The Microsoft IE 8 Fiasco

Hi,

I downloaded and installed the latest (and supposedly greatest) Internet Explorer from Microsoft last week.

Now, I can't say that I've ever experienced the problems with any of the previous versions of IE that I have with version 8, my memory is at times faulty, but I'm pretty sure that it has NEVER completely locked up all the open windows on the screen in such a way that I had a need to access Task Manager to resolve the problem (that is, open Task Manager to close down the offending application - IE-8).

After this had happened a number of times, I decided to revert back to the previous version -IE7. Uh-Uh, can't do.

In the first place, unlike other applications that are to reside on Windows, and which Microsoft demands have a roll-back plan to ensure that users aren't left in a no-win situation, Microsoft themselves - it seems - do not place any priority on customer satisfaction (unless you refer to the extensive - multi page - feedback system that I went through and I think don't believe they even think to access the feedback from).

They have not only - NOT provided an uninstall for IE8, you can't even install IE7 over the top to roll-back. In fact when I tried to roll-back to the previous version that I have been using for 6 months on my new Vista 64-bit system (by the way, the version of IE8 that I installed was tailored for Vista 64-bit) I got a message on the screen that said that this version of IE was not applicable to this version of the operating system (i.e. Windows Vista 64-bit).
I have to ask myself then, how in the hell:

1. How did the PC provider (DELL) install IE7 on Vista 64-bit if it IE7 is not applicable to that system?

2. Why did MS not supply a version of IE7 that WAS applicable to - their own new OS Vista 64-bit. (In fact they supplied both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and both versions were installed on my system when I received it,, so I guess this begs another question doesn't it).

3. If IE7 WAS (and definitely was) installed on my PC, why can't I roll back to that version??????

4. Since both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of IE7 were installed on my system when it was received, why Oh why can't I just roll back and not be told that IE 7 is not appropriate for this bloody PC??????

If you have an answer to ANY or ALL these questions, you should be in charge of MS because they have NO ANSWERS AT ALL.

I went through a lengthy feedback survey, and got to the final page where it said that MS 'WILL GET BACK TO ME WITH AN ANSWER' and I'll bet their answer is just more bloody questions (some of which I've already answered for sure).

If you have had a similar problem with IE 8, I would appreciate your comments.

Now, you know why I'm called Grumpy - ??

Grumpy - 18/06/09