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IE8 Wants You! but only if you’re awesome

Web development August 9th, 2008

Internet Explorer development is moving along and and as part of an effort to improve the quality of their next browser, Microsoft has posted a request for bug-testers on the IEBlog.

Beta 2 is right around the corner and we are expanding our reach! If you wish to be a part of making IE better by contributing great bug reports then please email us at IESO@microsoft.com and tell us a little about yourself including why you’d be a great beta tester.

Reading the blog responses and this post on the subtly named 'Why IE sucks' blog, it seems the reactions are mostly negative. Aside from some unfortunate phrasing, I have to wonder why.

Most commentators are comparing it to open-source development and wonder out loud why should they contribute their precious time to a commercial product. The reason is simple: as long as Windows remains the dominant OS, Internet Explorer will remain the dominant browser. All of us developers will have to support IE8 in the near future - it is in our best interest that it will be as bug-free and standards-compliant as it can be.

Comparing IE development to open-source projects is a mistake. A more appropriate comparison should be to the public testing periods some computer games go through. Those testing releases are by invitation only most of the time, and the end product is almost never available for free (this is the business model of computer games, at least for now). Beta testers are motivated to participate since they intend the purchase the final product, and they want it to be the best it can be for their own personal benefit.

IE8 development is similar - possible users and developers are expected to contribute since it will be for their benefit. The question at the end of the day is - can you come to terms with Microsoft and do it their way? if previous history is any indication, complaining about it is pretty much ineffective. To quote the Flight of the Conchords - Be more constructive with your feedback, please.

I have submitted my tester-status request. What about you?

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One Response to “IE8 Wants You! but only if you’re awesome”

  1. Greenseed says:
    25 August at 7:54 am

    For my part this is another empty action from microsoft to make look like they are interested into our feeling or struggle when developing a web site and has to work with IE.

    I mean is that complicated to simply make JS, CSS and HTML work together?

    They are not able to make that ok! and they continue to add more proprietary technology to IE, that in the end will create security problem.

    So for me participating to a Beta testing program for IE, it like asking me to test the calc.exe(who is multitasking???), this is suposed just to work as is intend to do, if not ok then return on the design and stop arrasing ppl! with your WAY.

    Did we not loosed enough time with IE allready? they should stick with IE6 , at least we where starting to be used to that shit, IE7 is just same shit + new one. So what about IE8? they promess to be at least Acid Test2 ??? what the fuck???

    Im wondering why they not trying to make a World Wide Web Browser?
    Is not what InternetExplorer should be doing since version 1?

    Can we return 1997 and make the court say: IE CAN’T BE SHIPPED PREINSTALLED INTO MICROSOFT WINDOWS AS MSN SHIT.

    I really miss this one thx to netscape Team to have at least try :)

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