but nothing to drool over. If you need a functional web browser to surf the internet, go with something other than IE. Try out an alternative like Chrome or Firefox. Or, check out IE9, way better than the older ones. Although if your on XP, you can't use IE9, only IE8.
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"No comments...Everybody knows it!!!"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
1664 Users Rated it 2/5!!!
Cons
1 User Seth Rosenblatt Rated it 5/5....LOL
Summary
Probably 1664 Users are silly to rate it 2/5...Rosenblatt is the Real HERO!!!!
Will Use IE8 when Google, Mozzila, Opera would stop making Browsers!!!! -
"The WORST browser did I ever use"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
What? no pros at all
Cons
So many,this browser need to learn form another famous browser now
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"Very, slow, too much active x warnings"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
Can download Firefox
Cons
Slow, Lots of webpages incompatible. Either upgrade to Internet Explorer 9 or use Firefox. IE8 is crap.
Summary
Either upgrade to Internet Explorer 9 or use Firefox. IE8 is crap.
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"Worst crap ever"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
None so far
Cons
F***ing Memory leaks, extremely slow, does not support web standards, crashes, Stupid ActiveX, virus downloader.
Summary
Don't use this crap, or else your computer ends up broken.
If I had a choice, I would have uninstalled this thing for good
Updated on Oct 31, 2011 -
"it's ok. improved, i think"
Version: Internet Explorer 8
Pros
IE is improving all the while, since I have been using it all the tiem.
Cons
None so far.
Summary
good IE
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