Letters to Redmond

Struggling with IE8

Readers grapple with the new browser's learning curve. Plus, thoughts on Microsoft and impartiality, and a YouTube content dilemma.

• By Readers of Redmond magazine
• 07/01/2009

Struggling with IE8

While there was plenty of great reader feedback in Doug Barney's cover story on IE8 ("IE8: Behind the 8 Ball," May, 2009), one of the biggest problems that new browsers present in the corporate world is the learning curve for users who aren't computer savvy. It would've been nice to see some comments from the typical computer user: one who knows just enough to use Microsoft Word and create and send e-mail.

Personally, I haven't yet looked at IE8. I work in a production environment and don't have the luxury to load unauthorized software, even for evaluation purposes. Also, the last thing I want to do after 10 or 14 hours at work is to jump on my own network at home. I'd rather read about other people's frustration with dealing with new, developing software than experiencing it on my own.

Mark C. Duncan
Fort Eustis, Va.

I started with Internet Explorer 8 with the beta in Windows 7. I liked it but found many sites wouldn't work right, even with the compatibility mode. At first I thought Windows 7 was the problem, but when the final IE8 product came out, it had similar issues. It's certainly better than IE7, and those who almost exclusively use IE7 should upgrade to IE8.

However, I honestly don't think users who have switched to other browsers will go back to IE8. These individuals have become familiar with browsers like Firefox and Opera, and they don't want to learn IE8, even if it has some good qualities.

Microsoft just took too long to bring out a browser upgrade.

John
Illinois

Fair and Balanced
I enjoyed Doug Barney's column in the April issue of Redmond ("Microsoft on the Brain") about being mean to Microsoft. I think Barney is too easy on the company sometimes, so if he's getting letters about being harsh, he's probably got the mix about right.

For years I avoided most Microsoft-centric magazines because they were written by true believers for true believers. Then I picked up Redmond at Tech-Ed a few years back. I liked it because it was Microsoft-centric without being a Microsoft mouthpiece, which is perfect.

Microsoft today makes many excellent products that are worthy of the enterprise. The company understands the network and it gets security, especially since Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1. I work with Microsoft and use its products. There are times, however, when the company still doesn't get it, and that's when magazines like Redmond can offer much to their readers.

Roger Reid
received by e-mail

Leave YouTube Alone!
In the May Barney's Rubble column ("The YouTube Mess"), Doug Barney wrote about videos on YouTube that are inappropriate for children. I'm passionate about this issue.

There are plenty of places where content designed strictly for children is readily available. Keep censorship of any variety-this includes the copyright conundrum-off of YouTube. Now they're pulling soundtracks out of videos and blocking "commercial" content, and the list goes on. The site is already almost completely useless even without another "what about the children" type of cleansing that seems to hit the best places.

I'm sorry that Barney's daughter saw inappropriate videos. That's not good. But there are plenty of places that are truly designed to serve only content that's acceptable for children. Barney should visit those Web sites before trying to change a site that has its debauchery well established and-as can clearly be seen from its hit count-isn't suffering from this departure from morals.

Beau Chandler
Texas