On March 19, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 8 (IE8), its next-generation web browser. While it has several useful security features, people should talk to their IT support staff before switching to IE8 since it has not been thoroughly tested with K-State enterprise applications like iSIS and K-State Online.
Recalling the application incompatibilities experienced when IE7 replaced IE6; proceed cautiously with plans to upgrade to IE8. Microsoft did try to deal with the IE6-to-IE7 fiasco this time by including a “Compatibility View” in IE8 that should correctly display pages incompatible with IE8, but again this needs to be tested thoroughly.
IE8 is available for Windows Vista, XP, Server 2003, and Server 2008. It will also be included in their next-generation operating system, Windows 7. At some point in the future, Microsoft will make IE8 available via Windows Update, but it has not yet done so. Likewise, K-State’s central “Windows Server Update Services” (WSUS) server that automates patching Microsoft Windows operating systems and applications does not intend to push IE8 onto systems. If you want IE8, you will have to manually download and install it.
Microsoft did release a toolkit in January that can be used to block installation of IE8 once it is available via Windows Update, but this doesn’t prevent someone from manually downloading and installing IE8. Nonetheless, system administrators should consider using this toolkit until they are convinced their users and applications are ready for IE8.
