Internet Explorer 8, IE7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,.1 ..0 !
the magic world of "microsoft internet ex-browser" :-/
I have been developing websites since 1997 and in the beginning (table sites era..) we had few browser netscape and internet explorer and maybe something else. Table based layout worked well but.. changing / upgrading layout was a "mess". Then the CSS era arrived. And was (and it is) really really fun developing websites. Suddenly new browsers popped out, like firebird=>firefox, opera.. and safari was evolving in the mac world...
The era of new browsers
When these new browsers arrived, web developers had 'some' minor difficult to get a working website in these brand new browser (i mean opera, firefox or safari...). But all these browsers were really fast to fix errors, to provide new versions, to "simplify" life to web developers...and to be more secure for "simple users".
So, all we developers falled in love with them. The reason was so simple: they supported the web standards the right way and a developer always gets what he means with the code!
Microsoft at the window...
During all these years Microsoft ignored this world (internet world, browsers and search engines) and we all know how is the end of the story -they went back on their step about internet world, they wanted yahoo to "get" what they miss with their search(??) engines and now they are doing three errors in a row with Internet Explorer 8...(not to mention VISTA...)
Why? Let's look at nowdays competitor => Opera 9.5+, Firefox 3+ and Safari 3+
When i develop a new site it looks the same with no effort for me in these three browser. No workarounds, no headache all the developing process plays smooth.
Then time arrives that i have to test internet explorer 7 (only version 7 from few days) and i've to say that all is working good, with no effort with version 7 too..
Now, internet explorer 8!
I've installed the brand new (beta) version. First surprise. You have to RESTART your PC after installing it! Oh My...Why? I've installed Safari, Opera and Firefox -and they are not from microsoft- and they work without restarting PC...
Ok..let's try the famous ACID2 TEST they claim do the right way. Ouch! There are two ACID2 test! I don't want to know why, but Fireofx 3, Opera 9.5 and Safari 3.1 do these both test 100%,not IE8.06 -beta- . Try yourself..
But the best has to come. This very site (cssfights.com) doesn't work the proper way in the sidebar with IE8 or the link "WE'RE HIRING" here (check with IE8 vs anything else...older too!). You have to switch the to "EMLULATE IE7" to get all working. and you know what? You have to restart the browser without getting the session saved -so you have to go back again to that PAGE!!!!
All these is really "friendly"..uh? That's why we developer are switching customer browsers from explorer to anything else one customer at time. In short.. IE7 seems better than IE8 beta, and i hope things will change with the "non beta" version.....